A few days ago, I took a walk along the paved walkways of the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Ecotourism Park. I have been a regular fixture at the park since its launch in July, 2022. Walking, jogging and cycling in this green swath of land is otherworldly.
Today, I am not here to exercise. I am here to kick back, relax and listen to beautiful songs produced by those birds I always write about. As I sip some coffee, I try to identify singers of specific songs. The longer I listen, the more I notice distinct tones, patterns and pitches.The yellow-fronted canary, known for its silvery twitter, is a true definition of a songbird. The red-chested sunbird produces a very entertaining high-pitched jumble. The sunbird’s call includes a short chek, chek, chek followed by a long cheee, cheee, cheee. My favorite songs are not the only sounds I hear. The burbling streams of water are equally audible. The fusion of birds’ music and water stream ripples is priceless.
I am on a bench placed near Muhazi Pond. Ponds, named after Rwanda’s popular lakes, are scattered across the park. Before I occupied the pond side bench, I grabbed a cup of latte from the Nyandungu branch of Bourbon Coffee.
The park is a hive of activity. Some park goers are walking, while others are cycling. Parents are burning calories with their kids. Bourbon’s tables are occupied by modern workaholics glued to the screens of their laptops.
At the recreation area, groups of young people are posing for photos. As the youngsters enjoy their Kodak moment, a Caucasian woman, pushing a fancy baby carriage, slows down to snap a selfie before proceeding towards the parking area.