Uganda for Birds-Uganda birding tours,Uganda a birding hub in Africa

Uganda birders and Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba enjoys a view of birds at Kasenge Forest in Mbalala, Mukono District at the weekend. The news of the country being a key bird watching destination will boost the tourism sector.

According to Birdlife International and Nature Uganda, the country accounts for 50 per cent of Africa’s bird species.

Uganda has been declared a preferred bird watching destination 2013/14 a development expected to promote birding and uphold the country as a major tourist destination. Among the Uganda birding tours can be done at Mabira Eco tours/safaris, Budongo forest where you can bird at Kaniyo-pabidi site, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Ngamba islands chimpanzee tours/safaris, Mabamba bay birding site among others

The declaration by the government was made after Birdlife International, a global programme on conservation and protection of birds and their habitats, and Nature Uganda announced that there were 34 important bird watching areas in Uganda, with diverse bird species. It only in Uganda where you can search the Shoe bills at Mabamba bay, Ssezibwa falls, Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Bigodi wetland, Entebbe gardens hotel and the shores of River Nile at Murchison falls national park

Uganda a preferred bird watching destination as we begin our journey through the next 50 years as we mark the country’s independence jubilee celebrations,” the Minister for Tourism, Ms Maria Mutagamba, said during the launch of the birding campaign that attracted various birders and guides at Kasenge Forest Resort Beach in Mukono District at the weekend. Birding can be also enjoyed at Mabira reserve forest where you can do Eco tours and safaris, Bike cycling, nature and forest camping, community walk and enjoy local snacks like roasted chicken at Najjembe local market with the Mabira forest reserve an Eco tourism destination.

Ms Mutagamba said they had been priding in the recent accolades by Lonely Planet, which voted Uganda as the best tourism destination for 2012 and Africa Bird Club, which voted Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Africa’s number one birding site.

The minister said the accolades provide an important avenue for showcasing Uganda’s rich bird diversity, accounting for 10 per cent of the world’s total bird species and 50 per cent of Africa’s bird species population.

Below are some of bird species

Non-passerines: Ostriches . Grebes. Shearwaters and Petrels . Pelicans . Cormorants . Darters . Bitterns, Herons and Egrets . Hammer kop . Storks . Shoebill . Ibises and Spoonbills . Flamingos . Ducks, Geese and Swans . Osprey . Hawks, Kites and Eagles . Secretary-bird . Caracaras and Falcons . Pheasants and Partridges . Guinea fowl . Buttonquails . Cranes . Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots . Sun grebe and Fin foots . Bustards . Jacanas . Painted snipe . Oystercatchers . Avocets and Stilts . Thick-knees . Pratincoles and Coursers . Plovers and Lapwings . Sandpipers and allies . Gulls . Terns . Skimmers . Sand grouse . Pigeons and Doves . Parrots . Turacos . Cuckoos . Barn owls . Typical owls . Nightjars . Swifts . Mouse birds . Trogons and Quetzals . Kingfishers . Bee-eaters . Typical Rollers . Hoopoes . Wood hoopoes . Hornbills . Barbets . Honey guides . Woodpeckers and allies .

Passerines: Broadbills . Pitas . Larks . Swallows and Martins . Wagtails and Pipits . Cuckoo-shrikes . Bulbuls . Thrushes and allies . Cisticolas and allies . Old World warblers . Old World flycatchers . Wattle-eyes . Monarch flycatchers . Babblers . Tits . Tree creepers . Penduline tits . Sunbirds and Spider hunters . White-eyes . Old World Orioles . Shrikes . Bush shrikes and allies . Helmet shrikes . Drongos . Crows, Jays, Ravens and Magpies . Starlings . Weavers and allies . Waxbills and allies . Indigo birds . Weavers and allies . Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and allies . Siskins, Crossbills and allies . Sparrows .