Birds are good for us. It is now widely acknowledged that watching birds and listening to birdsong improves our mental well-being and has lasting positive effects on our mental health. I am often asked by people I meet how can they ‘get into bird watching?’ The first step is to borrow or purchase a pair …
Getting to know the Birds of Rwanda – Birdwatching basics… Read More »
Two species of mousebird call Rwanda home – the Speckled Mousebird and the Blue-naped Mousebird. Both are breeding residents and can be found in their preferred habitats throughout the year. Whilst they are considered sedentary, they will make local seasonal movements in response to flowering and fruiting trees and plants. Both species prefer open scrub, …
If you had asked me a couple of years to visualise a kingfisher, my mind would have conjured up an image of beautiful little bird with a long beak perched next to water. However, I now know this image fails to appreciate the diverse range of birds that make up the kingfisher family. Of the …
Getting to know Rwanda’s Birds – The Kingfishers Read More »
Turacos are largely arboreal, meaning they spend most of their lives in the canopy of trees. Rwanda’s turaco family includes five actual turacos and two very closely related species, the Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Eastern Plantain-eater. The Great Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, and Black-billed Turaco can all be found in the tropical montane forests of Rwanda’s …
Rwanda is home to many remarkable birds, none more so than the Hamerkop. The direct translation of the Afrikaans word from which this bird gets its name is ‘hammer head’, and it’s easy to why they have been given this name when you see the shape of a Hamerkop’s head in profile, the bill on …
Among the many different families of birds that call Rwanda home, the thirteen species of cisticolas stand out as fascinating and enchanting residents, even if they are superficially rather dull. There’s a further nineteen closely related species which are closely related to the cisticolas and referred to as ‘Allies’. These allies will be discussed in …
In 2022 the City of Kigali was awarded Wetland City accreditation. The City is also home to more than 300 different birds. They thrive in gardens, public spaces, and increasingly in the natural habitats which the City is working hard to protect and restore. This diverse avian world can also be found in the wetlands, …
My five favourite places to watch birds in Kigali Read More »
Throughout human history birds have played a central role in our culture, and many continue to do so today. Birds are everywhere. From the moment we wake up until long after the sun has set we can see and hear birds – they are the soundtrack to our lives. Unlike many other animals that conceal …
Rwanda’s wetlands and waterways are home to ten different herons, including two night-herons, and two species of bitterns. Most herons live near water, and in general the larger species prefer more open habitats. They all tend to have large broad wings with a slow somewhat leisurely wing beat and flight pattern. Unlike storks, herons fly …
Getting to know Rwanda’s Birds – The Herons and Bitterns Read More »
I am often asked “How many different birds are there in Rwanda?” Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to give. One thing that makes this a difficult question to answer is that scientists don’t agree on how to define a species! Whilst it might be easy to recognise that an African Fish Eagle is one …