Birding in Gishwati- Makura National Park.
Birding in Gishwati- Makura National Park is one of the most interesting activities to do in the park and attracts thousands of bird enthusiasts and ornithologists to enjoy the sweet, melodic songs and sounds of various avian species. It is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda within the Albertine region. The park is famous for its unique bird species, hosting up to 230 bird species, including forest birds, water birds, migratory birds, Albertine Rift endemics and the park’s resident species. The rich avian life is supported by a mix of ecosystems such as swamps, grasslands, tropical rainforests and montane forests, which provide habitats to various bird species. Birding is a guided activity led by an experienced park birder who identifies bird species encountered and provides information about their behaviours. Birding is best done in the morning and late afternoon hours when birds are most active, and this period provides a high chance of encountering countless bird species.
Bird Species to See in Gishwati- Makura National Park.
Bird enthusiasts will be delighted in countless species found in the park such as Black Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Rwenzori Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Little Swift, Red-chested Flufftail, Black Crake, Gray Crowned-Crane, Black-headed Heron, Hadada Ibis, African Harrier-Hawk, Hooded Vulture, Tawny Eagle, African Goshawk, Black Goshawk, Black Kite (Yellow-billed), Mountain Buzzard, Augur Buzzard, Verreaux’s Eagle-Ow, Red-chested Owlet, African Wood-Ow, Speckled Mousebird,Handsome Francolin, Scaly Francolin, Rameron Pigeon, Dusky Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Tambourine Dove, African Green-Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue Malkoha, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Gray-headed Kingfisher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Olive Woodpecker, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Eurasian Kestrel, Rwenzori Batis, Chinspot Batis, Northern Puffback, Lüdher’s Bushshrike, Tropical Boubou, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Albertine Boubou, Many-colored Bushshrike, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Gray Cuckooshrike, Black Cuckooshrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Northern Fiscal, African Golden Oriole, Black-tailed Oriole, Common Bulbul (Dark-capped), White-browed Crombec, Grauer’s Warbler, Red-faced Woodland-Warbler, African Yellow-Warbler, Mountain Yellow-Warbler, African Reed Warbler, Evergreen-Forest Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Black-throated Apalis, Black-faced Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis , Banded Prinia, Black-faced Rufous-Warbler, Gray-capped Warbler, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Yellow White-eye, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis.
What is the best time to do birding in Gishwati- Makura
Birding in Gishwati- Makura National Park can be done year-round, and the best time depends on an individual’s interests. The park has two seasons, the wet season and the dry season, both of which provide memorable birding experiences. The wet season is the most liked period by bird enthusiasts; it runs from October to November and March to May. During this period, the park receives enough rainfall, and plant and tree species bear fruit, which provide abundant food for the birds. This attracts various bird species, including migratory birds that travel from Europe in search of food. This is the breeding season for most birds in the park, which makes it easy to spot them. However, bird lovers should be aware that the park is always muddy during this period. Bird lovers can also enjoy birding during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. There is little to no rainfall in this season; the park is dry, making it easy to penetrate.
