For centuries, people living in Uganda have had interaction with birds for their economic use, aesthetic value, cultural development and ecological contribution. This human interaction of the various cultures in Uganda with birds inspires art, music, fashion, attitude and is expressed in folklore, legends, folksongs, customs and practices. Additionally, traditional knowledge of birds as environmental indicators has aided in hunting, farming, cultural ceremonies and other occasions and activities. Unfortunately, due to a cultural shift, the traditional system of this knowledge transfer has been disrupted and Uganda as well as the world is on the verge of losing this knowledge. This program is aimed at recording this knowledge for conservation purposes.
The Avian Conservation Uganda Society (ACUS) is working to conserve indigenous knowledge about birds in Uganda. We do this through a variety of programs, including:
- Birding excursions: We lead birding excursions to remote areas of Uganda, where we teach participants about the birds they see and the indigenous knowledge about birds that is held by local communities.
- Workshops: We hold workshops on indigenous knowledge about birds, where we bring together experts from different fields to share their knowledge and experiences.
- Publications: This program aims to publish books, create content and articles on indigenous knowledge about birds, to make this knowledge available to a wider audience.
We believe that conserving indigenous knowledge about birds is essential for the conservation of birds in Uganda. This knowledge is a valuable resource that can help us to understand and protect birds. We are committed to working with local communities to ensure that this knowledge is passed down to future generations.
Here are some examples of indigenous knowledge about birds in Uganda:
- Birds are used for food: Many Ugandan bird species are eaten, including doves, pigeons, and weavers. Birds are also used in traditional medicine, and their feathers are used for decoration.
- Birds are used for pest control: Some birds, such as the Cattle Egret, are known for their ability to control pests. This knowledge is being used to develop new ways to control pests without using harmful chemicals.
- Birds are used for cultural purposes: Birds are often featured in art, music, and folklore. They are also used in traditional ceremonies and rituals.
- Birds as environmental indicators: Many cultures in Uganda use birds to study environmental trends and features. For instance; some cultures follow Honeyguides to find honey in forests, some cultures make use of waterfowl to find water sources while other cultures use birds to predict weather patterns.
Indigenous knowledge is a valuable resource that can help us to understand and protect birds. Avian conservation Uganda society is committed to working with local communities to ensure that this knowledge is passed down to future generations.
Volunteer on this program
Support this program
Submit a story