Introduction

Avian Conservation Uganda celebrated World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2026 at Lutembe Bay Ramsar Site along the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe. The celebration formed part of the global observance of World Migratory Bird Day, an international awareness campaign that highlights the importance of migratory birds and the need to protect their habitats across flyways.

The 2026 celebration was held under the global theme “Every Bird Counts, Your Observations Matter.” The day brought together birders, conservationists, students, researchers, photographers, and nature lovers to appreciate migratory birds and promote wetland conservation in Uganda.

Avian Conservation Uganda team at Lutembe bay wetland.

Lutembe Bay is one of Uganda’s most important bird habitats and a Ramsar Site of international importance. The wetland supports large populations of migratory waterbirds and resident species. It acts as a feeding ground, breeding site, and resting area for birds migrating from Europe, Asia, and other parts of Africa. The rich papyrus vegetation, mudflats, and open water create an important ecosystem for biodiversity conservation.

Avian Conservation Uganda organized the event as part of its mission to promote bird conservation, environmental education, habitat restoration, and community participation in conservation. Besides the main celebration at Lutembe Bay, birding excursions were also conducted by Avian Conservation Uganda clubs and partners in Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kibale National Park, Lake Mburo National park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Activities Conducted

The celebration started with a guided birding excursion around the wetland and surrounding habitats at Lutembe Bay. Participants later used boats to explore waterbird habitats and observe migratory and resident bird species from the lake.

Across the country, Avian Conservation Uganda club leaders organized parallel excursions in different conservation areas. These excursions promoted citizen science, bird monitoring, conservation awareness, and appreciation of Uganda’s bird diversity.

The different excursions recorded a wide range of species including migratory birds, Albertine Rift endemics, wetland specialists, forest birds, and raptors.

Lutembe Bay Ramsar Site

Lutembe Bay is a globally recognized wetland along Lake Victoria. It is important for migratory birds, gulls, terns, skimmers, herons, and wetland specialists.

Total species recorded: 53

No.	Bird Species
1	White-faced Whistling-Duck
2	Egyptian Goose
3	Spur-winged Goose
4	Yellow-billed Duck
5	Red-eyed Dove
6	Blue-headed Coucal
7	Dideric Cuckoo
8	African Palm Swift
9	Black Crake
10	Long-toed Lapwing
11	Spur-winged Lapwing
12	African Jacana
13	Gray-hooded Gull
14	African Skimmer
15	Gull-billed Tern
16	African Openbill
17	Reed Cormorant
18	Great Cormorant
19	Hadada Ibis
20	Black Heron
21	Little Egret
22	Striated Heron
23	Western Cattle-Egret
24	Great Egret
25	Gray Heron
26	Hamerkop
27	Lizard Buzzard
28	Black Kite (Yellow-billed)
29	African Fish-Eagle
30	Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
31	Blue-breasted Bee-eater
32	Malachite Kingfisher
33	Woodland Kingfisher
34	Pied Kingfisher
35	Broad-billed Roller
36	Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
37	Double-toothed Barbet
38	Black-headed Gonolek
39	Papyrus Gonolek
40	Gray-capped Warbler
41	Winding Cisticola
42	Lesser Swamp Warbler
43	Common Bulbul (Dark-capped)
44	Rüppell’s Starling
45	Swamp Flycatcher
46	Sooty Chat
47	Collared Sunbird
48	Red-chested Sunbird
49	Little Weaver
50	Northern Brown-throated Weaver
51	Black-headed Weaver
52	Fan-tailed Widowbird
53	Western Yellow Wagtail

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Avian Conservation Uganda club in Rwenzori Mountains National Park was led by Faridah Jolian. The team organized a successful birding excursion within the montane forests of the Rwenzori landscape and recorded 41 bird species. The area is internationally recognized for its Albertine Rift endemic species and unique afro montane habitats.

The team consisted of 15 participants who actively took part in the Global Big Birding Day celebrations under the theme “Every Bird Counts.” Participants appreciated Avian Conservation Uganda for its commitment to bird conservation, environmental awareness, and youth engagement in conservation activities.

Total species recorded: 41

No.	Bird Species
1	Red-chested Cuckoo
2	Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
3	Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
4	Yellow White-eye
5	Klaas’s Cuckoo
6	Green-headed Sunbird
7	White-chinned Prinia
8	Scarlet-chested Sunbird
9	Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
10	Black-faced Rufous Warbler
11	African Paradise Flycatcher
12	African Dusky Flycatcher
13	Black-faced Apalis
14	Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird
15	Chubb’s Cisticola
16	Dusky Crimsonwing
17	Strange Weaver
18	White-browed Robin-Chat
19	Rwenzori Hill Babbler
20	Slender-billed Starling
21	Black-crowned Waxbill
22	African Pied Wagtail
23	Lühder’s Bushshrike
24	Black Cuckoo
25	African Thrush
26	Joyful Greenbul
27	Cardinal Woodpecker
28	Lesser Honeyguide
29	Tambourine Dove
30	African Blue Flycatcher
31	Common Waxbill
32	Ring-necked Dove
33	Spectacled Weaver
34	Common Bulbul
35	Mountain Wagtail
36	Gray-capped Warbler
37	Speckled Mousebird
38	Bronze Sunbird
39	Dusky-blue Flycatcher
40	Gray-headed Sparrow
41	Gray-backed Fiscal

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park club excursion was coordinated by Mr. Nicholas together with approximately 30 participants. The excursion took place within the bamboo and montane forest habitats of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of Uganda’s most important biodiversity areas.

The team recorded 65 bird species including several Albertine Rift endemics such as Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, and Strange Weaver. The excursion promoted bird monitoring, ecotourism awareness, and appreciation of Uganda’s mountain ecosystems.

Total species recorded: 65

No.	Bird Species
1	Handsome Spurfowl
2	Dusky Turtle Dove
3	Red-eyed Dove
4	Rwenzori Turaco
5	Blue-headed Coucal
6	Red-chested Cuckoo
7	Augur Buzzard
8	Mountain Buzzard
9	Speckled Mousebird
10	Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
11	Western Tinkerbird
12	Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
13	Brown-throated Wattle-eye
14	Rwenzori Batis
15	Chinspot Batis
16	Northern Puffback
17	Albertine Boubou
18	Doherty’s Bushshrike
19	Lagden’s Bushshrike
20	African Paradise-Flycatcher
21	Pied Crow
22	White-necked Raven
23	White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
24	White-tailed Crested Flycatcher
25	Stripe-breasted Tit
26	White-browed Crombec
27	Rwenzori Apalis
28	Black-faced Apalis
29	Chestnut-throated Apalis
30	Chubb’s Cisticola
31	Mountain Yellow-Warbler
32	Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler
33	Black Sawwing
34	Lesser Striped Swallow
35	Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul
36	Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
37	Common Bulbul (Dark-capped)
38	Red-faced Woodland-Warbler
39	Eurasian Blackcap
40	Rwenzori Hill Babbler
41	Green White-eye
42	Abyssinian Thrush
43	African Thrush
44	African Dusky Flycatcher
45	White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
46	Archer’s Robin-Chat
47	White-starred Robin
48	Green-headed Sunbird
49	Blue-headed Sunbird
50	Bronze Sunbird
51	Red-tufted Sunbird
52	Stuhlmann’s Sunbird
53	Northern Double-collared Sunbird
54	Regal Sunbird
55	Variable Sunbird (Orange-chested)
56	Baglafecht Weaver
57	Strange Weaver
58	Dusky Crimsonwing
59	Black-crowned Waxbill
60	Kandt’s Waxbill
61	Common Waxbill
62	Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
63	Western Citril
64	Streaky Seedeater
65	Thick-billed Seedeater

Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

The Kibale and Bigodi Avian Club leaders conducted birding activities in the restored forest of Mainaro and recorded close to 100 bird species during the Global Big Birding Day excursion. The landscape supports forest birds, wetland species, primates, and butterflies, making it one of Uganda’s leading ecotourism and birding destinations.

The Kibale and Bigodi club team jointly conducted birding activities in the restored forest of Mainaro near Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The excursion recorded close to 100 bird species, reflecting the rich biodiversity of western Uganda’s tropical forests and wetlands.

The activity also highlighted the importance of forest restoration, wetland conservation, and community participation in biodiversity monitoring. Kibale and Bigodi remain among Uganda’s leading birding and ecotourism destinations because of their high bird diversity and healthy ecosystems.

Combined Master Checklist of Species Recorded

A combined total of 141 unique bird species were documented from the submitted checklists during the World Migratory Bird Day celebrations.

No.	Species
1	White-faced Whistling-Duck
2	Egyptian Goose
3	Spur-winged Goose
4	Yellow-billed Duck
5	Red-eyed Dove
6	Blue-headed Coucal
7	Dideric Cuckoo
8	African Palm Swift
9	Black Crake
10	Long-toed Lapwing
11	Spur-winged Lapwing
12	African Jacana
13	Gray-hooded Gull
14	African Skimmer
15	Gull-billed Tern
16	African Openbill
17	Reed Cormorant
18	Great Cormorant
19	Hadada Ibis
20	Black Heron
21	Little Egret
22	Striated Heron
23	Western Cattle-Egret
24	Great Egret
25	Gray Heron
26	Hamerkop
27	Lizard Buzzard
28	Black Kite (Yellow-billed)
29	African Fish-Eagle
30	Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
31	Blue-breasted Bee-eater
32	Malachite Kingfisher
33	Woodland Kingfisher
34	Pied Kingfisher
35	Broad-billed Roller
36	Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
37	Double-toothed Barbet
38	Black-headed Gonolek
39	Papyrus Gonolek
40	Gray-capped Warbler
41	Winding Cisticola
42	Lesser Swamp Warbler
43	Common Bulbul (Dark-capped)
44	Rüppell’s Starling
45	Swamp Flycatcher
46	Sooty Chat
47	Collared Sunbird
48	Red-chested Sunbird
49	Little Weaver
50	Northern Brown-throated Weaver
51	Black-headed Weaver
52	Fan-tailed Widowbird
53	Western Yellow Wagtail
54	Red-chested Cuckoo
55	Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
56	Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
57	Yellow White-eye
58	Klaas’s Cuckoo
59	Green-headed Sunbird
60	White-chinned Prinia
61	Scarlet-chested Sunbird
62	Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
63	Black-faced Rufous Warbler
64	African Paradise Flycatcher
65	African Dusky Flycatcher
66	Black-faced Apalis
67	Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird
68	Chubb’s Cisticola
69	Dusky Crimsonwing
70	Strange Weaver
71	White-browed Robin-Chat
72	Rwenzori Hill Babbler
73	Slender-billed Starling
74	Black-crowned Waxbill
75	African Pied Wagtail
76	Lühder’s Bushshrike
77	Black Cuckoo
78	African Thrush
79	Joyful Greenbul
80	Cardinal Woodpecker
81	Lesser Honeyguide
82	Tambourine Dove
83	African Blue Flycatcher
84	Common Waxbill
85	Ring-necked Dove
86	Spectacled Weaver
87	Common Bulbul
88	Mountain Wagtail
89	Speckled Mousebird
90	Bronze Sunbird
91	Dusky-blue Flycatcher
92	Gray-headed Sparrow
93	Gray-backed Fiscal
94	Handsome Spurfowl
95	Dusky Turtle Dove
96	Rwenzori Turaco
97	Augur Buzzard
98	Mountain Buzzard
99	Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
100	Western Tinkerbird
101	Brown-throated Wattle-eye
102	Rwenzori Batis
103	Chinspot Batis
104	Northern Puffback
105	Albertine Boubou
106	Doherty’s Bushshrike
107	Lagden’s Bushshrike
108	African Paradise-Flycatcher
109	Pied Crow
110	White-necked Raven
111	White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
112	White-tailed Crested Flycatcher
113	Stripe-breasted Tit
114	White-browed Crombec
115	Rwenzori Apalis
116	Chestnut-throated Apalis
117	Chubb’s Cisticola
118	Mountain Yellow-Warbler
119	Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler
120	Black Sawwing
121	Lesser Striped Swallow
122	Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul
123	Red-faced Woodland-Warbler
124	Eurasian Blackcap
125	Green White-eye
126	Abyssinian Thrush
127	White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
128	Archer’s Robin-Chat
129	White-starred Robin
130	Blue-headed Sunbird
131	Red-tufted Sunbird
132	Stuhlmann’s Sunbird
133	Northern Double-collared Sunbird
134	Regal Sunbird
135	Variable Sunbird (Orange-chested)
136	Baglafecht Weaver
137	Kandt’s Waxbill
138	Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
139	Western Citril
140	Streaky Seedeater
141	Thick-billed Seedeater

Conclusion

The World Migratory Bird Day 2026 celebrations demonstrated the growing interest in bird conservation and citizen science across Uganda. The participation of young birders, conservation clubs, guides, and community members showed the importance of collective action in protecting migratory birds and their habitats.

The event also highlighted the ecological importance of wetlands, forests, and protected areas in supporting migratory and resident bird populations. Avian Conservation Uganda remains committed to promoting conservation awareness, research, habitat protection, and environmental education across the country.

Role of Avian Conservation Uganda Clubs

The World Migratory Bird Day celebrations also highlighted the growing contribution of Avian Conservation Uganda clubs across the country. Through these clubs, young conservationists, bird guides, students, researchers, and community members continue to promote bird conservation, citizen science, environmental education, and habitat protection.

The clubs played an important role in organizing local birding excursions, recording bird species, mobilizing participants, and creating awareness about migratory birds and wetland conservation. Their participation demonstrated the increasing interest in birding and conservation among young people in Uganda.