Introduction:
The Gambia, in West
Africa, is
renowned around the world as a birdwatcher'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 & 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.
Long-crested Eagle
Quick Tour:
Even from your hotel sunbed ornithologists can spot birds from
their balcony or from the pool. 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
whyda, fanti-saw-wing swallow violet turaco & over 270
other native & 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).
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Bird Guide:
 Even for the amateur birdwatcher 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 guide can meet
you at the Abuko Centre or outside the West African Bird Studies
Association (WABSA) at Kotu Stream.
Contacts For Local Bird Guides:
| Local Guide Name: |
|
Telephone: |
| Kebba Sosseh |
|
7778859 |
| Lamin Sanyang |
|
Email |
| Mass Cham |
|
9924763 |
| Modou Colley |
|
9908916 |
| Modou Barry |
|
Email 7031278 |
| Mustapha Kassama |
|
Email 9983305 |
| Solomon Jallow |
|
9907694 |
| Wally Faal |
|
4372103 |
List of
Birding Sites:
| Below are
some of the best & highly recommended birding hotspots were a large and varied
number of species tend to be concentrated. |
More information about some of the
places below
can be found under
Excursions.
Abuko Nature Reserve
Basse
Bansang Quarry
Bao Bolon 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
Kau-Ur Wetland
Kiang West National Park
Kotu Pond
Lamin Lodge
Makasutu Forest
Marakissa River
Niumi National Park / Jinack Island
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
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