Looking for birders
 

If you keep hookbills or other pet birds and have been birding in Africa, I'd like to interview you for an article I'm writing for Bird Talk magazine on planning a birding safari. I'd also appreciate hearing from birders who don't keep pet birds. The focus of the article will be on Tanzania since that's where we went, but I'll be including information about best birding spots throughout Africa, so wherever you've been, please feel free to reply. You can respond here or e-mail me privately at [email protected].

Thanks so much for any help! I look forward to hearing from you.

Kim

I dont keep birds, but have birded in SA and Botswana, with most of my birding being at Mala Mala. If thats of interest I'd be happy to contribute.

Kim, we have zebra, society and a spice finch. Just one of each. Last 2 trips (June 2005 and May/June 2007)to Tanzania we got to see over 200 bird species each trip. Not dedicated birders but simply enjoyed the variety in Africa. Plus, several species were around lodges/camp and we could enjoy looking on our own. Had great guides (Josephat with Foxes of Africa and Zoya with Go2Tanzania) who enjoyed showing us birds. Have posted trip reports. If you have specific question feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Napamatt,

The two birds on my wish list for january are Purple heron and wattled crane .......

Hari

Thanks, Napamatt. I guess my main question for you would be whether you have any tips on planning a birding safari--anything specific people should look for in a tour or guide; best times of year; or just a comment on your favorite birding experience. It's fine if you want to post that here so others can benefit from it, but please e-mail me privately with your name and a mailing address so I can make sure you get a copy of the issue when it comes out.

Hi there

There is a gentleman called Terry Stevenson (not sure of contact details) that runs a birding group to Southern Africa every year he is a fieldguide in the US and he plans it and brings group of 6-8 people over each year, and he is wonderful and would def be worth getting in contact with as he is a great planner.

Hi Kim

I put together a post on birding resources for South Africa back in July that is applicable more widely in Africa as well. It includes information on specialist guides, pelagic tours, birding in Kruger and all the relevant links -- too long to just cross-post here:

afrikatourism.blogspot.com/2007/07/south-africa-birding-resources.html

I would also encourage you to mention Sandwich Bay (just south of Swakopmund) in Namibia in your piece as an exceptional spot for birding. Turnstone Tours (www.turnstone-tours.com) is the best operator guiding birding tours there. Ernst Ritter was my guide, but Bruno Nebe is also renowned, though I don't have firsthand experience with him.

Have you also posted your query on Bird Forum and Travelling Birder? Those sites are more birding specific than Fodor's and have active African sections.

Finally, on the topic of keeping birds, there is a well-established and active cultural tradition of pigeon fanciers here in Cape Town, particularly practiced by 'coloured' South Africans. Shows and competitions abound. The number of pigeons bred and kept in rooftop and back garden cages and coops can be staggering in some neighbourhoods, including the historic Bo Kaap -- worth keeping in mind for a future article.

HTH

Kurt

You may wish to contact Steve Turner in Kenya. He is the Chairman of the Kenya Professionals Guides Association and Managing Director of Origins Safaris. I have known Steve Turner since the late 1970’s. Origins offers specialist birding safaris and has some prominent ornithologist guides. Origins used to be known as “East African Ornithological Safaris” (EAOS), and EAOS was THE original birding safari company in East Africa. Its founder, Don Turner, wrote the definitive Guide: ‘Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania’.

Contact me at khakifATgmailDOTcom if you would like Steve’s email address.

I am a twitcher and although don't give too much thought to planning my trips on analysis these are the factors that I consider:
1) Regional bird book packed.
2) Bino's packed, lens cleaner fluid and soft material packed.
3) Dictaphone packed.

OK, with those basics in the bag, so to speak, I then consider the habitats likely to be encountered on the trip.

1) Assess where I will be and for how long.
2) Examine a relief map. This helps me figure what I'll see and where. Riparian, semi arid, mountainous, forest, grassland, coastal plain, elevation or plateau etc.
3) Then the next is no rocket science either... read on the biomes and determine the lifers likely to be found in the area, figure out their habits and then go searching.

In addition and if I am planning for some lifers, I will consider time of year and will either avoid the migratory species and travel in the winter or visa versa.

While "On the job" I will plot and plan times of day to be out and about searching for certain species, for example: dusk to see the bat hawk, late afternoon for the Pels, afternoon at watering points for the crowned crane and so on.

I carry the dictaphone as it can be used in a pinch to play back tricky LBJ calls, which often entices them to sit on a perch a little longer offering better shot at identity.

Hope that helps?

I lead parties on birding tours and we will discuss these elements in detail long before we go giving interested parties the chance to bring themselves up to speed with the lifer list.

Birdforum.net and surfbird.net are two great sites. I read a terrific trip report for SA birding on Surfbird which has helped me plan my CT portion.

After that, the best time to visit is during the rainy season to maximize sightings of migratory birds, but my trips are always as part of a regular safari, birding just being part of the pleasure.

Hari - Purple Heron, I get every few trips to MM, and have seen in the Linyanti. Wattled Crane I have seen on every visit to the Delta and saw three at KP this year.

Thanks for so much excellent information. I don't know that I'll be able to be in touch with all the resources you suggested, but I'll definitely list as many as I can. I sent an e-mail to the editor a couple of months ago, asking for the deadline, and I didn't hear back until yesterday, with the response being, "We need it on Wednesday."

All of you, please e-mail me with your names and mailing addresses and I'll make sure you get a copy of the issue when it comes out.

Best,

Kim
[email protected]