This was a fairly rigorous exercise with eleven Bird Population Monitoring (BPM) surveys being carried out, two waterfowl counts and two Nightjar surveys. The team comprised Achilles Byaruhanga, Michael Opige and Roger Skeen who are based at the NatureUganda secretariat in Kampala, Danae Sheehan represented RSPB from the UK and some staff members from UWA.  The eleven BPM’s were at Katugo, Nakitoma, Kafu Borassus, Chobe Terminalia, Chobe Acacia, Paraa Woodland, Imperata, Falls Woods, Palm Savanna, Waiga River and Waiga South. All these were completed by the majority of the team with the addition of George Kafu an UWA guard based at MFNP who has a good knowledge of the local birdlife. Two half days were spent on a small boat surveying the River Nile both downstream and upstream from the Paraa landing site. The Nightjar surveys were carried out on the airstrip and along the entrance road from Sambiya to Paraa.

They were very successful with over 40 examples of the Pennant-winged Nightjar being recorded. The workshop was attended by over 50 members of UWA and was facilitated by NatureUganda and a team from Makerere University Veterinary School. The major topics covered were; capturing methods for wild birds to enable testing for avian influenza, the taking of measurements and bird ringing and demonstration’s of the erection of mist nets. The Makerere University team advised on taking samples from captured birds and from fresh fecal material at bird roosts, also the safe transportation of hazardous materials.
Roger Skeen, NatureUganda