Birds of Dar es Salaam: Common Birds of Coastal East Africa

Gudrun Wium-Andersen & Fiona Reid. Illustrated by Allan Bramley.
Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, 2000
paperback, 110x180mm, 106 pages ISBN: 87-987586-1-6

Situated on the tropical coastline of northern Tanzania, Dar es Salaam and its surrounding areas support a rich avifauna. Over 400 species have been recorded in a 50km radius and there are several conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding species dependent upon the shrinking coastal forests. This pocket-sized book is aimed at the beginner and will hopefully serve to engender interest (and eventually support) for birds and wild places by Tanzanian citizens. It follows the format of most popular field guides with colourful illustrations and a short description of appearance and habits on the facing page. The authors, artist and sponsors (the Aage V.Jensens Fonde in Denmark) are to be congratulated on this fine effort.

-Duncan Butchart-

Footnote: Having recently spent some time in Dar, I was disturbed to see the size of the alien House Crow population; not only has this feral pest (native to India) eliminated the African Paradise-Flycatcher from suburban gardens (as reported in the book above, the easily found nests of this flycatcher make it especially vulnerable to a nest-robbing corvid) but it also appears to be occupying the niche of gulls and possibly other shore birds, as hundreds scour the exposed rocky shores at low tide - DB

Posted: Birds by CC Africa, Date: 22 November 2006