Voices of the Flyways: Blessings Chingagwe

Blessings Chingagwe is the Programme Manager at the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESW), the BirdLife Partner in Malawi. The country lies along the African-Eurasian Flyway, an important migratory route linking Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Join Blessings to find out about her work at Chia Lagoon, a site that provides critical non-breeding and stopover habitat for migratory waterbirds.

Tell us about where you work. What is the habitat like, and what makes it important for migratory birds? 

Blessings Chingagwe: “We work at Chia Lagoon, located in Malawi’s central district of Nkhotatoka, and a location recently recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The 1700 ha lagoon forms part of a global network of sites identified as critical for the survival of biodiversity.

The lagoon is a shallow freshwater wetland in Malawi characterised by open water, mudflats, seasonally flooded grasslands, and surrounding agricultural landscapes. Seasonal water level changes expose rich mudflats that support invertebrates, an essential food source for migratory and resident waterbirds.

The lagoon is home to diverse species, including the Black Heron, Ring-necked Dove, Lesser Masked Weaver, African Jacana, and African Pygmy-goose. It functions as a feeding, resting, and refuge site, particularly during migration and the non-breeding season. Its ecological productivity and strategic location make it an important link within the wider African–Eurasian Flyway network.”

Header image: African Pygmy-goose. ©Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok

You must love working on flyways conservation. What’s your favourite thing about doing this job?

BC: “My favourite part of this work is a boat ride to one of the famous rivers called Luwi, which we call “African Jacana Bedroom” because the display of African Jacana is so amazing and stunning. Most of the local community members have never been to this place, including the Traditional Authority. We took some of the community members to appreciate it recently and they were shocked that they have such a place in their area.”

What have you and your organisation been doing for migratory birds under the ERF project?

BC: “WESM mobilised the local leaders, Friends of Mulanje and the community to raise their voice against bauxite mining in the iconic Mulanje Mountain, which is also a Heritage Site. Mulhakho wa Alomwe is a cultural group that directly benefits from Mulanje Mountain, and they strongly opposed any daring mining projects. We have recently witnessed miners being evacuated from the mountain by local communities and the district council without even the support from NGOs or WESM. We attribute this to the success of the project with support from ERF.

Over the past three years, supported by the Darwin Initiative, the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi has conducted the first comprehensive biodiversity and ecological assessment of Chia Lagoon. This is the first unprotected wetland to undergo such a comprehensive assessment. We have done regular waterbird monitoring for over two years and witnessed the increase in bird records since 2023. Our first dataset had 68 records, but we are currently at over 110 records.

To safeguard the bird population against uncontrolled hunting practices, we have established 18 bird hunting clubs who are responsible to hold any bird hunter accountable in term of hunting quotas, target species and methods. Among them we have trained 12 members for continual monitoring who are also raising awareness to the local communities and stakeholders about the importance of the lagoon.

Lake Chilwa is a priority site for WESM for the conservation of migratory birds such that we are currently developing the site profile to define the threats, opportunities and existing projects in the area. The Bird Hunters Association present in the area was established in 2008 but it is still active and willing to safeguard the birds which they have defined as under threats due to poaching, climate change and habitat degradation.”

Not everyone knows how important the flyways are. What is one thing you wish everybody knew about the species and habitats you’re protecting?

BC: “Migratory birds connect continents. A bird feeding at Chia Lagoon may have travelled thousands of kilometres from Europe or Asia. If just one important wetland along the flyway is lost or degraded, it can affect populations across multiple countries. Protecting wetlands in Malawi is part of protecting a global ecological system.”

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

BC: “Securing protection of the lagoon while ensuring community benefits remains a central challenge. The focus of the project has been on birds, but fisheries activities pose a threat especially of the aquatic vegetation. Opening of new docks and fishing in sanctuaries are some of the major threats to the lagoon since the fish sanctuaries coincide with the bird sanctuaries.

The Invasive Alien Species, such as Azolla and Water Hyacinth, are a threat to the habitat. The most challenging thing is the removal methodologies due to the presence of crocodiles, which are a threat to people. We have not progressed much with the removal of these invasive and we are still trying to find a feasible and safe way of doing this.”

If you had to choose one species to represent your flyway, what would it be and why?

BC: “I would choose the Whiskered Tern. With the tern being a long-range migratory bird, it is the best representation of global connectivity! Arriving in Malawi with the December rains, it reminds us that this small country, let alone a small wetland, is not isolated from the global community. If we are to protect the Whiskered Tern, we mean to protect every marsh, lake, river and wetland along its path.  This is a perfect ambassador of the flyway because it knows no boundaries.”

What’s the funniest or strangest thing that’s ever happened to you in the field?

BC: “During one of our field visits, someone said there is a bird in the lagoon, and its local name is Jane Tambala. We all recorded that same name, hoping to identify it and find its English name. We banged our heads and asked other local people to define the bird, but no one seemed to know what type of bird it was.

Unfortunately, we didn’t remember who mentioned it to us in the first place. As we were collating participants’ names, we found the name in there as a participant: Jane Tambala. The only mystery to solve was to find the bird relative of Jane Tambala. Good enough, during one of the boat rides, someone shouted: ‘There is Jane Tambala’. Surprisingly, it was an African Jacana.

The project is about conserving waterbirds, and in the local language, it is Chitukuko chosamalira mbalame. However, each time we go to the field, the community members, especially the passers-by, always ask how do you take care of these birds? Do you feed them? In their understanding, we are implementing a wild bird rearing project. So each time, we are in the field, and you see someone approaching, you already know their questions.”

What makes you feel optimistic about your work? 

BC: “What makes me optimistic is that we now have solid scientific data for the first time, along with growing community awareness. When local stakeholders understand the value of their wetland, conservation becomes a shared responsibility, and that gives real hope for long-term protection.

To this end, I would like to acknowledge the District Council that, through this project, has now started talking about developing a comprehensive management plan for the wetland ecosystem. In addition, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, which is the focal point for the Convention of Conservation of Migratory Species, has requested that we should consider proposing the lagoon as a RAMSAR site.”