Bradley and I went for a walk down to Hippo Pools Hide on the 23rd of June at around 5.15 in the afternoon. On our arrival, we had the most amazing sighting of tens of thousands, possibly millions of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) birds performing a beautifully choreographed ballet around us, rushing in and flattening an island of papyrus reeds as they landed. The flocks of quelea, looking like a rolling black cloud, migrate to the river bed in the afternoon and leave for their daily activities in the early mornings.

The sound of the quelea flying past is indescribable, almost like rushing water, or even a rollercoaster. It is unreal how millions of these small birds move together in such a synchronized fashion. What an unforgettable feeling… Goosebumps allover! 

For those of you that don’t know much about the red-billed quelea, here are some interesting facts.

Quelea are native to bush, grasslands and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa.

The diet of the quelea consists of annual grasses, seeds and grain. As soon as the sun comes up, they come together in their huge flocks and co-operate in finding a suitable feeding place. After a successful search, they settle rapidly and can cause serious damage to crops. In the middle part of the day they rest in shady areas near water and preen. Birds seem to prefer drinking at least twice a day. In the evening they once again fly in search of food.

They grow to 11–13cm long and weigh around 15-20g. During breeding the male is distinguished by its more colourful plumage and red bill. Breeding plumage in male queleas is unusually variable: comprising a facial mask which ranges from black to white in color, breast and crown plumage which varies from yellowish to bright red. For the rest of the year male plumage resembles that of the female, which is a cryptic beige coloration. The female's bill is yellow during breeding and red during the non-breeding season.

Red-billed quelea are regarded as pests by farmers, because they can eliminate fields in a short period of time. Unfortunately due to the numbers and localized decimation of cereal crops, control actions have been undertaken. As many as 150-180 million birds have been killed, this appears to have no effect on the overall quelea population and only a temporary relief from crop damage.

This is a must see for the person who loves to learn more and experience the real bush feeling.