November, 2023

Our last night on our birding expedition was spent on the river in Botswana. We had a fantastic morning river boat ride birding the river and the banks of the Okavango River.

Birding in the Okavango Delta is an amazing experience due to the diverse bird species that inhabit the region. The delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Botswana, attracts birdwatchers with its rich ecosystems of wetlands, lagoons, and channels.

You can spot a variety of water-associated birds such as herons, egrets, and storks and the African Fish Eagle. The Okavango Delta is also home to various kingfisher species, bee-eaters, and the vibrant malachite kingfisher.

We recorded over 100 species of birds on our morning excursion. The big sighting of the morning was the beautiful pels fishing owl.

As we were heading back to our lodge, we started to smell smoke and then began to see the signs that there was a fire headed our way.

Since much of this flood plain is composed of reeds and sedges, it dries and burns very quickly. Many of the farmers will burn sections to provide new grass shoots for their cattle to graze on. We have no idea how this fire started.

By the next morning, much of the fire was out. Ground nesting birds, insect hatches, reptiles and mammals were all greatly affected by this fire. It was sad to see the beautiful reeds and grasses burned down to the water’s edge.

With the rainy season approaching, this area will grow quickly and once again provide a home for nature.