The Birders Journey Africa

28/03/2025

Bird watching excursions with Primate Journeys Africa Ltd in Uganda for 9days where we visited kibale forest, Semiliki forest, Queen Elizabeth Park, Bwindi impenetrable forest and Lake Mburo National Park. Together with our incredible tour guide and bird enthusiast Rukundo Samuel

30/11/2024

"Immersed in Nature's Wonders!

Our birding expedition to the Semliki Hot Springs was a true adventure! As we trekked through the lush forests, we were on the lookout for the elusive Albertine endemics that call Uganda home.

The Semliki Hot Springs, situated in the heart of Semliki National Park, was a breathtaking sight. The natural hot springs, surrounded by tropical vegetation, created a serene ambiance that was a perfect haven for birdwatching.

We spotted several species, including the iconic Shoebill Stork, and the rare and endangered Congo Serpent Eagle.

Join us on our next birding adventure and experience the thrill of discovering Uganda's incredible avifauna! "

19/05/2023

What do you know about the Rhinoceros 🦏?

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27/04/2023

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri —- 17cm, 6.5"

[Slaty Flycatcher]

Three races occur: in NEUg, Ke and NETz nominate birds are distinctive, being dark blue-grey above and paler below (blending to whitish on the belly), with a conspicuous broad white eye-ring, and blue-grey bill with a black tip; in the highlands of Tz nyikensis is more slate-grey with a small eye-ring; and in WUg, Rw and Bu toruensis is blue-grey like the nominate race, but has an inconspicuous eye-ring.

Imms are spotted with buffy-white above, mottled and scalloped blackish across the breast and flanks. HH common and widespread at forest edge, in wooded glades and gardens from 1350–3000m. Vo rarely heard song consists of a sibilant hissing and clicking interspersed with very loud and explosive swee-wi-yu calls. More common call is a complaining trrr-trrr.

22/04/2023

What do you know about elephants?

03/04/2023

A very Beautiful Morning to you all enthusiastic bird watchers and friends of the The City Birder our Founder and patron Rukundo Samuel in Kisumu on a fam trip with Acheche Tours & Safaris. we wish you a blessed week ahead !

02/04/2023

At The City Birder, we believe that protecting Uganda’s avian life and their habitat especially in the cities of Kampala Jinja Entebbe Mbarara & Fort Portal, is the key to the future prosperity of Uganda’ conservation ecosystem and its people. For 15 years, we have made it our work to help ensure that Uganda’s avian life endures!

29/03/2023

WHY UGANDA IS A BIRDERS HAVEN !

Analytical of Uganda’s intermediary position is the fact that only one bird is endemic to the country, the rather ordinary Fox’s weaver. However, if you take only East Africa into consideration, then approximately 150 bird species (more than 10% of the regional checklists) are found only in Uganda. This list includes seven of the 20 horn-bill species recorded in the region, five out of 14 honey guides, seven out of 20 hornbill species recorded in the region, five out of 20 bush family as well as 13 members of the thrush family, 11 warblers, ten flycatchers, eight sun birds, eight weavers, eight finches, four tinker birds, four pigeons, 3 kingfishers, 3 sparrow hawks, 3 cuckoos and 3 nightjars.

Most of these Uganda’s specials are West African and Congolese forest birds that should be very difficult to see elsewhere for the simple reason that the other countries in which they occur are poorly developed for Tourism. The rain forests of Western Uganda must be seen as the country’s most important bird habitat, and that is the greatest interest to birdwatchers( bird watching), particularly if they are already familiar with typical East African birds. The most alluring forests in Uganda with localized species is Semliki, Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest and Bwindi Forest. However, Kibale is the Uganda’s spot for forest birds and the nearby Magombe swamp. Even the relatively tame botanical gardens in Entebbe will throw up several interesting species.

Photo Credit: Herbert Byaruhanga

28/02/2023

Urban Bird Feeding: Connecting People with Nature!

At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, researchers are increasingly recognizing the broad range of benefits provided to humankind by nature. However, as people live more urbanized lifestyles there is a progressive disengagement with the natural world that diminishes these benefits and discourages positive environmental behaviour.

The provision of food for garden birds is an increasing global phenomenon, and provides a readily accessible way for people to counter this trend. Yet despite its popularity, quite why people feed birds remains poorly understood. We explore three loosely defined motivations behind bird feeding: that it provides psychological benefits, is due to a concern about bird welfare, and/or is due to a more general orientation towards nature. We quantitatively surveyed households from urban towns in southern England to explore attitudes and actions towards garden bird feeding.

Each household scored three Likert statements relating to each of the three motivations. We found that people who fed birds regularly felt more relaxed and connected to nature when they watched garden birds, and perceived that bird feeding is beneficial for bird welfare while investing time in minimising associated risks. Finally, feeding birds may be an expression of a wider orientation towards nature. Overall, we found that the feelings of being relaxed and connected to nature were the strongest drivers. As urban expansion continues both to threaten species conservation and to change peoples’ relationship with the natural world, feeding birds may provide an important tool for engaging people with nature to the benefit of both people and conservation.

31/12/2022

The year we all been waiting for is here
Happy 2023 to all of you

No one:
Me and The Crew: *Patiently waiting for 2023 and all the fun birding trips we have planned*