The Delightful Dozen – Birding 101 Angama Style

Though not often the main attraction, birds play a pivotal role in the safari experience. While Africa’s charismatic megafauna represent the primary game-viewing impetus, the reality is that for every sighting of one of the Big Five, there is an equally interesting avian observation. Imagine watching lions on a kill without vultures rowdily posturing nearby, or a heard of buffalo sans their industrious oxpecker friends, or elephants lumbering across the savanna without Lilac-breasted Rollers sallying forth after disturbed insects? If a safari were a magnificent symphony, birds would be the accent notes.

Nearly everywhere you go in Africa, there is a regional checklist on offer. Here in the Maasai Mara, for instance, upwards of 470 species of birds have been recorded to date – and we’re more than happy to share our checklist with all our guests.

But where does that smart, crisp checklist go after the first day of excitedly ticking off the birds pointed out by your guide? It’s disappeared, mysteriously absent . . . because truth be told, how many amateur birders really care about the eleventieth species of cisticola of the day? You were probably bored by the second one. And what the heck is a cisticola, anyway?

The fact is that while impressive, 470 birds are simply overwhelming for the majority of non-birders. And it’s probably somewhere between 450 and 469 more than most can remember or even truly appreciate.

Plunging non-birders into the deep end of the world of birds never works (ask my wife), so we asked our guiding team to come up with a list of their local favourites, from which we chose a dozen avian icons as a focal point. Intended as a gateway for the novice birder, these Early Birds are not only representative of the 450-odd others that can be found in our lovely reserve, but they also provide an entertaining challenge for greenhorns and experts alike.

Angama Mara’s Early Birds, presented in a beautiful booklet designed by naturalist and artist Duncan Butchart, span the gamut of beauty, East African endemism, fascinating social behaviour, and even sentimentality:

These avian icons represent the Mara’s feathered community and make an exciting list for all safari-goers. Can you find all 12 during your safari in the Maasai Mara? Easier said than done, and be warned... it may just be the first step towards becoming a bird nerd like yours truly!

I know the guides take the mickey out of me for my little Rufous-naped Lark, but how can you stop your heart from going pop when you hear that sweet song?