The Ecology of Gibb’s Farm

Gibb’s Farm partners with the neighboring Ngorongoro Conservation Area Administration (NCAA) to make sure that guests follow all rules in respect to wildlife while in the conservation area and on the Farm. It also works to conserve its own forest reserve. Gibb’s Farm works with local communities on wildlife conservation efforts, including how to live with elephants that wander out of the NCAA forests.

•The location of Gibb’s Farm along the Ngorongoro Conservation line allows travellers to be escorted directly from the farm on a walking safari deep into the forest with farm guides and reserve rangers. It is a six hour walk to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Located halfway between the entry gates of Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, guided safari adventures from Gibb’s Farm are half day or full day occurrences. See video at right (1)
•Gibb’s Farm assists researchers in bird nesting and habitat restoration and takes census of bird species on the farm estate and nearby NCAA forests.
•Gibb’s Farm employs 3-4 full-time naturalists and 10-15 part-time guides. They help the guest and staff with information and interpretation of the biomes in our area. An extensive bird list has been compiled and continues to be updated (see below). A flower, tree and shrub listing is currently in progress.

BIRD LIST

The abundant gardens and forest reserves of Gibb’s Farm possess an amazing array of plant and birdlife. To help the traveler discover her bounty, resident naturalists, farmers and visitors have identified her vast array of life upon which we maintain a comprehensive listing.

GIBB’S FARM is home to over 210 species of birds each season, and each year a few new ones are recorded. The following list contains 265 bird sightings. Avid birders are encouraged to contribute any new sightings:

Wildlife Conservation

HERONS (Ardeidae)

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephal)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

HAMERKOP (Scopidae)

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)

STORKS (Ciconidae)

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

IBISES & SPOONBILLS (Threskiornithidae)

Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

DUCKS, GEESE & SWANS (Anatidae)

African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)

SANDPIPERS (Palearctic Shore birds)

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

HAWKS, KITES & EAGLES (Accipitridae)

African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro)

African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

Ayres' Hawk-Eagle (Aquila ayresii)

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

Black (Great) Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Black-breasted Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus)

African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates)

Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus)

Pallid Har`rier (Circus macrourus)

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

FALCONS (Falconidae)

Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)

PHEASANTS, PARTRIDGES ETC. (Phasianidae)

Hildebrandt's Francolin (Francolinus hildebrandti)

GUINEAFOWL (Numididae)

Crested Guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

PIGEONS & DOVES (Columbidae)

African Green-Pigeon (Treron calva)

African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens)

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur chalcospilos)

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Lemon Dove (Columba larvata)

Rameron Pigeon (Columba arquatrix)

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia)

Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)

CRANES (Gruidae)

Gray Crowned-Crane (Balearica regulorum)

PARROTS, MACAWS (Psittacidae)

Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

TURACOS (Musophagidae)

Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi)

CUCKOOS (Cuculidae)

African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis)

African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus)

Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus)

Dideric Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius)

Klaas' Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)

Levaillant's Cuckoo (Clamator levaillantii)

Pied (Jacobin) Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)

Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius)

White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus)

BARN-OWLS (Tytonidae)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

NIGHTJARS (Caprimulgidae)

Abyssinian (Montane) Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus)

Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

SWIFTS (Apodidae)

Common Swift (Apus apus)

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

MOUSEBIRDS (Colidae)

Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus)

Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)

TROGONS (Trogonidae)

Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina)

KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae)

African Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ispidina picta)

Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata)

BEE-EATERS (Meropidae)

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates)

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

ROLLERS (Coracidae)

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudata)

HOOPOES (Upupidae)

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

WOOD-HOOPOES (Phoeniculidae)

Common Scimitar-bill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas)

Green Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus

purpureus)

HORNBILLS (Bucerotidae)

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (Ceratogymna brevis)

BARBETS & TINKERBIRDS

(Capitonidae)

Moustached Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus leucomystax)

Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus)

HONEYGUIDES (Indicatoridae)

Green-backed (Eastern) Honeyguide (Prodotiscus zambesiae)

Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor)

Scaly throated Honeyguide(Indicator variegatus)

Pallid Honeyguide (Indicator meliphilus)

WOODPECKERS (Picidae)

Bearded Woodpecker (Dendropicos namaquus)

Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

Gray Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus)

SWALLOWS & MARTINS (Hirundinidae)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Lesser Striped-Swallow (Hirundo abyssinica)

Mosque Swallow (Hirundo senegalensis)

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)

Black Sawwing (Psalidoprocne holomelas)

Rock Martin (Hirundo fuligula)

WAGTAILS & PIPITS (Motacillidae)

African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp

Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara)

Striped Pipit (Anthus lineiventris)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

CUCKOO-SHRIKES (Campephagidae)

Black Cuckoo-shrike (Campephaga flava)

Gray Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caesia)

Purple Throated Cuckoo-shrike (Campephaga quiscalina)

THRUSHES (Turdidae)

Olive Thrush (Turdus olivaceus)

BULBULS (Pycnonotidae)

Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)

Eastern Mountain-Greenbul (Andropadus nigriceps)

Gray-olive Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cerviniventris)

Yellow-bellied Greenbul (Chlorocichla flaviventris)

CISTICOLAS ETC. (Cisticolidae)

Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica)

Black-headed Apalis (Apalis melanocephala)

Brown-headed Apalis (Apalis alticola)

Gray-capped Warbler (Eminia lepi)

Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura)

Grey-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura)

Hunter's Cisticola (Cisticola hunteri)

Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana)

Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops)

Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

Winding Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes)

Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida)

OLD WORLD WARBLERS (Sylvidae)

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Brown Warbler/Parisoma (Parisoma lugens)

Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens)

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida)

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)

Greater Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

Mountain Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta similis)

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS (Muscicapidae)

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)

African Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

Ashy Flycatcher (Muscicapa caerulescens)

Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)

Red-capped Robin-Chat (Cossypha natalensis)

Rueppell’s Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa)

Southern Black-Flycatcher (Melaenornis pammelaina)

Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia)

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher (Melaenornis fischeri)

WATTLE-EYES ETC. (Platysteirdae)

Black-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira peltata)

Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor)

MONARCH FLYCATCHERS (Monarchidae)

African Crested-Flycatcher (Trochocercus cyanomelas)

African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis)

White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher (Elminia albicauda)

BABBLERS (Timalidae)

African Hill Babbler (Illadopsis abyssinica)

Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii)

SUNBIRDS (Nectarinidae)

Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis)

Collared Sunbird (Hedydipna collaris)

Eastern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris mediocris)

Golden-winged Sunbird (Nectarinia reichenowi)

Green-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra verticalis)

Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa)

Tacazze Sunbird (Nectarinia tacazze)

Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus)

WHITE-EYES (Zosteropidae)

Broad-ringed White-eye (Zosterops poliogaster)

OLD WORLD ORIOLES (Oriolidae)

African Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

SHRIKES (Laniidae)

Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

Lesser Gray Shrike (Lanius minor)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

BUSH-SHRIKES (Malaconotidae)

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegala)

Black-fronted Bushshrike (Telophorus nigrifrons)

Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis)

Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike (Telophorus sulfureopectus)

Tropical Boubou (Laniarius aethiopicus)

CROWS, JAYS & MAGPIES (Corvidae)

Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis)

OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae)

Gray-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus)

STARLINGS & MYNAS (Sturnidae)

Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)

Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio)

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

Waller's Starling (Onychognathus walleri)

Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea)

WEAVERS ETC. (Ploceidae)

Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht)

Black-necked Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)

Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris)

Grosbeak Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Holub's Golden-Weaver (Ploceus xanthops)

Lesser Masked-Weaver (Ploceus intermedius)

Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea)

Red-collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens)

Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)

Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)

Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei)

Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

Black Bishop (Euplectes gierowii)

Yellow Bishop (Euplectes capensis)

WAXBILLS ETC. (Estrildidae)

Abyssinian Crimson-wing (Cryptospiza salvadorii)

African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata)

Black & white Mannikin (Lonchura bicolor)

Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata)

Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

Crimson-rumped Waxbill (Estrilda rhodopyga)

Gray-headed Negrofinch (Nigrita canicapilla)

Peters' Twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus)

Purple Grenadier (Uraeginthus ianthinogaster)

Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)

Yellow-bellied Waxbill (Estrilda quartinia)

INDIGOBIRDS & WHYDAHS (Viduidae)

Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura)

Straw-tailed Whydah (Vidua fischeri)

SISKINS, CANARIES, CROSSBILLS ETC. (Fringillidae)

Southern Citril (Serinus hypostictus)

Cape Canary (Serinus canicollis)

Streaky Seedeater (Serinus striolatus)

Thick-billed Seedeater (Serinus burtoni)

Yellow-rumped Seedeater (Serinus atrogular)

(1) Out in the wild from Gibb’s Farm.