Let’s Go Birding in Africa – Birding Big Day 2012

This Saturday is Birding Big Day 2012 in South Africa. We’re short on twitchers (committed bird watchers) in the Rhino Africa office, but we do have a few members who have more than a passing interest in spotted that elusive LBJ (Little Brown Job).

So we thought we would strive to highlight Africa’s fascinating array of birdlife and draw some attention to the fact that it’s not just about the mammals. We know the Big 5 and the top tier animals get all the love, but our feathered friends deserve more than the occasional hug. Perhaps we can encourage you to spread the love?

First off, let’s talk birds in Africa. Over 2,300 bird species have been recorded throughout Africa. In South Africa alone some 858 species have been recorded along with 31 endemics and 9 species introduced by man. With a massive diversity of habitats, there’s a plethora of birds to see and a bevy of places to see them. Whether you’re in search of a mustering of storks, a hedge of herons, a murder of crows or a murmuration of starlings, you’ll find it in Africa.

Continuing this birding conversion conversation, you’re going to need a place to stay on your birding safari (and you probably won’t mind seeing a few of the bigger animals while you’re there).

• The best places to see as many birds as possible are those with the most varied habitats, destinations with both wet and dry habitats top the list. Botswana is a sure-fire bet, have a look at our list of top 10 Botswana properties for some ideas of where to stay.
• Another high stakes hand is Zambia; you’ll find some great lodges to choose from in our list of top 10 Zambia properties.
• In South Africa, you won’t go wrong in the Kruger National Park and in particular the private safari lodges in the Sabi Sand have rangers trained in the fascinating ways of the twitcher.
• Another great birding destination is Phinda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal as the reserve encompasses no less than 7 different habitats.

You’re also going to need a few tools of the twitcher trade. Assuming your birding knowledge is as second rate as mine, the first thing you will need is a good bird book.

The absolute best guide to Southern African birds is the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa 7th edition. This tome of epic proportions will impress your friends with its sheer size and if you fail to catch the twitching itch, it can also be used to hammer in nails and crack open nuts. Luckily there is also a field guide version perfect for use while on safari. There’s even a version just for the Kruger National Park.

If you’re tech savvy, try the Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa app, available on both Android and IOS. You’ll also need a good pair of binoculars, try the Vortex 8×42 Razor HD, voted Binocular of the year 2012. It lost ground in the swimsuit competition but won over the judges with its plea for World Peace in the personality round.

Finally if you want to document your sightings you will need a camera – birding is after all a bit like fishing in that no one will believe you unless you have proof. While almost any DSLR camera will do, you will need the biggest zoom lens that you can afford, so start saving.

When entering a new field, it’s not enough to look like a seasoned veteran; you also need to sound like you know what you’re talking about.  So let’s teach you a few twitching terms:

• Tick: An addition to a personal list (sometimes qualified as year tick, county tick, etc.). Life tick and lifer are synonymous. A tart’s tick is a relatively common species added to one’s list later than might be expected.
• Lifer: A first-ever sighting of a bird species by an observer; an addition to one’s life list.
• Dude: A novice birdwatcher; slightly pejorative term. Also used to refer to someone who primarily seeks out birds for photography rather than study.”
• Crippler: A rare and spectacular bird that shows brilliantly, perhaps an allusion towards its preventing people from moving on.
• Mega or Megatick: A very rare bird

For the full twitcher vocabulary visit the page on Wikipedia.

And finally here are a few African birds that make even hardened twitchers hot under the collar. You should aspire to see them on your birding holiday.

The list could go on… there’s the rare Blue Swallow, the Wattled Crane and the African Skimmer and many more. If you’re keen for spectacular birding spectacles, head to Zambia in search of massive river bank colonies of carmine bee eaters or travel to Lake Natron in Tanzania to see vast swathes of pink feathered flamingos.

Sure the Big Five get all the street cred and love, but if you think that’s all a safari is about, you’re wrong. A little birdie told me so.