The Birds of Urban Kigali, Rwanda

In my visit to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, I was surprised by the many gatherings of large birds in the city center. This is something you really never see in Asia--at least not flying freely.

In one tree toward the back of town, dozens of wetlands birds were nesting in a tree.

A pair [of storks?] nesting.

I love crows and ravens. They are very intelligent creatures with lots of personality. In the US ours are solid black, so I was particularly attracted to these with white bands around their neck. I'm told that many Rwandans don't particularly like them. During the genocide, as pile of bodies lay in the street, swarms of these birds came to feed. So to many, they are a reminder of death.

Not far from the storks, a large gathering of birds of prey [hawks or eagles?] perched in trees and rooftops around a courtyard. They didn't appear to be nesting so I wondered if they were being fed.

A raptor perching in Kigali.