HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BIRDING SKILLS IN LOCKDOWN!

Two days ago (April 22) was the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and here we have a perfect way for you and/or your children to get closer to nature, with most people having to stay close to home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the perfect time to become a birder/bird watcher within and around your home or call it your backyard.

Birds are very active attracting mates and rearing chicks in this rainy season, and many avian visitors are passing through (call them Palearctic migrants). If possible you could order your self “birds of East Africa (by Terry Stevenson) OR Birds of Africa (by Ian SinClare) which will give you an idea of what birds, you can expect to see especially when you have a home in East Africa

The good thing is you can watch birds from your compound, terrace, window even in your gardens in the early morning or late afternoon. Those with cameras keep then close to capture their antics.

HERE WE GIVE YOU 5 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE VISITS FROM OUR AVIAN FRIENDS:

WATER BOWLS – Birds are amusing when they take baths, and they need drinking water, so place 1″-2″ deep containers (like plant saucers) of fresh water in an open area. Containers should be refilled daily and cleaned weekly.

FOOD BOWLS – Try raw G-Nuts (P-Nuts), Maize, Millet or sorghum grains, bread in a feeder or on the ground. If you hang a feeder, please clean it each week.

SHELTER – If you don’t have a wilds cape yet (which am sure aren’t common in Uganda), buy or build a birdhouse or two around your home.

AVOID PESTICIDES – Many birds eat insects and spiders.

KEEP CATS INDOORS – Cats kill birds, so birds will avoid areas with cats.