Tanzania is Africa’s leading bird sanctuary

A day would undoubtedly feel incomplete if people awoke to a world without the chirping of birds. Yet, humanity often takes these graceful creatures for granted, seldom giving them the recognition they deserve. In Tanzania, the quelea quelea, small red-billed weavers, usually make headlines only when they are aerially sprayed with poison as a crop protection measure. Swarms of these tiny birds can be highly destructive to pre[1]harvest grains and cereals. These birds are found across Southern, Eastern, Central and Western Africa, though few realise they exist in three major subspecies, each adapted to specific regions, respecting no national boundaries. Birds are synonymous with a location’s pristine nature; they choose habitats solely based on food availability, safety and breeding opportunities. Outside these three reasons, you won’t find birds in any particular area. This holds true even for eagles— the master predators of the sky— with very few natural enemies. Tanzania is blessed in that it was recently found to be the number one country with the most bird species in Africa, a total of 779 and sixth globally. Kenya came second with 751 species followed by Uganda 742, underscoring East Africa’s role as an important bird sanctuary globally. The survey, known as October Big Day and conducted annually on October 12, involved over 200 countries. Latin America recorded the highest bird diversity, led by Colombia (1,412 species) and Brazil (1,244), highlighting their remarkable biodiversity and conservation efforts. Organised by New York-based eBird and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, October Big Day is the leading global event tracking bird dispersal and migration patterns. Tanzania, renowned for its game safaris, might now consider promoting birdwatching as a unique tourism product. The Ihefu Wetland in Ruaha National Park is a bird watcher’s paradise, where, depending on the season, one can witness birds from around the world. Birdwatching enthusiast Raphael Mbunda notes that the Serengeti National Park, Lake Natron (famous for its pink flamingos), Kilombero Valley and the Usambara Mountains all provide ideal habitats for both resident and migratory birds. These sites are a delight for nature enthusiasts, representing wonders that Tanzania must preserve as part of its natural heritage