marabou storks

“Anyone who has traveled in Uganda, particularly in Kampala, knows about the Marabou storks. They are simply EVERYWHERE. They are scavengers of note. They are huge. They are semi-ugly, semi-pathetic, looking the same way as very old men do - virtually bald reddish heads with the occasional spike of what looks like hair, a long scrawny neck, long skinny legs with knobby knees. In Kampala they sit on (not in, ON) virtually all the trees; on the corners of buildings, on lampposts, in empty lots. They have a menacing feel about them, with their necks hunched into their wings like the boney shoulders of a creepy old guy, ready to pounce.” – from an online Uganda travel blog

The Marabous are attracted to Kampala because of the vast amount of waste. This, together with strong native trees, has turned Kampala into a great habitat for these scavengers.

Apparently the number of Marabou storks has grown significantly over the years, keeping pace with the increasing amount of garbage in Kampala. About a decade ago, the city cut down a number of trees to chase away the birds. The hungry birds relocated to rooftops and garbage bins.

Kampala generates about 1,500 tons of garbage daily; only 40% is removed.

There were only about 10 nests of Marabous in the area in 1969. Today the total population is about 20,000 birds.

Each bird eats about 2 kg a day.... that's about 44 tons a day total! That's some major waste management.


Though they are kind of strange looking and a little scary, I thought this guy looked pretty elegant sitting on top of the light pole near our hotel.