Eagles in Cameroon

[Wingless]

Just got back from Cameroon a week ago after spending 2 months searching for eagles (specifically crowneds). I spent most of my time in the southern half of the country in forested regions, mainly secondary but also some primary. This meant i didnt see as many species as i might of if i had travelled to the northern savannah belt, but there are not many crowned eagles in the region!

There is alot of farmed land in the south now, the forest is disapearing fast, good old slash and burn seems to be the order of the day! I saw cassins hawk eagles, african hawk eagles, long crested eagles, african fish eagles, tawny eagles, gymnogenes, palm nuts, yellow billed kites, red tailed buzzards (B.auguralis), lanners, peregrines, kestrels, spars (ovambo?), dark chanting goshawks, and quite a few unid'd. Didnt see any crowneds in person unfortunately, 2 months wasnt nearly long enough. Will be returning in november this time for around 5-6 months, hopefully ill have a bit more luck!

Some pictures are attached, have a **** camera so they are not very good. The crowned eagle pic is of a juvenile, taken by one of the lads i was working with. The orange dots are caused by the humidity i couldnt keep the thing dry!

Has anyone else been to cameroon on the forum?

.............Infact ive just tried the manage attachment button and the thing doesnt work! If anyone is really interested email me for pics ill try and work it out later.

Robbie

[Tomkuzma]

Hi Robbie,

Good to hear that you are back! Please could you send me the pictures. Cheers.
Hope to seeing you soon...before I go to Kazakhstan (1 April).

Regards
Tomas

tomkuzma@post.cz

[Wingless]

Ok managed to attach pictures, as i said not great quality. I dont know what the pair of birds are in the distance, they are deffinetely eagles and were displaying, talon binding etc. Any guesses? very broad wings and long tail - could it have been crowneds??

Robbie

[ChakChek]

sounds like you had a good time over there. was you doing it for work or research reasons or just off your own back?

good photos aswell :)

[Wingless]

I did it off my own back and whilst i was there worked briefly with some other conservation organisations such as CWAF (they do primate work people can volunteer if your interested, gorrillas and chimps arent my thing though!) and did some work for the Mvog Betsi Zoo in Yaounde (capital city) where CWAF look after the primates, i advised on the bird side of things, although whether anything will ultimately change who knows, the zoo was a terrible place where up until a short while ago the keepers were munching on the animals! Ive got plans for the future which include setting up a captive breeding project for various bird species out there, there are many rare and endangered endemics. ALso, in conjunction with a friend who lives in cameroon and another friend here in the UK we have started an NGO (non government organisation) and have started various projects already, so its looking good for the future. I also had contact with Birdlife International out there and was meant to work with them taking samples from wildfowl, testing for avian flu, however the plans were delayed a month and i couldnt stay long enough to do the study.

Robbie

[NGuruve]

wow nice trip man gd to hear you saw a load of eagles and about the conservation projects gd luck for when you go over there next :supz:

[Wingless]

You and anyone else will be welcome to visit when it's all set up, we already have our own accomodation for visitors, it's very nice!

[NGuruve]

You and anyone else will be welcome to visit when it's all set up, we already have our own accomodation for visitors, it's very nice!
wow thats awsume sounds brilliant lol

[StormRider]

Thats ounds brilliant mate. You lucky sod. I would defo be interested in helping out with research on site as and when you get going. Let me know when things come off mate.
STU

[Wingless]

These are pictures of the "bird club" very nice accomodation with bar and good food! It will be expanding in the near future to include swimming pool and many more rooms. Pictures are of the bar, balcony and a view of the atlantic from the balcony. Ill post updates on the forum when i get out there for anyone interested.

[EagleMan]

great wingless! eagleman is saluting you ,and congratulation1 !crowned eagle are my favourite birds , i'm a big fan, check out the topic about the most powerful eagle that i started a few months ago !:supz: