The Zambian Ornithological Society has been training Community Bird Guides in different IBA’s in Zambia. These community bird guides have been trained to help locate the significant birds in the IBA’s. The guides live in or near the IBA’s and have cellphones so they can be contacted.
The charge for a morning of guiding is K40,000 of which K20,000 goes to the guide himself and K20,000 goes to the Community Site Support Group.
The idea behind this is to:
- Assist the rural communities in income generation;
- Build awareness in the local community as to the importance of birds and biodiversity;
- Develop the bird tourism industry in the Important Bird Area; and
- Develop national awareness of Important Bird Areas.
A meeting needs to be arranged with the Bird Guide by calling in advance. The guide will then show the visitor where to look for the significant birds. Usually the guide would travel or walk with the visitor as they do not have transport themselves. These guides are also trained to guide tourists to places of interest in the IBA.
The vegetation is dominated by Mopane Woodland with some grassland, floodplain, thicket, savanna woodland and remnant mutemwa. This area is predominantly interesting for Black-Cheeked Lovebirds, this area supports about two thirds of the know population.
Other birds you will find in this area are:
Red-billed Hornbill, Southern Grey Sparrow, White-browed Sparrow-weaver and the Zambezian endemics Arnot’s Chat and the Southern Long-tailed Starling.
In areas where savanna woodland is dominated by Acacia spp. interesting species may include Marico Flycatcher, Marico Sunbird, Scalyfeathered Finch and Black-cheeked Waxbill.
On the permanent wetlands towards the north of the area one can find some pairs of Wattled crane.
Part of this area belongs to the Sichifulo Game Management Area (GMA) one can also find other animal species like, Lion, Spotted Hyena, Spring Hare, Pangolin, Roan, Sable, Wildebeest etc.
