Kartong Bird Observatory

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Kartong Bird Observatory

Bird Migration Research, Conservation and Education. The first Bird Observatory in West Africa. K.B.O. is located overlooking a former sand mine.

Since mining stopped these areas have filled with water during each rainy season and created one of the best birding sites along the coast of The Gambia. Bird ringing began at Kartong in 1996 with the pioneering work of Mike King and John High. To carry this work forward a team of ringers from the U.K. has now established a permanent ringing station at Kartong. In the last year we have ringed over 2800 birds of 120 species. Many of these species have been caught in large numbers allowing us to develop new ageing and sexing criteria for an avifauna that is understudied. We have caught many migrants from the Palearctic and hope to increase our knowledge of their migration patterns through this part of West Africa. We run regular ringing courses for bird ringers from the U.K. and hope to develop these to involve ringers from other countries. Each ringing course sponsors a number of Gambian students to gain valuable work experience learning the skills of bird ringing. Specific studies presently include leg flagging Spur-winged Plover allowing us to identify individuals in the field. This enables us to not only follow individuals dispersal from the site but also the breeding biology of the pairs that nest here. Hooded Vultures are also being ringed with special rings which allow us to identify individuals as they move around the area. Vultures are suffering a population decline in many parts of the world and as they play an important role in the environment data collected now will help our population monitoring. The Osprey is one of the most spectacular birds at Kartong. Many spend the winter in our recording area and we actively follow birds to identify individuals from their colour rings. We work closely with the Osprey Study Group and pass all our information on to them in the UK. Over 375 species of bird have been recorded at Kartong. The wetlands form the centre of our recording area. Other adjacent habitats include, sand dunes, foreshore, tidal mud flats, Savannah scrub, rice fields cultivations and a remnant of high forest. The wetlands here hold water throughout the year, although much diminished after April this fresh water is a magnet for water birds and migrants. The extensive reed and rush beds provide roost refuge and breeding sites for some species which are otherwise difficult to see in the Gambia. Many of the species here are very approachable and allow wonderful photographic opportunities. Birds recorded here recently include African Crake, Dwarf Bitten, Little Bitten, Black-crowned Crane, Painted Snipe, Allen’s Gallinule, Pygmy Goose, African Reed Warbler, Brown Noddy, Golden-tailed Woodpecker and Cassin’s Honeybird. Palaearctic migrants include European Roller, Wryneck, Woodchat Shrike, Great Reed Warbler, Temmink’s Stint Lesser Kestrel and Marsh Sandpiper. Perhaps the most spectacular event of the day is the heron roost. Each evening between 900 and 1600 herons of 8 species come to the reeds to sleep and feed. Between November and February.

11/08/2026

This bird was first seen at Kartong fish factory ponds by Sulayman Jabang yesterday and photographed by Musa Touray today. This is the first record of Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor, for Kartong Bird Observatory.

06/08/2026

The run of recent controls continues with these details for a Willow Warbler ringed at the Estación Ornitológica de SEO at Punta Blanca, Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the north African coast. It was on its northward migration in March 2025 and recaptured in Kartong in February this year. Only the second Willow Warbler control recorded at KBO.

04/08/2026

This recovery is the 4th Reed Warbler ringed in Spain to be recaptured in Kartong and the 7th Reed Warbler linking KBO and sites in the Iberian peninsula.

28/07/2026

We have just received news of an exciting control of a Reed Warbler which was ringed at KBO (Stala ringing site) on 27/11/25 and recaptured in breeding condition at Pensthorpe Nature Park in Norfolk, UK, on 18/07/26.

02/06/2026

We are very proud to be able to support this project with our knowledge and experience.

28/05/2026

Did you know BTO Science revealed Nightingales breeding in the UK spend our winter months in a very small area of West Africa, in and around The Gambia? 🌍

This means that UK breeding birds are at greater risk from threats here, such as drought and habitat loss.

They are isolated from other European Nightingales, so impacts here are concentrated in the UK population, making detection easier than if they were diluted across Europe.

More studies like this, using increasingly small and accurate tracking devices, will allow scientists to discover whether other migratory species are restricted to such small overwintering grounds like Nightingales, with wider implications for conservation action.

📖 https://www.bto.org/our-work/science/publications/papers/extreme-migratory-connectivity-mirroring-non

📷 Edmund Fellowes / BTO

27/05/2026

KBO were heavily involved with researching this paper on the wintering area of UK Nightingales.

05/05/2026

An exciting Palearctic record of a Whimbrel ringed and darviced at KBO.
White-JT was ringed at Kartong on 19/2/26. 73 days later it was found by James Mcgrath 2,730 miles north at Pilmore Strand, Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. This is our second record to Ireland and the only the third to Western Europe.
Photo: James Mcgrath.

27/03/2026

This morning, we were joined by four students from Princeton University who were observing our research program methods and techniques.
Birds caught and processed included Long-tailed Nightjar, Cattle Egret, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, and Pied-winged Swallow. An excellent morning enjoyed by all.

13/03/2026

The African Goshawk, Aerospiza tachiro macroscelides, is a rare species at Kartong. This is only the third individual ringed at Kartong Bird Observatory. The most recent was in 2015.

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Kartong Bird Observatory
Kartung

Website

http://www.kartongbirdobservatory.com/

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