Browsing by Author "Weliange,W.S"

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    Ethno-ornithological knowledge and uses of birds in Omi aro and Labaka villages, Kwara State, Nigeria
    (West African Ornithological society, 2015) Weliange,W.S; Kolawole, R.A; Prasannajith,N.S; Afolabi, A.S; Amaechi,E.C
    Information was gathered in two villages of western Nigeria on the vernacular names, food value, ornamental value, use in traditional healing, associated superstitions and augury, folklore, proverbs and quotes, and behavioural aspects such as feeding, mating, nesting and vocalizations, of 21 species of bird. Guided interviews using a questionnaire were employed to elicit responses from the informants, complemented by photographs of the 21 species. The villagers provided vernacular names and information on the cultural significance of the 21 bird species shown to them. Thirteen of the 21 species are common food sources, four species have magico-medicinal uses, feathers of six species are used in ornamentation and ten species are objects of superstitions. Birds are important in the language, with proverbs, idioms, wise sayings and poems rich in local bird names. The villagers in Omi-aro and Labaka have a strong relationship with birds, which have considerable cultural and economical significance to them. Further studies on traditional healing practices using birds, hunting methods and seasonality in hunting, are needed to improve understanding of the harvesting of birds for these purposes.