It is very important for every traveler to know that Uganda has a lot more to offer than just the mountain Gorillas. There is variety of other wildlife including tree climbing lions, lots of primates including the chimpanzees and also so many may bird species making Uganda a great birding spot. This became evident when Uganda was voted as the best birding destination across Africa and this came after 27 long years of vivid tourism growth. Also, tourists who have traveled to Africa and done a safari in Uganda generally agreed with the fact that Uganda does not only have variety of wildlife species but also an abundance of bird species among which is the rare shoe bill stork.
The shoe bill bird or shoe bill stork as commonly referred to is also called the whalehead since it is a balaeniceps rex specie and it get its name from the fact that it has a shoe shaped bill. It is perhaps among the most sought after birds in the world however; Uganda is one of the places you can find it. This bird has got a huge head, a long and very wide colored bill compared to other birds and the tip of the bill is hook shaped. They are also tall birds at about 1.5 m in height while standing and have both qualities of herons and storks. Shoe bills have got broad wings and long legs as well as un-webbed feet. This bird often stays on its own and can live up to about 50 or more years. They do fly with their heads and their necks folded backwards.
Where to find shoe bills in Uganda
There are a number of places where you will find this rare bird species. You will certainly find it at the Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre (Zoo), then in the Mabamba swamp which is along the shores of Lake Victoria, in Queen Elizabeth Park along the shores of Lake Edward and Lake Kikorongo and in the Ishasha sector. You can also find this bird in Murchison Falls National Park along the shores of the Nile, along Lake Kyoga and also in Semliki wildlife reserve. In Ziwa rhino reserve, in Nabajuzi swamp and also in Lake Mburo national park are among the many places where shoe bill stork may be seen during a safari in Uganda.
What they feed on.
They mainly feed on small aquatic life like the water snakes, the little crocodiles and also lung fish. They are cautiously capable of walking over floating vegetation and that is how they get hold of their prey. They are partially nocturnal and slow in nature so they can quietly grab their prey.
Breeding period
They breed seasonally and when that time approaches which is around April to June, the male and female birds start bill clacking courtship just before they mate and then later they have to put up a nest together built from broken reeds and any other water vegetation. Once the female has laid the eggs which are usually two in number, they take turns with the male incubating them for about one month. Once the hatching is done, silvery brown chicks are born and they depend on their mother for some time until they learn the skills of hunting from the parents. At about four months, they are grown enough to care for themselves.
The Shoe bill at threat
Records show that there are about 1000 shoe bill storks in Uganda although their population is threatened by the fishermen who have a certain belief about these birds while on water bodies. Also different human activities which are a result of the increase in human population are a huge threat to these birds through habitat destruction. The encroachment on wetlands threatens the survival of these shoe bill storks and in the near future bird watchers on safari in Uganda may not get the chance to see this rare bird when they visit Uganda. These are very wonderful births that are worth protecting and watching which is why their habitats should be included in every traveler’s itinerary.
