New bird species discovered
A NEW bird species, the Northern Shoveler, has been sighted for the first time in Uganda at Lutembe Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria by experts.
By Gerald Tenywa
A NEW bird species, the Northern Shoveler, has been sighted for the first time in Uganda at Lutembe Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria by experts.
The experts from Nature Uganda, a partner of BirdLife International, saw the Northern Shoveler, a migrant bird from Europe, recently.
Achilles Byaruhanga, the leader of the team, which was undertaking the annual bird counts at one of the largest sanctuaries for migratory birds, said the sighting is important for tourism.
Byaruhanga said bird watching is one of fastest growing tourism activities in the country and watchers spend at least $1,000 (sh1.75m) because they stay for long.
He said the migrant birds change colours of their feathers (plumage) when they are not breeding and that is attractive to tourists.
Byaruhanga said the new sighting confirms that Uganda has birds, which have never been recorded and more discoveries could occur.
However, he said there is a possibility that the birds, which migrate to West Africa during winter probably strayed into Uganda.
He said they would monitor the species in subsequent annual counting sessions and if they find them several times, they would include them on the country’s list. Uganda has more than 1,000 bird species in protected and non-protected areas.
Ends
A NEW bird species, the Northern Shoveler, has been sighted for the first time in Uganda at Lutembe Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria by experts.
The experts from Nature Uganda, a partner of BirdLife International, saw the Northern Shoveler, a migrant bird from Europe, recently.
Achilles Byaruhanga, the leader of the team, which was undertaking the annual bird counts at one of the largest sanctuaries for migratory birds, said the sighting is important for tourism.
Byaruhanga said bird watching is one of fastest growing tourism activities in the country and watchers spend at least $1,000 (sh1.75m) because they stay for long.
He said the migrant birds change colours of their feathers (plumage) when they are not breeding and that is attractive to tourists.
Byaruhanga said the new sighting confirms that Uganda has birds, which have never been recorded and more discoveries could occur.
However, he said there is a possibility that the birds, which migrate to West Africa during winter probably strayed into Uganda.
He said they would monitor the species in subsequent annual counting sessions and if they find them several times, they would include them on the country’s list. Uganda has more than 1,000 bird species in protected and non-protected areas.
Ends