Do you ever look up and wonder where that bird came from? Or where it’s going? Or how far it has to go and what sights it must behold?
For many, birds are a symbol of freedom. Their ability to cross international borders unhindered and using nothing but their own energy to do so are the things dreams are made of. The sky, until recently, had been the dominion of birds for eons, something mankind has always envied. To travel over vast distances in a short period of time granted us the keys to exploration on a level never before seen. Our inspiration and desires to map the world were all realised thanks to birds.
However, after gleaning all that we could from bird design and flight (the Wright brothers and other pioneers took inspiration from birds whose influence on modern aircraft is still incumbent today) – our interest in birds has since shifted. Where we once sought from them the answers they carried in their aerial acrobatics, we now find pleasure in simply, watching them. The term “twitching”, also referred to as obsessive birdwatching, describes the intense pursuit of rare birds, often involving long travel (thank you birds) and much anxiety, as many a birdwatcher will attest to and insomuch, the term ‘twitching’ gets its definition.
There are estimated to be over 11,000 species of birds in the world, of which, around twenty percent of them are regular migrants. Regular migrants are species that purposefully navigate over great distances for one of three main reasons: temperature, nesting sites, and food. Today we also have various terms for where, and how far they migrate. Terms like local, altitudinal, intra-African, and palearctic migrants all describe natures specific to each species of bird as they fall under one or more of these categories.
Of all species that migrate, the Arctic tern best represents the three most essential reasons for migration. Constantly chasing polar summers, this diminutive tern travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back to avoid polar winters, feed, and to breed.
Twice annually, bird societies, trusts and twitchers everywhere celebrate the migratory feats of our feathery friends through World Migratory Bird Day. Two days, reflecting the cyclical nature of bird migrations, that aim to bring awareness to migratory birds and the challenges they face. This in the hopes of encouraging global action for their conservation. Habitat loss, light pollution, weather events influenced by global warming, and collisions with aircraft and electric wires are but a few obstacles migratory birds gauntlet every year.
But one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome is migratory stop-over sites. Sometimes these can be small tropical islands that, after a heavy weather event like a hurricane, could wipe out entire migratory populations as all food sources disappear. Controversial problems like pesticides and intentional poisoning are also rampant threats to entire species. It is with this in mind that the bi-annual event takes place and draws the attention of the public to these issues.
East Africa, being so central, is a natural crossroads for many migrants and offers a variety of biomes like the savanna and forest biomes, as well as habitats like alkaline lakes and swamps, which are particularly prominent features of the East Africa Rift Valley system, and an important stop over point for thousands of birds every year.
The Highlands, situated within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is a prime location for migrants passing through. Not just the long-distance travellers, but also local and altitudinal migrants, which makes The Highlands a literal mecca for birding in the green season months of April and May. Flamingos gather en masse in the nearby craters of Ngorongoro and Empakaai, as well as Lake Natron’s alkaline lakes, which can see up to one million individuals gathering during breeding season. Other notable migrant species include yellow wagtail, pied avocet, great white pelicans, lesser kestrel, northern wheatear, Caspian lapwing and Montagu’s harrier, which may be seen on their passage back to Eurasia. Hiking through the lush vegetation lining the inner walls of the Empakaai Crater is a rewarding experience for birding enthusiasts, as the surrounding bush is alive with calls and the flutter of wings.
Close-by in the neighbouring Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems, flocks of European bee-eaters, Eurasian rollers, white storks, Amur falcons, Steppe eagles, honey buzzards and Eurasian curlews all use the grassland savannas to replenish their energy reserves while navigating to the northern continents and back. Naboisho Camp (Mara Naboisho Conservancy), Dunia Camp and Namiri Plains (Serengeti National Park) all remain open throughout the year, making them perfect destinations to observe migrants on their passage. Naboisho Camp offers the opportunity to explore the conservancy on foot, providing a unique perspective on the surroundings and an exciting alternative to time spent in a safari vehicle. Avid photographers should consider Naboisho Camp and Namiri Plains, where a specialised photographic vehicle is available for hire, custom designed to assist in capturing that perfect shot.
However, birdwatching is not the only pleasure to be gained from visiting in the green season. The ever-bustling Serengeti can become over-crowded in peak season as too many vehicles traverse the plains and waterways in search of wildlife. In total contrast, the months of April and May offer a sense of spacious exclusivity as one can often be the only vehicle for miles and miles in any direction. Resident wildlife within the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is prolific throughout the year, allowing the green season to offer a world class game viewing experience without the crowds, and often at a far lower price.
Embrace the change of seasons and the array of colour it brings to the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Revel in the exclusivity, and soak up the opportunity to simply slow down and take it all in. From frogs and flowers to migratory birds and an abundance of wildlife, this wilderness is yours to explore.
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