Proper. I didn’t if truth be told move to Afghanistan for birding. I had one more reason for that, looking to fortify an area NGO and its initiatives to coach Afghan girls – one thing this is extraordinarily essential because of the present Taliban ban on feminine training previous sixth grade. In a slightly disguised promoting plug, I will be able to provide an explanation for extra on the finish of this submit (and almost definitely in any other posts describing my travels in Afghanistan). Those commercials are for a just right purpose (see above), so I don’t really feel dangerous about them. However in fact, you’ll be able to skip them when getting close to the top of this submit – regardless that that can imply no longer the use of your wisdom and talents to assist Afghan girls. Oh god, I sound just like the Pope now. Apologies. Now not my taste, generally (I am hoping).
So, birds in Kabul. Despite the fact that I spent only some hours searching for them (and I didn’t deliver binoculars nor a digicam, a little bit too nervous to be taken for a undercover agent through some keen Talib). This made me ascertain (to not my nice marvel) that an funding in just right photographic apparatus is certainly a just right funding. The pictures inquisitive about my cell phone all suck. Badly. I’m simplest together with them on this submit to come up with my real-life Kabul enjoy …
4 species are essentially the most simply noticed within the few city parks (into which girls don’t seem to be if truth be told allowed to go into – I’m really not certain about feminine birds).
Those species are …
… Eurasian Tree Sparrow …
… Giggling Dove (the least shy amongst them, making them essentially the most appropriate for cell phone chook pictures) …
… Not unusual Myna (whose Dari title may be Myna, or one thing very same) …
… and Eurasian Magpie (I’m guessing it’s Eurasian and no longer any other, very similar-looking magpie).
And naturally, there may be a lot of Rock Doves (feral), specifically close to one specific mosque . Legend has it that any one who kills this type of pigeons will move blind – for as soon as, a superstition I extremely respect and which I want shall we increase to all different chook species as smartly.
You’ll be able to purchase chook feed from an roughly 6-year previous boy status subsequent to the doves after which feed the pigeons – or outsource this task to a child status within reach, as I did (see underneath).
Consuming water may be supplied, regardless that it seems a little bit doubtful in high quality.
Rather unfortunately, Kabul additionally has its proportion of captive birds. Some are within the zoo, similar to …
… Demoiselle Crane …
… and Bearded Vulture …
… whilst others are living in cages close to retail outlets, with the Chukar Partridge a specific favourite …
… or in cages on the chook marketplace someplace within the bustling downtown bazaar space.
Changing into the top-listed birder for Kabul method you simplest want to see 33 species, one indication of the tough state of affairs the rustic is in. Any other is the truth that some of the birding places indexed for the town, a minimum of part of them sound like they’re or have been almost definitely roughly off-limits for the average Afghan inhabitants – enclaves of top safety. A minimum of web page names similar to Hamid Karzai Airport, ISAF Headquarters, US Embassy, UNOCA Compound, or Bagram Air Box recommend this to me.
Principally, that is all I will be able to say about birding in Kabul, I’m afraid. However now that I’ve lined the mandatory birds, listed here are a couple of pictures taken whilst strolling round in Kabul.
And as introduced previous, some background of what my Afghan pals are doing in Kabul and the way you could possibly fortify them.
We’re recently that specialize in two spaces – one is getting some mineralogy/geology labs to paintings once more in order that Afghanistan can get extra worth out of its wealthy sources, and thus create extra jobs for the folks. Somebody with wisdom of the apparatus on this space and an passion in serving to may be very welcome to touch me.
The second one, much more urgent space is feminine training. We will be able to identify a sequence of on-line workshops, trainings, and seminars for younger women. The themes for those might quilt a variety however will normally center of attention at the building of essential talents to empower those girls. If you have an interest in being a part of this and are keen to proportion your wisdom with Afghan girls from numerous backgrounds, please touch me at kai.pflug at gmail.com (see additionally the touch web page of this web page). I will be able to be more than happy to offer extra main points.