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Gambia Bird Watching Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Attractions Things To Do Resorts Nature Reserves Bird Watching Tour Operators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Introduction: The Gambia, in West Africa, is renowned around the world as a bird watcher's paradise. In the early part of this century, thousands of ornithologists have come to observe through their binoculars over 560 bird species of dazzlingly plumed birds. Seasonal Bird Migrations: Notwithstanding the Gambia's small territory it has a considerable and heterogeneous avian population both resident and Palearctic migratory birds. This unexpected phenomenon is due in part to the Gambia's geographical location in West Africa, and the large river and its accompanying banks. The country's location means that it is on the line of flight of two double migrations. The first from the north in October which returns March / April of the following year. For these migratory European birds it is the first life sustaining strip of green after the long flight south along the arid coast of northwest Africa. The second from the south at the start of the rains, June / July, of birds from the equatorial regions of Africa, which come to the Senegambia Valley in time for the breeding season, of which the Gambia could be said to form the central focal point, at any rate from a bird's-eye view. These avian visitors from the equatorial regions exit The Gambia at the end of the rainy season, with their departures extended between the months of October to January. The country's native species population is therefore given a boot during these months, though the rise due to the Palearctic visitors is usually only a matter of a few days or weeks. On the other hand the June to July influx lasts the whole of wet period, with migratory species coming in to settle to find a mate and reproduce. Quick Tour: Even from your hotel sunbed ornithologists can spot birds from their balcony or from the pool. The Senegambia and Kairaba hotels based in Kololi are best for this method as they have extensive garden grounds next to a marine environment. Widespread are pied crows and a few vultures. Red-billed Senegal Fire-finches feed around tables and common on manicured lawns are Cattle egrets, glossy starlings and swifts grace most of the grounds. Long-tailed shrikes and blue-cheeked bee-eaters perch on telephone lines in the Greater Banjul area. Greenshanks, turnstones, sandpipers, redshanks and sanderlings paddle along the river's banks. At Abuko there are severally coloured barbets, lily trotters, weaver birds rollers, fork-tailed drongo, parrots, ahanta francolin, pin-tailed whydah, fanti-saw-wing swallow violet turaco and over 270 other native and itinerant species. Along the river pied kingfishers dive, with wings tucked back, onto their unsuspecting fish prey. Magnificent River eagles can be seen perched on trees while pelicans can be spotted roosting on top of dense mangroves or wading slowly to clear from the path of passing boats. Further inland Double-spurred francolin (Francolinus bicalcaratus). Bird Guide: Even for the amateur bird watcher Gambian birds are fairly easy to spot, being conspicuously coloured and vocal. If however, if you want to learn more about the country's bird population you would be advised to seek out a professional local ornithologist who can guide you on good locations to spot certain species. You can either join a specialist tour operator for group trips or by hiring an independent local tour guide (see ground tours). These guides can meet you at the Abuko Centre or outside the West African Bird Studies Association (WABSA) at Kotu Stream. Contacts For Local Bird Guides:
List of Birding Sites:
Abuko Nature Reserve Basse Bansang Quarry Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve Bintang Bolon Lodge Brufut Woodland Bund Road (Banjul) Cape Creek (Cape Point) Casino Cycle Track Fajara Golf Course Faraba-Banta Bush Track Georgetown / Janjangbureh Kampant Rice Fields Kartong Sand Mine Kaur Wetland Kiang West National Park Kotu Pond Lamin Lodge Makasutu Forest Marakissa River Niumi National Park Old Yundum Pakali-Ba Bridge Panchang Swamp Pirang Shrimp Farm Tanji Bird Reserve Tendaba Camp Ongoing Conservation Projects: West African Bird Study Association Operation Desertification Control Rehabilitation of the Botanical Gardens See also: Gambia Experience Bird Watching Holidays |
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