Bird tours promoted

By Vision ReporterUGANDA Bird Guides Club (UBGC) and Nature Uganda organised a bird expedition over the weekend in a bid to promote domestic tourism. Pauline Nantongo of Nature Uganda, a BirdLife partner in Uganda, said groups of bird watchers recorded birds of various species within a radius of 50 kms from Kampala.The expedition, named ‘Kampala Birding Big Day,’ which started last year, will be an annual event.“Winners who recorded the highest number of species will get prizes,’’ she said, adding that soon results will be published in the press.Over 50 bird-watchers split into 11 small groups and went as far as Kasanje in Wakiso district. The group, led by Nantongo and Byaruhanga, recorded 200 species of birds. Bell Lager, under Uganda Bell Breweries sponsored publicity for the day.Nantongo said that they were cultivating the culture of bird-watching in the Ugandan population.Herbert Byaruhanga of UBGC also said that Uganda is being popularised as one of the best destinations for bird watchers.“We need to have a population, which appreciates the conservation of birds as well as their exploitation through tourism,’’ Byaruhanga said.Nantongo said that expert guides are needed because bird watching is a highly specialised form of tourism.ends