Mabamba Wetland: A Haven for Uganda’s Shoebill
One of the few remaining productive wetlands in Uganda is protected by the local communities. Extensive papyrus swamps with labyrinthine channels and lagoons, classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA), are home to multiple Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident, and the only representative of its family. It is one of the most sought-after birds in the whole African continent! It’s only traced by canoeing through the channels with a wooden boat. Other likes of Mabamba include; Papyrus Gonolek, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, White-winged Black Tern, Grey-headed Gull, African skimmers, Little Egret, Long-toed Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, African Fish-eagle, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Common Squacco Heron, Striated Heron, Blue-headed Coucal, Malachite Kingfisher, Black Crake, Hamerkop, African Marsh-harrier, Yellow-billed Duck, Hadada Ibis, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Swamp Flycatcher, Vanga Flycatcher, Weyn’s Weaver, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Sedge Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, Pied Kingfisher, Cape Wagtail, Rufous-Napped Lark, Green Backed Heron, African Snip, Croaking Cisticola, White-faced Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Black-crowned Waxbill, Scarce Swift, Bern Swallow, African-Dusky Flycatcher, African Yellow Warbler, Collard-Sunbird etc.
