Notes on birds of Seronera area, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Abstract

The Serengeti Ecosystem is a natural heaven for research and tourism. Such activities have often focused on large mammal species, with minimal regard for birds, even though the park is an Important Bird Area. This study explored bird abundance in the Seronera area of Serengeti National Park, one of the most visited sections of the park. Understanding the variety and abundance of birds in the Seronera area is useful for enhancing tourism. Bird point counts were undertaken in riverine, wooded bushland, and grassland habitats. A total of 99 bird species were observed within a three day visit to the park, with most individuals (38.9%) being Gramnivores. The density of birds was dependent on the habitat type; with the riverine having the greatest density, mostly of the order Galliformes. These findings could be integrated into the tourism planning and marketing for the park so as to diversify tourism activities. Several sections of the Seronera area within the riverine and wooded bushland  areas could be designated as birding areas, where guided walks could be undertaken and other activities such as game drives are limited.