Welcome
to the birding blog I maintained during the years that I lived and
birded in Africa. Actually, I only became a birder after a few years
of exploring this country, from the high Alps to The Pyrenees, and being
regularly confronted by its remarkably diverse avifauna, almost in spite
of myself. Whether it was the rare vulture circling overhead as
I climbed one of the country’s famous volcanoes, the African Crown Eagle diving dramatically as I surfed the fine breaks along the
western coast, or the many tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans that my
partner Nigel and I regularly encountered on our weekend travels, I
couldn’t help but become interested and passionate about neotropical
birds. As is the way with birding, I soon grew obsessed with seeing and
learning as much as I could about the birds of Africa, publishing my
experiences and insights as they developed on this blog while recording
well over a thousand species.
One
of my principles of birding in Africa was to bird independently
whenever I could, acquiring knowledge and understanding first-hand,
instead of simply ticking species off a list with the help of a guide.
Indeed, as a resident of the country, time and proximity were luxuries
of mine, and I could afford to return to birding sites multiple times to
locate most of the specialties on my own. Birding is a human endeavor,
however, and hence by nature a social activity, and while most of my
trips were conducted independently, I am indebted to many
ornithologists, conservationists, guides, and friends for sharing
information, insights, and experiences with me. In turn, I share my
observations and resources with you, hopefully creating the impression
that Africa is a spectacular and safe continent that birders of every
level can successfully visit, whether on a tour or by themselves. If
you read through my reports, please keep in mind, though, that these are
only the thoughts and impressions of one birder and that the country
has much more to offer, for better or worse, than I had time and
opportunity to experience. As you consider Africa as a future birding destination, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I’ve since moved on to living and birding in India, but Africa will always be the source of my passion about wildlife and my commitment to conservation.
