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 (see ground tours).
These guides can meet you at the Abuko Centre or outside the West
African Bird Studies Association (WABSA) at Kotu Stream.
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Attractions Things
To Do Resorts
Nature Reserves Bird
Watching Tour Operators
