BIRDS FOUND IN NIGERIA...

   It will surprise you to know that there are about 940 species of bird in Nigeria, which are classified as ENDEMIC and ACCIDENTAL.
   According to checklist of Birds of the World, Accidental birds are not endemic to Nigeria they just happen to be found here! And amazingly way more than the endemic ones!
    Endemic birds are therefore, birds specifically found in Nigeria, and they are grouped into FOUR namely: 

THE IBADAN MALIMBE

The Ibadan malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis) is a rare species of Bird.
It is endemic to Nigeria, where it is known only from the southwestern part of the country. It was first discovered in 1951 and was common at one point, but forest clearing made it rare.

Identification

The bird is about 20 centimeters long. The male is black with a red head and breast. The female has smaller red areas.
The bird forages in pairs or small groups, sometimes alongside the red-headed malimbe (Malimbus rubricollis). 

 Habitat

 It lives in forest and woodland habitat, including degraded areas.
 

THE ANAMBRA WAXBILL

The Anambra waxbill (Estrilda poliopareia) is another specie of bird found in wetter land of southern Nigeria.

Identification

The anambra waxbill is approximately 12cm long. This species of a dun-coloured finch with reddish brown bill and rump. If looked at closely, it has very fine barring on it upper parts, sides of breast and flanks, with unusual pal eyes. It has a typical waxbill-like tzzt... call.

Habitat

The Anambra waxbill lives in small flocks of up to 20 birds or more. It appears to be found at southern Nigeria, and is known with certainty from only five reported sightings. It is usually found in long grass along rivers, lagoon sandbanks, marshes, swamps and forest. It feeds principally on grass seeds taken from seedheads.

 ROCK FIREFINCH

The Rock firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis) is another specie found in northern Nigeria. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 29,000 km². The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

 Identification

The Rock firefinch has a blue-grey bill, red back in the male and reddish brown back in the female and juvenile and broad primaries in both the adult and juvenile.

 

Location

It is commonly found in bushy and rocky outcrops on the Jos Plateau. It probably feeds on grass seeds. Yea, think i remember this particular bird while in Jos!!!!

 

JOS PLATEAU INDIGOBIRD

The Jos Plateau indigobird (Vidua maryae) is a species of bird in the Viduidae family. Also endemic to Nigeria.

It lays its eggs in the nest of the rock firefinch which is also restricted to Nigeria. Because of their inability to incubate their eggs, they lay their eggs in the nest of the rock firefinch and then take away the exact number of laid eggs from the host bird in order to avoid suspicion from the host bird . After hatching they exhibit dominance against the hatchlings of the rock firefinchers.

 Their breeding seasons are all round the year but more pronounced during the cold Harmattan period between July and December.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are dry woodland and shrubland in rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

If you want to know and learn more about the Accidental Birds, keep a date!!!

CROSS RIVER PRIMATES

Cross River gorillas are found in a river forest called the AFI MOUNTAIN. It is a wildlife sanctuary created specifically for the purpose of conserving these endangered gorillas and other primates alike in Nigeria and Cameroon!

The sanctuary is currently managed by the Cross River State Forestry Commission with support from a partnership of conservation NGOs.

Aside the gorillas, Afi mountain also contain beautiful monkeys called the drills.

A close relative of the mandrill baboon, which were thought to have gone extinct in Nigeria, until they were discovered again by a couple Liza and Peter Jenkins.
Determined to stop the extinction of the drills, in 1991 Liza set up the first in-situ captive breeding and rehabilitation center for any endangered primate in Africa in the mountainous Afi River Forest Reserve.

It was reported that drills have reproduced poorly in Zoos, but the Drill Rehab and Breeding center (DRBC) has recorded over 150 births to rehabilitated parents and their offspring, making the project the world's most successful captive breeding program for an endangered primate. Thumbs up for the Jenkins!!!!!

The interesting part is, it has attracted many tourists whom have testified how beautiful this place is. It gives you the de ja vu of being part of nature! Here you can watch the sun rise and set.

You walk on the wobbly but safe canopy walk up in trees which are hundreds of years old and swim in the natural spring.

How amazing right???This is just the tip of the iceberg! You need to visit to understand what these tourists mean. And for you to have the feel yourself, I mean the de ja vu of being part of nature?You need to visit!

And if planning for an holiday,excursion, honeymoon etc, AFI MOUNTAIN is a place to be!!!