I went to a collecting trip in Malawi during the October of 2009 together with colleagues from the Chicago Field Museum and the National Museum of Malawi. We collcted birds and bird parasites, from avian flu probes to ecto- and endoparasites. The two main collecting areas were the Wvaza marsh Rserve (lowland) and Nyika National Park (highlands). The trip was highly successful and the colleted specimens comprise multiple new species that are being described.
On my way to
the camp I had to stay in a hotel in Mzuzu
Elephants near
the headquarters of the Wvaza Park
A male elephant
preparing for a display of power
Malachite
kingfisher is one of the most beautiful kingfishers
A less elaborate,
but still amazingly colored kingfisher
Camel spiders
are among my favorites: agile and fearsome
A large soldier
ant is prepared to defend the nest
John Bates
with a cuckoo
Sunbirds are humming
birds of the eastern hemisphere
The diversity
of birds in the area was amazing
A small
herd of antelopes is a bit nervous
But buffalo
are not nervous at all
Kudu is a
forest antelope
Hippos
enjoy another sunny day in the mud.
Pumbaa!
Warthogs always look busy.
This flag
is designed to catch and kill flies transmitting diseases.
These
complex ears and nose help to detect sound
A chameleon
This
small rodent is well adapted to arboreal life style.
One of the
tit species in Malawi
The crew
is putting up mist nets.
Resting by
the fire after setting mist nets.
Frogmouth
has a trademark curious look
Roan antelopes
in Nyika come to the lake to dring and cool off
A bushbuck
visiting our camp
Preparing
for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa
