23 Jan
23Jan
A few days ago, I took a walk along the paved walkways of the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Ecotourism Park. 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 the 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 the true definition of a songbird. The red-chested sun bird produces a very entertaining, high-pitched jumble. The sun bird’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. Other ponds found in the park are Kivu, Ihema and Ruhondo. Before I occupied the pondside bench, I grabbed a cup of latte from Nyandungu Restaurant.

The park is a hive of activity. Some park goers are walking, while others are cycling. Parents are burning calories with their kids. the restaurant'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 moments, a Caucasian woman, pushing a fancy baby carriage, slows down to snap a selfie before proceeding towards the parking area.