Birdwatching is one of the most popular
leisure activities in the world, especially when done in a group. If you’re
interested and are in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, why not join us? Read on for
details…….
The Ibadan Bird Club was started on 5
March 2014 by the
Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in partnership with the University of
Ibadan (UI) and the Forest Project at the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA), with funding from the African Bird Club. The aim was to exchange
ideas and share knowledge about birds, and get actively involved in the
conservation of birds and biodiversity. After a very promising start in 2014, a
decision was made to re-launch it this year as part of the IITA Forest Unit Ornithological
Monitoring Project, which is funded by the A. P. Leventis Foundation for 2016
and 2017. This should give it a better
base from which to watch a huge diversity of birds in a safe and inspiring
location.
The
re-launch took place in the beautiful IITA Forest Unit Ethnobotanical Garden on
Saturday 13th February at 3:30 pm. There was a great turn-out - 30
adults (22 male and 8 female) and 6 children – which included IITA staff and
families, members of the UI Zoological Gardens and Department of Wildlife
Management, organisers of the Forest Unit Schools Conservation Clubs, and
visitors to the IITA hotel. Forest Unit head, Deni
Bown, welcomed members, introduced everyone and explained about the
Ornithological Monitoring Project and its activities. There was then a group
photo before the group divided into two, led by ornithologists Dr Taiye
Adeyanju (UI) and Wale Awoyemi (Forest Unit).
Another
highlight was a Palm-nut Vulture as it flew from where it was perched on a silk-cotton
tree to the lakeside to drink. It was there for up to five minutes, allowing the
group, especially the children, to watch and take photographs.
Other
species recorded during the expedition included African Jacana, White-headed
Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Broad-billed Roller, Little Bittern, Black-headed
Heron, White-faced Whistling Duck, Red-eyed Dove, Pied Crow, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Kite, African Pied Hornbill, Squacco Heron,
Intermediate Egret, Wood Sandpiper,
African Grey Hornbill, Woodland Kingfisher, and a Long-tailed Cormorant drying
its wings. The expedition ended at 6:00pm.
If
you’re interested in birds, or would like to learn, you and your family and
friends are most welcome to join the Ibadan Bird Club and watch amazing birds in
one of the best places in Nigeria. We meet on the last Saturday of the month
and membership is free! For more info please contact Deni D.Bown@cgiar.org or Wale A.Awoyemi@cgiar.org.
Post
compiled by Wale Awoyemi