In Uganda, the shoebill can be easily spotted in Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, Murchison Falls National Park along the Albert Nile, Bigodi swamp near Kibale National park, Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National park and Lugogo swamp in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary among many others. Uganda is blessed with a population of 1000 shoebill birds.
The shoebill is known to be a solitary bird and prefers calmly being alone. Hunting is done independently and they can only be seen together during the mating period when the male and female build a nest together on floating vegetation. The birds mostly inhabit swamps and marshes. They are also described as sculpture-like because they can spend long hours standing motionless. This stunt helps them to spot and catch their prey easily. The shoebill is also known to be quiet which also gives them advantage against their prey.
A grown up shoebill is gray colored while the adolescents are more brown. A fully grown male shoebill can weigh up to 6 kgs while a female one can weigh up to 5kgs. Their height can go up to 5ft with a large wing span between 230-260 cm and their feet are 18 cm long. The female shoebill usually lays 1 to 3 eggs each weighing about 165 grams with an incubation of 30 days. Both birds are actively engaged in the guarding of the nest and feeding of the young ones.
The shoebills are swamp dwelling birds and they feed on lungfish, catfish, mudfish, baby crocodiles, monitor lizards, water snakes, turtles, frogs and snails. They have sharp edges around their mandibles which help them to grab and kill their prey. They use a unique hunting technique called ‘freeze and seize’ to catch their prey.
In Murchison Falls National park, the shoebill is the most outstanding bird attraction. The elusive bird can be spotted in the swampy shores of Lake Albert and along the Albert Nile. Besides the shoebill, Murchison Falls National Park is richly blessed with abundant birdlife summing up to 450 bird species. This fact makes the park one of the best destinations for a birding safari in Uganda with all year round conducive weather for birding activities.
Some of the bird species to look out for include; African Darter, Giant Kingfisher, Osprey, Long-toed Plover, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Veracious Dove, Black-headed Lapwing, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rock Pratincole, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-billed Barbet, Long-tailed Nightjar, Weaver Birds, Yellow-billed Stork, Martial Eagle, Silver bird, Grey crowned crested crane, Sandpipers, Pied Kingfishers, Standard-winged Nightjar, Malachite Kingfishers, Blue-headed Coucal, Denham’s Bustard, Swamp Flycatcher, Giant Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird, Read-throated Bee eater, Saddle-billed stork, Senegal Thick-Knee, Red winged Grey Warbler.
A birding safari in Murchison Falls National Park can be easily combined with a game viewing safari, a boat ride to the bottom of the falls and the top of the falls experience or even a chimpanzee trekking safari in Budongo forest.
HOW TO GET THERE
Murchison falls National Park is situated in North Western Uganda in the district of Masindi about 305 kms from Kampala city. The park can be easily accessible on a 4-5 hour road trip or by air on a charter flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airfield to Pakuba Airfield. Drives on 4*4 vehicles are highly advisable to maneuver the dirt roads within the park.