New weaver bird found in Semliki
A weaver bird with dark coloured feathers and a golden neck has been discovered in the Semliki forests in the Albertine rift valley. This brings the number of bird species in Uganda to 1,020.
By Gerald Tenywa
A weaver bird with dark coloured feathers and a golden neck has been discovered in the Semliki forests in the Albertine rift valley. This brings the number of bird species in Uganda to 1,020.
The bird was described in the journal African Bird Club as “the first record of a golden-naped weaver in Uganda.â€
“It is a good addition for tourism in the forests in western Uganda,’’ said Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive head of Nature Uganda. “It is a unique specie you cannot find everywhere.â€
He said the bird was one of the species restricted to the DR Congo forests, adding that Semliki was an extension of the forests in DR Congo.
“The Golden-naped weaver was only seen in the forests of Congo such as Ituri,’’ said Byaruhanga. “It was first seen in 1910 in Ituri and later in 1986.’’
The bird was sighted by a group of tourists led by Wilson Malcolm, who is familiar with Ugandan birds. Malcolm has been training bird guides under a European Union-funded programme.
Malcolm said he saw the bird 70 kilometres east of Ituri where similar birds were seen.
The weaver belongs to the larger group of weaver birds, but inhabits the forest where it feeds on fruits of tropical high trees such as ‘iron wood’.
Byaruhanga said experts that undertake peer review under the African Bird Club had to confirm the new findings.
He said the appearance of the bird in the journal confirmed that it had been added on the list.
The discovery, he added, was proof that Uganda was a bird watchers paradise with a diversity of species found in different ecological areas.
“It adds flavour to those who are interested in bird watching,’’ he added.
“As for the researchers, this implies that there is still a lot to discover and it is important to undertake more research.’’
He also said bird watching was one of Uganda’s fastest growing tourism attractions.
A weaver bird with dark coloured feathers and a golden neck has been discovered in the Semliki forests in the Albertine rift valley. This brings the number of bird species in Uganda to 1,020.
The bird was described in the journal African Bird Club as “the first record of a golden-naped weaver in Uganda.â€
“It is a good addition for tourism in the forests in western Uganda,’’ said Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive head of Nature Uganda. “It is a unique specie you cannot find everywhere.â€
He said the bird was one of the species restricted to the DR Congo forests, adding that Semliki was an extension of the forests in DR Congo.
“The Golden-naped weaver was only seen in the forests of Congo such as Ituri,’’ said Byaruhanga. “It was first seen in 1910 in Ituri and later in 1986.’’
The bird was sighted by a group of tourists led by Wilson Malcolm, who is familiar with Ugandan birds. Malcolm has been training bird guides under a European Union-funded programme.
Malcolm said he saw the bird 70 kilometres east of Ituri where similar birds were seen.
The weaver belongs to the larger group of weaver birds, but inhabits the forest where it feeds on fruits of tropical high trees such as ‘iron wood’.
Byaruhanga said experts that undertake peer review under the African Bird Club had to confirm the new findings.
He said the appearance of the bird in the journal confirmed that it had been added on the list.
The discovery, he added, was proof that Uganda was a bird watchers paradise with a diversity of species found in different ecological areas.
“It adds flavour to those who are interested in bird watching,’’ he added.
“As for the researchers, this implies that there is still a lot to discover and it is important to undertake more research.’’
He also said bird watching was one of Uganda’s fastest growing tourism attractions.