News
Revitalizing ornithology research at BCFS
November 30, 2024
Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) for over a decade has been and continues to conduct research on the avian assemblages in Budongo Forest Reserve. Aves (birds) are a reliable indicators of ecosystem health. They are responsive to changes in their environment such as land use changes including deforestation, chemical pollution and weather elements. Birds also play a role in maintaining forest ecosystem health by enabling plant reproduction through pollination, nutrient recycling and seed dispersal among others. BCFS field teams therefore regularly traverse the forest collecting data on the avian assemblages therein using mist netting and point count techniques. Over 130 bird species have been recorded to date.
The techniques used for data collection require a lot of bird handling skills and as such teams do benefit from refresher trainings and exposure. This November, BCFS ornithology team and several other local birding guides in the Budongo landscape benefitted from an intensive training in bird ringing and handling techniques. The training was conducted by a team led by Mr. Malcolm Wilson. Mr. Wilson has over four decades of dedicated ornithological practice a good portion of which includes his work in Uganda that dates back to the mid-1990s. Notable was a nationwide bird-guide training program he designed and conducted across the country from 1997-2000. He has had several other engagements including a training he conducted in Budongo in 2011 during which avian research at BCFS was revamped. Mr. Wilson in his recent visit to Budongo was accompanied by four other esteemed birders from the United Kingdom. This distinguished team embarked on a significant journey to Uganda to advance avian research, conservation, and eco-tourism.
In collaboration with BCFS, the team is conducting intensive training in bird ringing techniques, including mist net setting, ringing methodology, bird rescue and proper bird handling. This training initiative is designed to enhance skills of Ugandan birders in avian identification and handling. These efforts align with the rising prominence of bird tourism in Uganda beside the on-going ornithology research studies. By cultivating local expertise in ornithology, this project strengthens Uganda’s potential as a premier birding destination while fostering sustainable practices that benefit both local communities and global avian conservation efforts. This work serves as an inspiring model for international cooperation, advancing knowledge and conservation strategies vital to safeguarding avian biodiversity.
A particularly notable incident from the recent training was the recapture of a Fire-crested alethe and an Icterine greenbul that were first ringed by Mr. Wilson and his team 13 years back in Budongo Forest. These incidences shed unprecedented insights into the lifespan and survival of these remarkable species. Such findings not only highlight the significance of long-term monitoring but also contribute valuable data to avian ecology and population dynamics in Uganda’s unique ecosystems. By monitoring different bird populations, over time, we can investigate fluctuations and population trends of any given species through adult to young ratios. This data can be correlated where possible to any climatic changes and/or anthropogenic events, habitat characteristics which would be a key tool in informing management decisions and best practices.
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