Pian-Upe Eco Camp listed as eBird Hotspot

International bird observations platform eBird approved the Pian-Upe Eco Camp as bird watching hotspot. This is a great achievement of Kara-Tunga Foundation‘s – Karamoja Conservation Zones initiative who established the camp as research and monitoring centre.

The hotspot is located at the southern slopes of Mount Kadam Central Forest Reserve and at the boundaries of Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve.

The observations were made by Karamoja regional well known bird watcher Mr. Lokutae Brian, who observed 87 bird species at the hotpsot. The observations were made at the onset of the rainy season in March 2023. The list can be viewed on the eBird website by clicking here: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L23367399

What is the Karamoja Conservation Zones initiative?

Karamoja Conservation Zone is an initiative of the non-profit Kara-Tunga Foundation. It works with small holder farmers living adjacent to the two key biodiversity areas: Mount Moroto and Mount Kadam – Pian-Upe. The initiative aims at stopping poaching and deforestation by tackling the root cause: poverty. It does so by incubating sustainable forest-based community enterprises. And simultaneously improving the protection, research, monitoring and restoration of the protected areas.

The Pian-Upe Eco Camp is located at the heart of the initiative and plays an important role in the sustainability of the approach by its permanent presence.

What makes bird watching in Karamoja special?

Birders have featured Northeastern Karamoja sub-region as ‘Undiscovered Outback of Uganda‘ and ‘A truly unique birding Environment’ due to the magnificent scenery, remarkable tribal cultures, birds and wildlife that you won’t see elsewhere in Uganda. Learn more on our Birds of Karamoja page.

Why is the listing important?

An eBird hotspot provides a way for birders to share information about where to find birds. It helps to track bird migration patterns. It helps to promote conservation by highlighting important birding areas.

These hotspots can help to raise awareness of the need to protect bird habitats. This is important because birds play a vital role in ecosystems, and their loss can have a cascading effect on other wildlife.

What is eBird?

eBird is a citizen science project that collects bird observations from around the world. Its users can submit bird sightings online or through a mobile app. The data is used by scientists to track bird populations and trends, and to inform conservation efforts. eBird is also a great way to contribute to scientific research and help conserve birds.

What are the important observed species?

These species are important because they play important roles in their ecosystems, and they are also popular with birdwatchers. By protecting these species, we can help to ensure that they continue to thrive for many years to come.

1. African Pygmy Kingfisher: This species is listed as Vulnerable, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
2. Blue-naped Mousebird: This species is listed as Near Threatened, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
3. Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird: This species is listed as Vulnerable, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
4. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove: This species is listed as Vulnerable, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
5. Green Woodhoopoe: This species is listed as Near Threatened, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
6. Martial Eagle: This species is listed as Near Threatened, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
7. Narina Trogon: This species is listed as Near Threatened, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting.
8. Northern Yellow White-eye: This species is listed as Least Concern, meaning that it is not currently at risk of becoming endangered. However, it is important to note that this species is still vulnerable to habitat loss and hunting.

Pian-Upe Eco Camp, eBird Hotpsot species list

1	African Firefinch
2	African Green-Pigeon
3	African Paradise-Flycatcher
4	African Pygmy Kingfisher
5	African Scops Owl
6	African Thrush
7	Arrow-marked Babbler
8	Augur Buzzard
9	Bar-breasted Firefinch
10	Black Cuckooshrike
11	Black-chested Snake-Eagle
12	Black-crowned Tchagra
13	Blue-naped Mousebird
14	Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
15	Bronze Mannikin
16	Bruce’s Green-Pigeon
17	Buff-bellied Warbler
18	Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
19	Chinspot Batis
20	Common Bulbul
21	Common Buzzard
22	Common Ostrich
23	Eastern Plantain-eater
24	Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird
25	Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
26	European Bee-eater
27	Fork-tailed Drongo
28	Four-banded Sandgrouse
29	Foxy Cisticola
30	Freckled Nightjar
31	Greater Blue-eared Starling
32	Greater Honeyguide
33	Green Woodhoopoe
34	Green-backed Camaroptera
35	Green-backed Eremomela
36	Grey Kestrel
37	Grey-headed Kingfisher
38	Hamerkop
39	Helmeted Guineafowl
40	Hooded Vulture
41	Isabelline Shrike
42	Lanner Falcon
43	Laughing Dove
44	Little Bee-eater
45	Malachite Kingfisher
46	Mariqua Sunbird
47	Martial Eagle
48	Meyer’s Parrot
49	Montagu’s Harrier
50	Mottled Swift
51	Mountain Buzzard
52	Narina Trogon
53	Northern Crombec
54	Northern Puffback
55	Northern Red Bishop
56	Northern White-faced Owl
57	Northern Yellow White-eye
58	Nubian Woodpecker
59	Pale Flycatcher
60	Pallid Harrier
61	Pygmy Batis
62	Red-eyed Dove
63	Red-fronted Barbet
64	Red-fronted Tinkerbird
65	Red-headed Weaver
66	Shikra
67	Silverbird
68	Singing Cisticola
69	Speckle-fronted Weaver
70	Speckled Mousebird
71	Spot-flanked Barbet
72	Stone Partridge
73	Striped Kingfisher
74	Tambourine Dove
75	Tawny-flanked Prinia
76	Tropical Boubou
77	Variable Sunbird
78	Vinaceous Dove
79	Violet-backed Starling
80	White Stork
81	White-bellied Go-away-bird
82	White-browed Coucal
83	White-crested Turaco
84	White-headed Barbet
85	Yellow-bellied Eremomela
86	Yellow-mantled Widowbird
87	Yellow-whiskered Greenbul

Photos

Photographers: Jonathan Onongo Lo’Arapai and David Yekutiel