Birding race in Uganda is set to start this Saturday 11th November – Press release
1th November – Press release
KAMPALA, UGANDA – On 9th November 2017, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) in collaboration with Nature Uganda and Uganda Wildlife Authority with support from other partners is launching the annual Big Birding Day (BBD) 2017. The BBD activity combines avian conservation with awareness and tourism development.
The official launch of activities is this Thursday 9th November at the Uganda Museum at Kiira Road, Kampala. Big Birding Day focuses on exposing and promoting birding to Ugandans and foreign residents in Uganda. This Year’s theme is: “Connecting Birds to People and Nature.”
“Uganda is home to over 1,000 species which is over half, 53%, of Africa’s bird species and 11.2% of the world’s species.” says Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, CEO Uganda Tourism Board.
“Currently birding is largely an activity of foreign tourists, however, we have been seeing a growing interest from Ugandans and other residents. That is our focus—to see that more Ugandans take up birding as an activity, which ultimately leads to conservation of the bird habitants.”
Bwindi Impenetrable, and Murchison Falls National Parks are among Africa’s top 10 leading birding destinations as number 1 and 9 according to the African Travel Magazine 2013.
Participants in the Big Birding Day are to take part in birding marathons—getting to see and identify as many birds as possible in a 24 hour period. This will be done in Mabamba ramsar site, Mabira, Botanical gardens in Entebbe, and Lutembe beach among other sites around the country. Teams will be free to use aids like binoculars and telescopes or by simply listening to bird sounds.
It is hoped this annual activity will increase not only awareness of the rich wildlife heritage but also lead to conservation. It also promotes tourism economic activities to serve a particular niche market of committed birders.
Big birding day will set off with three events as follows:
Thursday, 9th November: The Launch at the Uganda Museum Starting at 4:30pm. This is the day the birding teams will be flagged off.
Saturday, 11th November: The Birding Day (bird race), a 24 hours (midnight- midnight) activity conducted countrywide in all national Parks, wildlife reserves, forest reserves, important bird areas, Ramsar sites, compounds and gardens. The bird watching (and listening) is on to see which team logs up the largest number of species. Uganda has 1072 currently identified bird species.
Saturday, 18th November: The Big Birding Festival at Uganda Museum gardens starting at 7:00am. Results of the birding race will be announced.
Join us as we participate in all the events.
Click here to download a detailed program.
Vincent Mugaba | Public Relations Officer | Uganda Tourism Board
Location: 6th Floor, Lugogo House, Lugogo Bypass, KAMPALA
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