The secret of the nature : birdwatching in Rwanda

Rwanda is home to an impressive number of species of birds that vary from residents;that stay all year around, to breeding birds, that spend a good part of the growing season in Rwanda to raise their young, migrants who pass through Rwanda with the seasons, to wintering birds who like to spend a good part of the winter in Rwanda to escape colder conditions up north.

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) Ikiyongoyongo May be on rooftops, pathways, or around crops on the left side

Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

The African Bird Club tour to Rwanda in July 2011 found Rwanda to be a safe, friendly,clean and well-organised country with a superb selection of birds which are difficult to find elsewhere. Among the checklist of the Birds of Rwanda include waterfowl and wading birds, raptors, game birds, swifts and many others.

World Migratory Bird Day 2011 in Rwanda can be called a success

Since the days of Diane Fossey, Rwanda has been recognized as one of the best places to view gorillas, but few people know any more about the country than just this. Those that visit tend to hop across the north-western border with Uganda, to track gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park near Ruhengeri. This is one of the best sites to see Ladgen’s Bush-Shrike Malacanotus lagdeni, but tourism activities are heavily focused on gorillas, and hiking and bird watching are so poorly promoted as to appear to be discouraged. Although 17 Albertine Rift Endemics have been recorded, most are more readily seen elsewhere. Fortunately Rwanda has much more to offer, especially to birders.

Ross's Turaco (Musophaga rossae)

Spot-flanked barbet, ASYV, February 17 2011

Spot-flanked Barbet (Tricholaema lacrymosa on right side

Nyungwe has about 300 species of birds due to its vegetation type more than 1250 of plants species; is the only safe site in the world where the spectacular Red-collared BabblerKupeornis rufocinctus occurs. In addition to many of the species regularly found in Bwindi, the following species have been recorded in Nyungwe: Rwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni( fairly common along the roadside), Albertine Owlet Glaucidium albertinum (very rare with about 5 records), Kungwe Apalis Apalis (rufogularis) argentea, and possibly Schouteden’s Swift Schoutedenapus schoutedeni and Rockefeller’s Sunbird Cinnyris rockefelleri. The large Kamiranzovu swamp provides far easier access to Grauer’s Swamp Warbler Bradypterus graueri. Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata can be heard commonly in bushy areas in Nyungwe, not just at Kamiranzovu, and was also seen along the roadside in 2011. When the Symphoniatrees are in flower in June / July, Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris can be seen displaying without leaving the main road.

Canopy Walk Way, a bridge which is located in Nyungwe National Park (right side) helps different tourist for better observation of different biodiversity in Nyungwe Forest

Another good place for bird watching in Rwanda is at Bugesera in South of Kigali; has a bit of everything for the different birds species; there is bush and wooded land, there is lake, natural springs and streams, a bit of Savanna like grassland, birds species you can be able to spot around include: Great White pelican, and the Pink backed pelican, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Woodland King Fisher, laughing Dove, African Wattled Lap Wing, and Cormorants.

Birdwatching with birdlovers and nature club “Coeur joyeux” : Over 100 people attended the event including pupils and teachers from school Wildlife Club called “Coeur Joyeux” in 2009

Rwanda boasts a bird list of over 700 species, and hosts 7 important Birding Areas (IBAs) including the 3 National Parks : Volcanoes, Akagera and Nyungwe, Rugezi swamp, Akanyaru, Nyabarongo, and Cyamudongo, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) website