What is your favorite bird species?
My favorite bird species is the impressive Helmet Vanga
What is your name, and where do you live?
My name is Mihaja RANDRIANJAKA, I live in Antananarivo, Madagascar
Blue Vanga
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
As a Malagasy bird guide, I’m covering the whole of Madagascar
Dark Newtonia
How long have you been a bird guide?
I have been a bird guide for 8 years now
Sickle-billed Vanga
How did you get into bird guiding?
I got into bird guiding by following an ornithology mission as a trainee
Scaly Ground-roller
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
As a bird guide, I like to discover unusual locations. I don’t like it when I don’t see what I’m looking for
Rufous Vanga
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?
In my country (Madagascar), there are several endemic bird families and subfamilies. This is a list of these:
- Family of ground rollers (5 species)
- Family of asities (4 species)
- Family of cuckoo roller (1species)
- Family of vanga (21 species)
- Family of tetraka (11 species)
- Family of mesite (3 species)
Red-tailed Vanga
Cuckoo Roller
Collared Nightjar
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
This is a classic birding tour :
- Antananarivo (Tsarasaotra Lake, sheltering some waterbird species)
- Andasibe (National Park of Andasibe and around. Rainforest showing forest bird species like ground rollers, the vangas, etc)
- Ranomafana ( National Park of Ranomafana: Rainforest showing forest species)
- Isalo (National Park of Isalo is an unusual location thanks to its impressive landscape of sandstone.)
- Zombitse (National Park of Zombitse is a transitional forest, which is mainly dry)
- Tulear (including Tsimanampetsotse, Nosy ve, the spiny forest of Ifaty, and around for shore birds
Velvet Asity
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
Mating season starts in October, and the birds are more active, so they are easier to spot. The best months are October and November
Subdesert Mesite
If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
Please contact Mickael from the local Tour Operator Madagascar Mozaic Tour to organize the trip: contact@madagascar-mozaic-tour.com or visit the website: www.madagascar-mozaic-tour.com
Madagascar Pochard
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?
Madagascar is a dream place for bird watchers because of the high rate and level of endemism (which reaches the family and even the order).
Pitta-like Ground-roller
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