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. These guides can meet you at the Abuko
Centre or outside the West African Bird Studies Association
(WABSA) at Kotu Stream.
Contact Local
Bird Guides:
List of Birding
Sites:
 Below
are some of the best and highly recommended birding
hotspots were a large and varied
number of species tend to be concentrated.
• Abuko
Nature Reserve 
• Basse
Santa Su
• Bansang Quarry
• Bao
Bolong Wetland Reserve
• Bintang
Bolon Lodge
• Brufut
Woodland
• Bund Road (Banjul)
• Cape Creek (Cape
Point)
• Cycle Track
• Fajara
Golf Course
• Faraba-Banta Bush Track
•
Janjangbureh
/ Georgetown
• 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
See also
 Nature
Reserves
Ongoing Conservation Projects:
• West
African Bird Study Association
• Operation
Desertification Control
• Rehabilitation of
the Botanical Gardens
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