14. Common Buzzard Unsurprisingly, most of the birds on this list are residents: they stay all year round and breed here, though they may move locally to find food and breeding sites. But this one is a ‘palearctic migrant’, which means it is only to be seen in this part of Africa on its way from Eurasia in September to November (presumably on its way south) and February to March (presumably on its way back north). It is uncommon in West Africa, so I’m guessing that the main route takes is down one or other side of the Red Sea and the eastern side of our continent. It is also called the Steppe Buzzard, which figures, or the Eurasian Buzzard, which is not so helpful. Bird migration is a wonder of our world: their sense of timing and, even more, of navigation, bringing them back in some cases to exactly the same breeding spot or nest year after year, is astounding. Many birds, including these buzzards, travel in large groups: do they find their way by the stars? Or by the magnetic field generated by the earth’s molten core? Or have they just got very good memories? Perhaps all of the above? Birds of AFRICAMA House 32 Birds of AFRICAMA House 33