The Charming Birds of Nigeria’s Niger Delta

A poultry of different birds laced the banks of a waning narrow creek, some at the edge of the water, some perched on short tree branches. They were adorned with feathers of beautiful colors. It was mid-day, and the waters appeared to have fallen asleep, wrapped in a blanket of verdant colors. With beaks dipped deep into the waters, a group of feisty birds gently drank at the muddy creek bank. In awe I beheld these birds. In silence, I sat fixed inside a canoe nearby. I dared not make a sound so as not to scare them. After a little while, a painful pang from a mosquito bite on my arm woke me from my trans and I smacked the blood-drunk insect off my skin. The birds noticed my presence and began to saunter farther into the creek. Their struts and splendor jiggled the reins of my enchanted soul.

I waited quietly. A strange-looking bird wadded across the shallow waters flooring a low mangrove forest nearby. It had a funny protrusion at the back of its skull like that of ‘Ajasco’. At first glance, I felt a little repulsed by its look, but I decided to wait and watch it a little longer. As it hunted for food in the mud, its carriage and demeanor dispelled every fragment of dislike from my soul. The bird exuded an aura of royal rareness and matchlessness. Everywhere in the creeks of Niger Delta, one would find these beautiful birds. Pelicans and hawks grace the entire delta and colonies of grey parrots subsist at different places hidden away in the thick swamps. Nigeria is blessed with a wealth of avian wildlife; and a massive bundle of eco-tourism potential they shall ever be. Welcome to the Niger Delta.

   

Birds, Fauna, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Wildlife