The Songhai Empire covered an area stretching across 1,400,000 square kilometers of Northwestern Africa. Founded in the 9th century, it emerged as a regional power in the mid 15th century. The Songhai Empire used the trans-Saharan trade routes to become one of the largest and longest lasting Islamic empires.
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Chelictinia riocourii - The African swallow-tailed kite, also know as the scissor-tailed kite, can be found along the entire southern fringes of the Sahara Desert. Resembling a tern, the swallow-tailed kite is a graceful and buoyant flyer. Flocks of 50 or more birds will catch insects on the wing or take small lizards in swooping dives. Efforts to control locust populations through the use of pesticides have also left a negative impact on the swallow-tailed kite and their numbers are in decline throughout Western Africa.
