BIRDING WITH POMPIE The most popular and worthwhile places to visit are Daan Viljoen Game Park, Avis Dam, Heja Lodge, the National Botanical Garden, the Country Club Golf Course, Omeya Golf Course, Goreangab Dam and any bird loving Windhoek resident who has a garden. The directions to each of these places are easy to find (see City of Windhoek tourist information). Except, of course, the private residents. Those you have to know to arrange a visit. Instead of trying to mention the various birds you will see at the mentioned locations I will rather mention the birds in the different groups: Raptors, endemics, migrants, water birds, garden birds, calls, in flight. As one can expect, raptors are not really the main attraction in a city, although while I wrote this article a Rock Kestrel called from a tree in my garden. Interesting visitors to my garden and neighbourhood were African Hawk-Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk and Gabar Goshawk. Your best option for raptors is indeed Daan Viljoen where a multitude of them are present. The African Fish Eagle at Avis Dam will welcome you if the dam has any water. Anyone calling himself a birder will first ask where they can find the endemics. Indeed, 4 of Namibia’s 13 endemics can be found in and around Windhoek. The Rockrunner, Short-tailed
Shrike and Monteiro’s Hornbill can be seen at Daan Viljoen Game Park and at Avis Dam. One of the famous breeding areas of Monteiro’s Hornbill is in Daan Viljoen Game Park, but these birds are often seen in town as well. All of the above can be seen in the National Botanical Garden and the surrounding areas. Carp’s Tit, a rather evasive little bird, does occur in Windhoek, but consider yourself extremely lucky if you see one. Just by sitting outside your town-house or hotel you will hear various birds calling. At night the Pearl-spotted Owlet and the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar can often be heard. During the day in summer one always hears the European Bee-eaters flying overhead, while the Diederik Cuckoo will entertain (irritate) you endlessly. The Grey Go-away-birds are also very loud and cannot be missed. Another special in Windhoek is the Rosyfaced Lovebird, which is more often heard rather than seen in town. If you do not find it too strenuous, look upward (at the right time) and you might see Yellow-billed Kites, a migrant raptor. In the early morning Egyptian Geese and various other geese are coming from their roosting spots and return there in the late afternoon. If by any chance you see a flock of 50 or more birds high up in the sky it is almost certainly a group of Abdim’s Storks. Four of the most common C.B.D. city slickers are the Pale-winged Starling and Little Swift, Palm Swift and Kentucky Fried Chicken (actually more than one of those), although the latter is unfortunately not so mobile anymore.
Black-winged Kite, Elonus caeruleus