Zambezi River Sand-Bank Breeders

by Pete Roberts
From the Victoria Falls Guide 'archives' - from July 2011:
Migrating birds such as the African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris ) are arriving to breed on the freshly sculptured sand-banks which emerge from the receding Zambezi River. Despite the dangers of nesting on sand banks regularly trampled by hippo, predated by monitor lizards, and even disturbed by humans, skimmers and other birds such as lapwings and plovers return to successfully breed on the river each year.
The characteristic skimmer is an inter-Africa migrant, spending July to November on the Zambezi. A medium sized bird, long-winged and tern-like in flight, with brownish-black upperparts, white underneath and deeply forked tail, has a uniquely extended lower bill, which is noticeably longer than the upper mandible.
It has been estimated that nearly 1,500 skimmers breed along the river, representing 10% of the continent-wide population, conservatively estimated at just 15,000 birds. This highly significant percentage identifies the Zambezi as a key area of conservation importance for this enigmatic species.
Read more: Zambezi River Sand-Bank Breeders
Photo Credit: Victoria Falls Guide

Birdlife Botswana launches Flamingo partnership

image credit: birdlife botswana
Mining extraction company Botash has joined hands with Birdlife Botswana in a three year relationship supporting the conservation of the flamingo breeding areas in the Makgadikgadi salt pans and the development of the reserve into a viable tourist attraction.
Botswana Ash (BotAsh) has become the first corporate entity to support Birdlife Botswana in their aspirations to develop a flamingo reserve. The salt mine is located on Sua Pan, close to the breeding areas for the flamingoes, one of the largest sites in Africa (other associated sites located within the Makgadikgadi include Mosu, Mokubilo, Mmea, and Mmatshumu).
Botash has also committed to release its staff to help educate the communities on basic entrepreneurship skills, book keeping, marketing, customer service, desk office, to prepare them for the envisaged opportunities. Birdlife Botswana will also teach communities tour guiding and other tour operating skills.
The Makgadikgaid Salt Pans are home to some of the world's largest concentrations of flamingos and the aim is to make the area a tourist hotspot. Besides the beauty of flamingoes, there is also the Old Khama Ruins, the Fossil Tree, Kokonje Island and Lekhubu Island, which are currently open access areas.
With 580 bird species, Botswana is among the fifty most species-rich countries in the world. Specialised bird-watching tourism contributes US$80 billion per year to the global tourism industry.
Read full article here.

Lovebirds

When I'm lucky enough to be in Victoria Falls I'm often up early out and about in the bush, birding and photographing my way around. The other morning, much to my surprise, I found this little fella, a lone lovebird, near to the Big Tree along Zambezi Drive. It is very likely an escaped bird, as many have been kept in cages by local residents and escaped over the years, although they are rarely seen. The only naturally occuring species, the black-cheeked lovebird, is extinct in the local Victoria Falls area.
Photo Credit: Lovebird (Peter Roberts)

Victoria Falls Vulture Restaurants Attract South African Clientele

Here's a story which we picked up on for the Victoria Falls Guidee on ringed vultures turning up at the local vulture feeding spots in Victoria Falls. Researchers confirmed that the vultures were originally ringed the Pilanesberg (South Africa).
Victoria Falls Vulture Restaurants Attract South African Clientele
Photo Credit: Vultures (Peter Roberts)

A myna problem?

From the Zambezi Traveller, June 2012
The common or Indian myna, Acridotheres tristis, a controversial non indigenous species in southern Africa, has been recorded breeding in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, generating much debate among ornithologists.
Read more: Zambezi Traveller - A myna problem?
Photo credit: Zambezi Traveller

Counting Hornbills

Here's another series of linked articles from the Zambezi Traveller (June 2012), this time on conservation efforts to save the southern ground hornbill and encouraging tourists and safari guides to submit their ground hornbill sightings from acorss the region (all articles researched and written by Peter Roberts).
Wanted! Have you seen this bird?
Counting Hornbills
The Southern Ground Hornbill
Hornbill - Unite to save iconic bird species
Southern Ground Hornbill Sightings
Photo Credit: Zambezi Traveller

Birds of the Victoria Falls

And here's the latest page on To The Victora Falls - adding to the Flora and Fauna of the Victoria Falls section we have, at last, a full checklist of the Birds of the Victoria Falls. I've had this information for ages, compiled from various sources, but all the coding needed to put it up online delayed me for a while. Until I found a cunning plan. Anyway, here it is, a fairly comprehensive list of the Birds of the Victoria Falls. If you know of any additions or amendments to this list please let me know (you can comment on this post).
Admittedly I still have to write up a fairly detailed introduction to the birds of the region, which will hopefully follow soon, and a downloadable species list (probably excel file), which will probably be more useful as a checklist.
Image: Finfoot (Peter Roberts)