birding...

Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus ©Nigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Cameroon remains little known ornithologically, despite being the richest country in West Africa for birds. It is probably the most accessible country in West-Central Africa with many exceptionally exciting birds. Lying at the junction between West and Central Africa, Cameroon supports 910 bird species if we include the Golden Nightjar discovered recently by Ian Sinclair et al. (April 2003). Of these, 704 are resident, 218 are seasonal migrants (145 from the Palaearctic and 73 intra-African). Seven species are endemic to geographical Cameroon. However, two vital Endemic Bird Areas form a major part of Cameroon, Cameroon and Gabon lowlands (EBA 085); which has six species found nowhere else in the world, all of these occur in Cameroon including the mythical Grey-necked Rockfowl. The other EBA, the Cameroon Mountains (EBA 086); holds some 29 restricted range endemics that are confined to Cameroon, and a small portion of Nigeria.

Access - Although occasionally frustrating, Cameroon is a well-connected country with a road an air network that can (and usually does) get one from A to B very effectively. Regular flights connect the two main birding zones in the north and south of the country and the roads in the north are good year-round. In the south, it is best to avoid the rainy season between May and August when the roads become muddy paths and places such as Korup are virtually inaccessible. For most of the year however, although the roads are poor, most sites can be visited.

Timing - March and early April are the optimal times to visit Cameroon. This is before the heavy rains come, but many birds in the south are actively setting up territories and many of the seasonal migrants are still present in the far north. Avoid going to the south in May to August when rain can severely impact your chances of making it to your preferred destinations, and even if you get there you may till be rained out.

Topography - Mount Cameroon, just to the southwest of Douala, is the tallest peak in West Africa at 4,095m. It dominates the southwestern portion of the country. It is connected to the Cameroon Highlands, which comprise the Rumpi Hills, Mt Kupé, & Bamenda Highlands, which penetrate into Nigeria (the Obodu Plateau). Geographically, these highlands are connected to offshore Bioko and are part of a continuous volcanic intrusion that extends inland as far as the Adamawa plateau and the Mandara Mountains in the northwest at 11°N. The remainder of the country comprises mostly flat lowlands undulating between 800m and sea-level.

Birding Habitats - The diversity of habitats is staggering and is replicated no-where else in West Africa. Far north Cameroon comprises the low sparse thorn-dominated woodlands and grasslands of the Sahel biome. This extends from just north of Benoue. There are many characteristic species of this dry woodland-grassland mosaic, although they are shared with many other West African nations. To the south, Cameroon is covered by Guinea savannah, which is a broad-leaved woodland. The third major habitat is Afro-montane Forest. Within Cameroon, this habitat is found on Mt Cameroon, Mt Kupé, the Bamenda-Banso highlands and supports 29 restricted range species in the Cameroon Mountains (EBA 086); which are confined to Cameroon, and a small portion of Nigeria.

They include: Mount Cameroon Francolin, Cameroon Olive Pigeon, Bannerman`s Turaco, Mountain Saw-wing, Cameroon Greenbul, Grey-throated Greenbul, Cameroon Olive Greenbul, Grey-headed Greenbul, Yellow-breasted Boubou, Mount Kupé Bush Shrike, Green-breasted Bush Shrike, Monteiro`s Bush Shrike, Mountain Robin Chat, White-throated Mountain Babbler, Brown-backed Cisticola, Green Longtail, Bamenda Apalis, Bangwa Forest Warbler, White-tailed Warbler, Black-capped Woodland Warbler, Fernando Po Batis, Banded Wattle-eye, Cameroon Sunbird, Ursula`s Sunbird, Mount Cameroon Speriops, Fernando Po Speriops, Fernando Po Oliveback and Bannerman`s Weaver. Although only seven of these species are geographically endemic to Cameroon, all of them are most easily seen here.

The remainder of the country, particularly in the far south and west comprises lowland Guinea-Congo Forests. Another vital Endemic Bird Areas forms this part of Cameroon, Cameroon and Gabon lowlands (EBA 085); which has six species found nowhere else in the world, all of these occur in Cameroon, Forest Swallow, Grey-necked Rockfowl, Dja River Warbler, Gabon Batis, Bates`s Weaver and Rachel`s Malimbe. Added to the plethora of endemics many non-endemic specials are found in Cameroon, not least of which are Egyptian Plover, Arabian Bustard, Quail Plover, Stone Partridge, Violet Turaco, Sudan Golden Sparrow and Scissor-tailed Kite in the northern savannas and Grey Pratincole, Bare-cheeked Trogon, Grey-sided and Red-sided Broadbills in the forested southwest.