Birdwatching in Zimbabwe

Photo: Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards

Nick Appleton

I’m a high school junior and relative newcomer to birdwatching, but I’m already hooked. I started birdwatching during my freshman year but was lucky enough to be living then in Zimbabwe, home to hundreds of species of birds, ranging from the tiniest sunbirds to the flightless guinea fowl and several species of elusive turacos. My father’s retirement returned the family to the DC area, and I was pleased to find NVBA birdwalks and classes that will help me learn the local birds.

The diversity of birds in Zimbabwe is largely due to the country's varied terrain and climate. On the northern boundary of the country lies the Zambezi River, home to Victoria Falls, and a wealth of wildlife, including the African Fish Eagle, Zimbabwe's national bird. Known for its piercing cry, sometimes deemed as the “sound of Africa,” this powerful eagle is an opportunistic hunter usually feeding on fish and scavenging when necessary.

African Fish Eagle, Marian Herz/Audubon Photography Awards

Lilac-breasted Roller, Judy LaNier/Audubon Photography Awards

Equally captivating and ever prettier is the Lilac-breasted Roller. The bird is known for its colorful plumage and as its acrobatic displays. The roller typically eats small bugs and animals and can often be found perched among the tall termite mounds that litter the river beds along the Zambezi. This is one of my personal favorites as they have a very distinct look and a wide variety of colors.

A particularly interesting native of the region is the Southern Ground Hornbill. As the largest member of the hornbill species this massive bird is quite recognizable along the river with its big black frame and distinct red face. A formidable predator, the hornbill feeds upon anything that moves, from bugs to snails, frogs, and small mammals. The Southern Red-Billed Hornbill also lives in this region and is more or less famous because it is the same species of hornbill as Zazu in The Lion King.

Southern Ground Hornbill, Clay Harrison/Audubon Photography Awards

Long-crested Eagle, Loi Nguyen/Audubon Photography Awards

The Chimanimani National Park in the mountainous region in the east of the country is home to two of my favorite Zimbabwean birds, the Long-crested Eagle and the Half-collared Kingfisher. The Long-crested Eagle, which is relatively small for an eagle, has a distinctive crest. The bird is widely distributed. I saw them in Chimanimani, but we even had a family of Long-crested Eagles living in our backyard in Harare. Some African kingfishers are among the tiniest birds in the country, but like the Lilac-breasted Roller, many species are famous for their vibrant colors. My personal favorite, the Half-collared Kingfisher, is bright cobalt blue on its back, with a buffy undercarriage.

I look forward to learning more about northern Virginia’s resident and migrating birdlife.

Join NVBA for a trip to Panama in March!

Photo: Red-legged Honeycreeper, courtesy of Holbrook Travel

Enrollment is open for NVBA’s March 12-22 trip to Panama, Birding the Central and Darien Regions. As it has done before, NVBA has enlisted Holbrook Travel to make the arrangements. The price, based on 8-12 participants, will be $3,615 per person, which is all-inclusive except for international airfare to and from Panama, gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature.

Panama boasts the highest diversity of bird species in Central America. The country’s advantageous location at the convergence of two continents makes it the prime respite for migratory birds from both North and South America.

The itinerary takes us across several regions of Panama, including the country’s easternmost province of Darién. We’ll visit well-known birding trails, tropical rainforests, wetlands, mudflats, and much more. We’ll explore both public and private reserves, as well as witnessing the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Locks in action, visiting historical sites and learning about Panama’s role as an international trade center. Trip highlights include:

• Darién Province’s many birding hotspots, with the possibility of seeing a Harpy Eagle

• Hiking the world-famous Pipeline Road, where target species include Black Hawk-Eagle, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Masked Tityra, and the coveted Blue Cotinga

• Two of Panama City’s stunning natural areas, the Metropolitan Natural Park and the Panama Bay Mudflats

• A visit to a sloth rescue center, to meet animal ambassadors and learn about wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release during canal expansion

Please visit Holbrook Travel to register!

Belize and Guatemala | Neotropical Birds and Mayan Ruins

Photo: Tikal, Rodrigo Campos

January 12, 2022 – January 19, 2022 

Registration due: October 29

Audubon Society of Northern Virginia invites you for an international birding opportunity in Belize and Guatemala.  Participants will be seeking out resident and migratory birds as well as other wildlife in this culturally rich area.  Click here for additional information on the trip itinerary, pricing, travel info and other resources. If you have questions, contact Gerry Abbott.

Boat-billed Heron, Bernard Dupont

ASNV Birding Trip to Colombia

Photo: Birding in Colombia, Aubrey Nolan

By Lisa Mackem

In January, thirteen ASNV participants traveled to Colombia for a birdwatching tour. Gerry Abbott, chairman of the ASNV adult education committee, worked with Holbrook Travel for travel and tour arrangements. The successful trip oversold immediately.

Local resident Bill Burton described the first lodge where the group stayed as rustic and charming, “like a bungalow.” On their first morning the group got up before sunrise and saw a “breathtaking” diversity of birds – “just one after another,” said Bill. As the group stood in the yard, Bill estimated that they saw about 50 different species of birds. 

The group’s next location was Tinamou Lodge, which is owned and operated by a couple in Arlington, VA and located outside of the industrial city of Manizales. From there, they made two excursions per day toward the Indian foothills and saw about 30 different hummingbird species – “one species per minute,” said Bill, adding that they also saw 20 different varieties of brightly-colored tanagers. Other key sightings for Bill included the Torrent duck, which sits in rapids, and Antpitta, which is heard often, but rarely seen. 

The sight of the Andean Condor – the world’s largest bird and Colombia’s national bird – was the highlight for both Bill and Gerry.  This bird lives at high elevations in the Andes, and usually flies solo. 

Colombia has about 1900 bird species – the most of any country.  It also reports 170 species of hummingbirds. In comparison, the American east coast has only one native hummingbird species. Consequently, Colombia is an excellent place for citizen science documentation, and is in high demand for birding trips. The ASNV group made daily entries in eBird and everyone who wanted to include the sightings in their individual eBird accounts did so. Collectively they saw 260 bird species and some interesting mammals, such as howler monkeys, sloths and a river otter swimming upstream.

Birding in Colombia, Aubrey Nolan

Both Bill and Gerry commented on the friendliness of locals, who Bill noted were also enjoying the outdoors. The tour group asked their guides about sustainable development and were happy to see the Colombians’ conservation efforts.  

Gerry plans to coordinate another ASNV international birding trip next year. He especially enjoys travel to warm destinations during the winter and is considering Ecuador or another Andean location. In the meantime, he recommends the ASNV adult education programs, where people have many opportunities to learn about birds and contribute to citizen science.