ISSN 1023-3679

January 1997 .

JUN 0 4 1997
LIBRARIES

A joint publication of the Department of Ornithology, National Museums of
Kenya and BirdLife Kenya.

Editors: Leon Bennun, Colin Jackson and John Fanshawe
Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P O Box 40658, Nairobi

vi

Editorial

Although this issue deals with news and events up to January 1997, we want to mention
a ‘stop press’ item here — in February 1997, the East Africa Natural History Society
(Kenya) signed up as the full national Partner organisation of BirdLife International.
The EANHS (Kenya) now joins its Uganda branch, the Ghana Wildlife Society, the
Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History
Society, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania and BirdLife South Africa in
the BirdLife African partnership.

With support from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK), the EANHS will
this year be taking a critical look at its objectives and its structure. The idea is to set
out clear goals, for conservation and for the Society itself, and plan realistic ways to
reach them. Inevitably, birds will feature large in this planning process, and the role
of BirdLife Kenya (an EANHS sub-committee) and Kenya Birds will be closely
examined. We will keep you posted on developments.

In the meantime — World Birdwatch ’97 is on its way! Yes, there’s no rest for you
dedicated birders out there. We doubt that your binoculars will have had much chance
to gather dust since the NTT Bird Count last year, but polish them up and prepare your
birding patch for 4-5 October. Instructions in the next Kenya Birds, if not before.

This issue looks at the Taita Hills — and no, you can’t ALL go there for World
Birdwatch, no matter how many endemics you want to clean up on...

Good birding! — The Editors

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Please address all correspondence to: The Editors, Kenya Birds, Department of
Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, P O Box 40658 Nairobi, Kenya.

Front cover illustration: Taita White-eye Zosterops (poliogaster) silvanus by Roger
Barnes. Typesetting and layout by BirdLife Kenya; printed by Omnia Printers, Nairobi.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 49

News from Kenya and abroad
Department of Ornithology

PAOC 9

The Pan-African Omithological Congress is the continent’s biggest bird
jamboree. Fundamentally it is, of course, a very serious scientific meeting, but
it’s much more besides: a conference for conservationists, a twitch-fest for manic
birders, and a chance to meet, greet, dine and maybe even dance with people
you’ve read about (and others you haven’t) who are doing exciting work with
birds all over Africa.

The PAOC happens every four years, and the ninth and latest took place in
Accra, Ghana, from 1-8 December 1996. It’s every African ornithologist’s dream
to attend: this time, 13 of us from Kenya (including nine from the Omithology
Department) were lucky enough to have the chance.

Preparations in the Department were feverish throughout the last half of
November, with 14 scientific presentations to finish to a tight deadline. Somehow
everything was done on time, the precious manuscripts and posters were packed,
and we set off. The trip started inauspiciously, with interminable delays on our
Ethiopian Airlines flight via Addis Ababa — only too understandable, since the
company had lost one of its long-haul ‘planes a few days before in a hijacking
that went tragically wrong. Despite some nervous speculation, we arrived safely
(if wearily) in Accra about 15 hours after leaving the Museum. The air, like hot,
damp cotton-wool, reminded us immediately that we were in tropical West
Africa, but there wasn’t much else to see as we were gradually dispersed to a
confusing variety of hotels and hostels scattered across the length and breadth of
Accra. And Accra, as those of us who were dropped off last could confirm, is a
city with substantial length and breadth.

_ It is also a city of friendly and enterprising people, trees and green spaces,
grand public monuments, white sand beaches and grey Atlantic rollers,
squadrons of inexpensive taxis — and gargantuan traffic jams. The Congress was
held in the brand-new International Conference Centre, an impressive building
indeed with its vast atrium opening onto a huge and magnificent mural of
Ghanaian cultural life. We saw and heard a good deal of this cultural life over the
week — drumming and dancing are taken very seriously in Ghana, and the
conference was opened, closed and punctuated with magnificent displays, of a
level of skill and accomplishment that left us gasping in admiration.

There were other cultural delights to be sampled — West African foods like
garri, fufu, kenkey, jollof rice, red-red, palava sauce, and, for the more
adventurous and extravagant, grass-cutter (which we call Cane Rat here!). Palm-

50 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

oil with everything, of course — Ghanaians were incredulous when told that we
didn’t cook with this in the East. By the final day all the male members of the
Kenyan contingent were sporting dazzling kente-cloth waistcoats, appropriate
attire for the Congress’s closing banquet. Yet another superb dance troupe there:
but they were unable to compete with the Long-tailed Nightjar that swooped
down over the swimming pool, as if on cue, to ringing cheers from the serried
ranks of ornithologists.

For birds, of course, were everyone’s prime concern. The programme was
exhausting, with the day-long scientific sessions supplemented by get-togethers
of all sorts of committees and interest groups, both programmed and ad-hoc,
often running late into the night. The organisation was generally excellent; a
great deal of work was done; there were many fascinating presentations; and
simply not enough time to meet and talk to all the people that one would have
wanted to. Clearly, ornithology in Africa is thriving, and starting to get to grips
with the challenging issues of conservation and management that are so
important. Clearly, too, ornithology has a much firmer base within Africa than
even a decade ago — but we have some way to go. The organisers had found
sponsorship for over 70 African nationals to attend, a very impressive
achievement, but almost all the remaining 250 plus delegates were from Europe
or North America.

We all returned to Kenya fired up with new ideas and enthusiasm, and
looking forward the next PAOC to be held in Tunisia in the year 2000. Thanks to
the organisers for their splendid work, and to the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds, BirdLife International and the British Council, among others, for their
very generous sponsorship.

Eremomelas are Croton fans

Turner’s Eremomela, a globally Vulnerable species, is not the easiest bird in the
world to study. It’s small and inconspicuous, likes to be high in the canopy of the
tallest forest trees, and has a call that isn’t exactly deafening. Since October
1996, Kiptoo arap Kosgey, who is studying for his MPhil at the School of
Environmental Studies, Moi University, has bravely been investigating the
ecology of this challenging species in the South Nandi forest. The aim is to find
out which parts of the forest the eremomela prefers, which trees it uses, and how
it may respond to forest disturbance.

Apart from giving him a cricked neck, and supernaturally acute hearing,
Kosgey’s work has confirmed that South Nandi is probably the world’s most
important site for this species (as suggested by last year’s IBA survey).
Preliminary results show that the eremomela prefers the lower altitude parts of
the forest, probably because these areas have more big Croton trees, for which
the bird shows a clear preference.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 51

Sadly, the study has also revealed just how bad a state South Nandi is in.
While visiting Kosgey in December, Edward Waiyaki and Leon Bennun from the
Ornithology Department saw for themselves the enormous damage that
unrestrained logging is doing to the central part of the forest. Large numbers of
Croton, in particular, are being removed. They were also amazed to see that the
undergrowth in a vast part of the southern sector had been cleared and maize
planted in its place — under the, as yet, unfelled trees. It is only a matter of a
short time, it seems, before the entire southern, lower-altitude third of South
Nandi ceases to be forest altogether. The loss of biodiversity will be immense —
and the consequences for the eremomela may be particularly unhappy.

Kosgey’s study has generously been supported by the People’s Trust for
Endangered Species and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Sandgrouse, mangroves and illadopses

The Department has kept up a busy fieldwork programme, despite the
distractions of PAOC (see above). Alfred Simiyu continued his studies of
sandgrouse populations on Mbirikani Group Ranch, focusing on waterhole
counts as a census method. Heavy rains at the start of November inundated the
whole study area and put a stop to data collection until the next dry season, in
January — not suprisingly, sandgrouse don’t bother to fly tens of kilometres to
drink when the entire ranch is under water! In November, Oliver Nasirwa and
Peter Njoroge, with Fleur Ng’ weno of the EANHS, conducted a Malindi-based
training course for waterbird counters from Kenya Wildlife Service and the
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. A smaller team then continued to
carry out a thorough survey, by boat, of mangrove creeks in Lamu District.
Joseph Oyugi was busy with intensive field work on Kakamega forest bird
populations from September to December. He is looking at the effects of
fragmentation and isolation on the numbers of particular species, complementing
the approach of Thomas Brooks’ project ‘How long will it take us to lose
biodiversity?’ (see Kenya Birds 5(1)). Brooks and his team spent October and
November on Mt Kenya, completing their survey of forest fragments on the
south-western flank. Oyugi now joins Brooks in Tennessee for six months of data
analysis, along with John Kageche who is putting together his research proposal
on the Taita White-eye.

52 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

BirdLife Kenya

‘Birds and people’

On 29 October 1996, BirdLife Kenya and the Ornithology Department organised
a one-day seminar with the theme “Birds and people’, at the National Museums
of Kenya. The aim was to come up with concrete suggestions for conserving
threatened birds that share their habitats intimately with people.

More than 50 people took part. In the first session, the results of research and
conservation projects supported by BirdLife Kenya were presented by those who
are carrying out the work. Later, there were open discussions focusing on two
separate conservation issues: threatened birds in agricultural landscapes, and
colonially-nesting water-birds.

The following presentations were made:

e Distribution and habitat choice of the threatened East Coast Akalat in
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest — Paul Matiku, School of Environmental Studies,
Moi University.

e Nairobi Ringing Group — Colin Jackson, Ornithology Department, National
Museums of Kenya.

e The conservation biology of Sharpe’s Longclaw, a Kenya grassland endemic-
Muchai Muchane, Wildlife Management Department, Moi University.

e The status and conservation of Hinde’s Babbler, a threatened Kenya endemic
— Peter Njoroge, Ornithology Department, National Museums of Kenya.

¢ Pink-backed Pelicans nesting at Rakewa: reconciling conflicts of interest —
Joab Omondi & Paul Onyango, Lake Victoria Wetlands Team.

¢ The Ahero Heronries: problems and possibilities — Jeam Agutu, Maseno
School.

How do we conserve threatened birds in an agricultural landscape?

Sharpe’s Longclaw and Hinde’s Babbler are Kenyan endemic species that live in
a landscape that has been taken over by agriculture. Pressure on the land is ever-
increasing as the human population grows, so the immediate problem these birds
face is loss of habitat (short grassland with tussocks for the longclaw, thickets
(now mainly Lantana) for the babbler). The babbler is also hunted and eaten in
some parts of its small range.

Suggestions included: conservation education for schools, local people and
decision-makers; investigating and encouraging ecologically-friendly agricultural
practices; ecological engineering to produce more suitable habitat; compensation
or incentives for people who spare habitats for these birds; and establishing
networks of small protected areas (private sanctuaries, school compounds and so
on). More research was needed on (i) key aspects of the species’ ecology; (ii) the

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 53

economics of conservation (changes in grazing practice, setting aside fallow
land); and (iii) possible pesticide effects on the birds. There was also a need for
an explicit government policy for conservation of endemic and/or threatened
species, and appropriate legal restrictions on what people can do with their land.

How do we conserve colonially-nesting waterbirds?

Discussion centred on two waterbird colonies near Lake Victoria: the Pink-

backed Pelican colony at Rakewa and the heronries at Ahero. In both cases there

is a conflict between people and birds. At Rakewa the birds use space that people

want for agricultural use, and a number of nest trees have already been cut down.

However, the local community is sympathetic to the idea of a bird sanctuary as a

potential tourist attraction. At Ahero, the breeding birds are a nuisance to people:

they are noisy and smelly, their presence attracts pests and causes health

problems. Many nest trees have been cut and the remaining ones are too small to

support the number of birds wanting to nest. The local community would like the

birds removed. (See article in this issue.) In the case of the Pink-backed Pelicans

the following suggestions were made:

e Fund and support the existing self-help group at Rakewa.

¢ Buy up the land used by the birds.

e Include the area in the Western Kenya tourist circuit.

e Encourage appreciation and documentation of the cultural heritage in the
area.

e Use the more enlightened people from the area to educate others on the
importance of the site.

¢ Buy, rent or otherwise protect the trees used by the birds

¢ Make an economic valuation of the sites.

e Investigate what the trees need for their continued survival.

e Plant new trees/protect saplings.

e Exploit the guano produced by the birds as a fertiliser.

¢ Initiate awareness programmes.

The following suggestions were made in the case of Ahero:

e Shift people away from the birds’ nesting trees.

¢ Construct artificial nesting platforms away from the village.

¢ Shift the colony away from the present sites, e.g. by planting fast-growing
trees and/or producing artificial nest platforms

e Create awareness through the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) by use of club
patrons who can mobilise students for this purpose.

Thanks to all the participants and speakers for a lively day of information and
debate. We hope that the outcome will help shape funding proposals for the
conservation of these species and sites.

54 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

NTT World Bird Count

The second NTT World Bird Count (sponsored by the Nippon Telegraph and
Telephone Corporation took place from 28 September to 13 October 1996. In
Kenya, 65 participants sent in ‘National Birdmap’ forms, which were compiled
into a final list for NTT.

Eighty-one countries took part, and the result was a staggering 5,317 bird
species recorded — well over half the world’s total! NTT has now donated
$53,170 to BirdLife International for bird conservation. This is almost twice as
much as was raised last year. No fewer than 80,694 people were out birding
across the world over the two weeks.

Kenya’s birders did a great job, recording 651 species in total. With the entry
of several South American countries into the event, however, we shall have to try
even harder in future years. In 1993 and 1995, we recorded more species than
any other country, but last year we were relegated to fourth place, behind Peru
(with an astonishing 958 species), Ecuador and Brazil. These countries have
some of the longest bird lists in the Neotropical region (Central and South
America), which itself contains about twice as many bird species as the
Afrotropics, so we have no reason not to feel proud of our performance!

Which are Africa’s most commonly seen species? The top ten across the
continent, in descending order, were Black Kite, Common Bulbul, Red-eyed
Dove, Cattle Egret, Laughing Dove, Common Sandpiper, Common Fiscal,
Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey Heron and Speckled Mousebird. No surprises there
— but only Black Kite and Grey Heron make it into the ten with the most
records for the world, at numbers eight and ten respectively. Top of the list, with
720 records, is (perhaps a little surprisingly) the Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus.

The most widespread species seen during the event were Barn Swallow
(recorded in 58 countries from Australia to Zimbabwe), Great Egret (57
countries), Common Moorhen (52), House Sparrow (51) and Cattle Egret (51).

Thanks again, and well done, to all those who took part in Kenya!

World Birdwatch ’?97 — “1,111 birds under threat’

This year’s World Birdwatch takes place on 4-5 October 1997. It is going to be a
particularly special event, since BirdLife is 75 years old this year (see above).
The focus this year is on the 1,111 species of birds that are under global threat of
extinction — 22 or so of which occur in Kenya. NTT will be maintaining their
commitment to donate $10 for every bird species seen (see above, too), so it’s
bins out and into the field for every Kenyan birder. More details in due course —
fill in your diary and watch this space!

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 55

Ornithological Sub-committee

Neulia 1996

The Ngulia Ringing Group had another very successful season — the second-
best ever in terms of the numbers of birds ringed (over 18,300 birds), although
not quite in the same class as 1995. The weather in November was poor and the
start of the season very slow; the first half of December proved excellent, but the
rains then petered out and the team left earlier than planned after several days of
no mist and little activity.

Two controls (recaptures of ringed birds) were outstanding. The first was a
Marsh Warbler from the Netherlands on 17 November 1997, the second a River
Warbler from the Czech Republic, probably the very first tropical recovery or
control of this skulking species. Two birds from last season, a Sprosser and a
Tree Pipit, also put in an appearance again.

Thirty-six Palaearctic species were ringed, the third highest total ever. Still,
several Ngulia rarities were missing — including Little Bittern, Eurasian Golden
Oriole and Wood Warbler. The first Eurasian Swift to be ringed in eastern Africa
was flick-netted on 7 December.

Financial support for this year’s ringing came from the Wetlands Trust and
British Airways. With support from the Kenya Museum Society, a Kenyan team
from the Ornithology Department was able to take part again this year for
sessions in both November and December.

Scopus awakes...

Contrary to rumour in some quarters, Scopus is not dead — it has only been
resting for a while. Various problems delayed the publication of issue 19(2), but
this is now with the press, and material for volume 20, and the backlog of annual
bird reports, is being processed. Publication of a bumper vol. 20 issue is expected
mid-year. Meanwhile, to speed up the editorial process and maintain high
standards, the OS-c has appointed an Editorial Board for the journal. Board
members will correspond with authors and ensure that manuscripts are refereed
and edited rapidly. The initial Board is as follows: Graeme Backhurst (Editor),
Don Turner, Derek Pomeroy, David Pearson, Luc Lens, John Fanshawe, Leon
Bennun and John Ashe. For back-issues and subscriptions to Scopus, contact
Don Turner, OS-c Treasurer/Secretary, at PO Box 48019, Nairobi (tel. 48133).

56 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

International

BirdLife fills key post

BirdLife has recruited Dr Marco Lambertini as the Director of the new Network
and Programme Department, which was created as part of the recent structural
changes in the Secretariat. For the last six years, Marco has been the head of
BirdLife’s Italian partner, Lega Italiana Protezione (LIPU). His effectiveness in
this key new role will no doubt be enhanced by his fluency in Italian, Spanish,
French and English (though not yet Kiswahili!).

Warbler name saves forest

A totally new species of bird, discovered in 1991 in Colombia, is to be formally
named Vireo masteri after Dr Bernard Master, an American businessman,
Chairman of Health Power HMO, who has made a major donation to BirdLife
International for the honour of having the bird named after him.

Vireo masteri is a member of the vireo family. It is a small yellow, olive and
green bird and mostly feeds on insects. The formal description of the bird,
previously known only as the Choco Vireo after the region where it was found,
recently appeared in the leading ornithological journal /bis.

Dr Master’s generous donation will pay for ongoing conservation work in the
Colombian forests of Rio Nambi, home to the newly discovered bird. The project
there involves the establishment of Latin America’s first locally-owned forest
reserve.

Traditionally, newly discovered birds are named by the person who discovers
them. However, Paul Salaman, who was a 19-year old undergraduate student
when he discovered the vireo in 1991, and American ornithologist Dr Gary
Stiles, who independently found the bird the following year, quickly realised that
unless urgent conservation action was taken, the biologically rich forest where
the vireo lives would be developed and disappear. This prompted their decision
to ask BirdLife International to use the naming opportunity to raise funds.

BirdLife International therefore announced the opportunity for a company or
individual who donated the most to the vireo’s conservation to have the bird
named after them.

Dr Master was presented with a painting of the vireo, and received special
commendation for his donation from HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands of
a ceremony at Royal Palace in Luxembourg on 20 September during a meeting
of BirdLife’s Rare Bird Club. The Rio Nambi Community Nature Reserve, in
south-westernmost Colombia, where the bird was found, now protects an
enormous diversity of flora and fauna, including over 300 bird species, eight

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 57

globally threatened birds, notably the Plumbeous Forest-falcon Micrastur
plumbeus, and 51 Chocé Endemic Bird Area species; one of the world’s greatest
concentrations of endemic birds for a single site.

New and additional? International aid and biodiversity conservation
One of the promises made by the world’s wealthy countries at the 1992 Rio
‘Earth Summit’ was to make ‘new and additional’ resources to support
biodiversity conservation in the developing countries. A new report from
BirdLife International (New and additional? Financial resources for biodiversity
conservation in developing countries 1987-1994) suggests that this promise has
not been kept. The report finds that systems for tracking donors’ fulfilment of
their obligations under the Biodiversity Convention and Agenda 21 are highly
inadequate. However, total aid for biodiversity conservation has fallen, despite
the launch of the Global Environment Facility. Neither has there been an increase
in the proportion of overall aid going to sectors that have some relevance to
biodiversity. Most developing countries are still so shackled by debt and the
constraints of structural adjustment policies that they are unable (even if they
wanted to) to make serious investments in biodiversity conservation.

This will all sound depressingly familiar to many people — so let us hope
that some of the report’s clear and useful recommendations will filter through to
the men (and women) in grey suits in Washington and Brussels.

Happy Birthday, BirdLife

In June 1997 BirdLife International will be 75 years old. Having started life as
the International Committee for Bird Preservation in a small London house in
1922, BirdLife now has Partner organisations in over 60 countries, and is a
national force in a further 25 countries — giving it a world-wide membership of
over 1,500,000 individuals who are concerned about the need to conserve the
world’s birds. Here are some of the highlights, decade by decade, of three
quarters of a century working in international bird conservation.

1922 First meeting of International Committee for Bird Protection on 22 June
in London. The 11 founding members met in a London house, initiated
by Dr Gilbert Pearson, the President of the National Audubon Society,
with the aim of creating a network of conservation minded organisation
uniting in a common cause. After the meeting, Pearson travelled widely
across Europe seeking and gaining support from national conservation
organisations. The two issues of major concern to ICBP were marine oil
pollution and the bird trade, issues that still refuse to be removed from
the bird conservation agenda.

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Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

1920s

1930s

1933

1935

1940s

1945

1947

1948

1950s

1952

Name change to International Committee for Bird Preservation. Stopped
large exportations of Tinamou (gamebirds) from Argentina. In Australia,
achieved regulation of live bird exports, and representation on the
Advisory Committee dealing with licences. Adopted a resolution
“calling on the Nations of the World to study carefully the status of their
birdlife and to take necessary steps to maintain at all times an adequate
supply of native birds”. Concern over species being decimated for
millinery trade, such as Crowned Pigeon and Birds of Paradise.
Identified egg collecting, hunting in breeding and nesting periods,
migratory birds and oil pollution as priorities for action.

203 members and National Sections in 23 countries. “The preservation
of wildlife is not the problem of any one country alone, it is an intricate
international problem”. Achieved revisions to the (1902) Paris Treaty for
Bird Protection.

Protection of Birds Act passed in UK, concerning capture of and trade in
wild birds. Resolution to urge governments of Europe and North Africa
to prohibit the import, export and transit of Quail Coturnix coturnix for
at least three years because of declines in breeding. Resolution on
destruction caused by DDT spraying. Chairman of British Section
awarded medal by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Phyllis Barclay-Smith appointed to run a sub-secretariat in London. The
Secretary of ICBP, Count Leon Lippen, was based in Brussels.

Phyllis Barclay-Smith made Secretary and Secretariat established in
London. By then, some 34 national sections had formed.

ICBP instrumental in setting up the International Wildfowl Research
Institution.

Duck Adoption Scheme started. Raised nearly $575 in second year
(equivalent to $11,000 in 1995).

45 National Sections. Oil pollution a priority for action; in 1954/55,
International Convention for the Protection of the Pollution of the Sea by
Oil passed. Recognised the need to conserve the Camargue (Rhdne
Delta) because of its international importance. Meetings in Caracas,
Venezuela (1952) and Bulawayo, Rhodesia (1957). Active against
pesticide spraying.

ICBP asked to gather data on the status of birds “in danger of
extinction”. First report in 1957 ‘Preservation of Birds on the Danger

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 59

1953
1959
1960s
1960

1962

1963

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970s
1970

1974

List’. Coto Donana in Spain recognised as an important bird area, home
to the Imperial Eagle.

International Convention for the Protection of Birds signed by 12
countries (but not the UK).

Name change to International Council for Bird Preservation

Toxic chemicals recognised as the most serious problem for ICBP.

Lord Hurcomb, Chairman, suggested the idea of ‘national birds’. Robin
declared for UK in December. Protested successfully at the sale in UK of
tinned sparrows from Japan as cocktail delicacies.

Sent supportive letters to assist the Cyprus Ornithological Society in
securing the reserve of Akrotiri Salt Lake.

Liaison Officer appointed to work with other conservation NGOs at
IUCN HQ in Switzerland. UK House of Lords increased the list of
species of birds for which it was an offence to take eggs.

Appeal to Maltese Prime Minister saved Pool of Ghadira on Malta from
development — an important site for migrant waders. First marketing
tool — greeting card with Robin on front. First Red Data Book
published.

TV appeal by Sir Peter Scott raised $25,000. All major oil companies
contributed to production and distribution of a description of the LOAD
ON TOP system aimed at reducing oil pollution. Torrey Canyon disaster.
Campaign prevented Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles from becoming an early-
warning station with an RAF base.

Successful world-wide appeal (with WWF) to buy Cousin Island in the
Seychelles to safeguard the Seychelles Brush Warbler Acrocephalus
sechellensis. Raised $17,000. DDT, HCH, Aldrin & Dieldrin banned
after 20 years of campaigning. |

Indian National Section achieved Government ban on export of feathers
and skins of Grey Junglefowl. Publication of 12 postcards in six
languages entitled “Help to Save the Birds of Prey”.

World Working Group on Birds of Prey and Owls set up at ICBP World
Conference.

At XVI ICBP World Conference, Australian and Japanese Governments
signed agreement to protect migratory birds and birds in danger of
extinction and their environment. 63 national sections. Action to protect
oystercatchers in South Wales due to be severely culled because of
competition with cockle fishermen.

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Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

L975

1976

1977,

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1985

1986

1987

First world conference on Birds of Prey. Organised by ICBP in Vienna
supported by UNEP, Council of Europe, EEC, IUCN, WWE and others.
UK ratified CITES and Ramsar. Appeals and Publicity Committee
organised a reception at New Zealand House by invitation of Martini
Rossi Ltd. EEC Draft Directive to make bird legislation uniform.
Destruction of migrating terns in West Africa continued to be a primary
concern. Migratory Birds campaign raised $7,000, of which $3,000
given to Tunisian government to protect Lake Ichkeul, North Africa’s
most important wetland for wintering waterfowl.

Phyllis Barclay-Smith retired as Hon. Secretary. First successful
translocation of Seychelles Magpie-robins from Fregate to Aride. ICBP
Secretariat offered new premises in Gland, Switzerland with IUCN and
WWF which the ExCon recommended be accepted. Work began to
identify main bird conservation needs in line with IUCN’s World
Conservation Strategy. Amoco Cadiz oil spill off Brittany. Oil spill at
Sullom Voe, Shetland.

EEC Directive on Bird Conservation agreed; came into force in 1981.
World Birdwatch magazine launched. With ICBP input, European
Committee for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources issued
first draft of Threatened Birds in Europe.

Dr Christoph Imboden appointed as ICBP’s first full-time member of
staff. Secretariat moved to Cambridge. Phyllis Barclay-Smith Memorial
Appeal launched, which raised $C9,000.

Dillon Ripley: “Our dedication arises from a conviction that in
preserving birds we are preserving ourselves’’.

Recognition that Sections’ work would become more international.
XVIII World Conference in Cambridge, UK.

First mention of Important Bird Areas at European Continental Section
Meeting. Publication of Threatened Birds of Africa and related islands
— a Red Data book with a geographically defined approach.
Rediscovery of Gurney’s Pitta and establishment of conservation project
in Thailand. The Conservation Expedition Competition was established.
Two-year IBA Programme for Europe announced.

ICBP ‘Save the Birds’ global public awareness campaign. Book of same
name published in 10 languages. Bali Starling conservation programme
started in Indonesia. “Save the Seashore Birds Project’ launched by
ICBP, RSPB and Ghanaian government. Kilum Mountain Forest project
launched in Cameroon. Establishment of Turkish NGO by organisations
(which later became BirdLife Partners) in Denmark, Netherlands,

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 61

1988

1989

1990s
1990

199]

1992

1993

1994

Sweden and the UK. Project launched to conserve the Slender-billed
Curlew — population down to less than 1000.

World Bird Club launched by ICBP Secretariat. Largest ever land
purchase in Europe by a voluntary conservation organisation (RSPB of
Abernethy Forest, UK at $1.8 m). Launch of Biodiversity Project to
identify global hotshots for biodiversity conservation. Publication of
‘Birds to watch’, the list of the world’s threatened birds. ‘Wings around
the world’ initiative — ICBP working with 350 organisations from 115
countries.

Publication of Important Bird Areas in Europe, with information on
2,444 sites, most of which were unprotected and unmanaged. ICBP
‘Protect the Parrots’ campaign, lobbying EEC to reduce importation.
ICBP Conservation Programme contains 63 full and 9 endorsed projects;
80% in developing countries.

Dispersed Species project launched to identify species of European
Conservation Concern (published in 1994).

ICBP signs agreement with 15 Lead Organisations — now part of the
network — ‘to ensure ICBP makes an effective contribution to world
conservation’ (Christoph Imboden). Launch of Important Bird Areas
project for Middle East. Palas Valley project launched in Pakistan. EU
Habitats Directive adopted — a milestone in European conservation
history. Office opened in Bogor, launching ICBP Indonesia Programme.
A new NGO, OTOP, formed in Poland, as part of the ICBP ‘Wings
across Europe’ programme. Publication of ‘Putting biodiversity on the
map’, identifying the 221 areas in the world with the highest
concentrations of unique species, and ‘Threatened birds of the
Americas’, a second regional Red Data Book.

Change to BirdLife International on | March. Nearly 20 Partners had
signed up. Launch of Important Bird Areas project for Africa. Menderes
Delta in Turkey designated as National Park after campaign by DHKD,
BirdLife Partner in Turkey. Firsts WORLD BIRDWATCH EVENT held
in October, with over 200 organisations taking part. EC approved the
Zonal Programme (led by SEO, BirdLife Partner in Spain) for
environmental farming in the Spanish Steppes. Following pressure by
BirdLife Malta, strict laws governing bird hunting introduced in Malta.

Cypriot government banned spring shooting of birds after*165,000 RSPB
(UK) members lobbied MEPs. XXI World Conference in Rosenheim,
Germany — the first as BirdLife International; 14 more organisations

62

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

1995

1996

1997

signed up as Partners. New mission statement: “To conserve all bird
species on earth and their habitats, and through this, to work for the
world’s biological diversity and the sustainability of human use of
natural resources”. Launch of the new BirdLife Conservation Series of
books. Receipt of Amsterdam Prize for the Environment for work on
Endemic Bird Areas. Initiation of World Bird Database project. The Wild
Bird Society of Japan (BirdLife Partner) bought a reserve to protect the
threatened Red-crowned Crane. “Birds to Watch 2’, the revised world red
data book, was published.

Development of BCIS (Biodiversity Conservation Information System)
with IUCN, Wetlands International, WCMC and others. BirdLife
Network comprised 21 Partners, 37 Partners Designate, 26
Representatives, 30 Associates and staff in over 20 nations. WORLD
BIRDWATCH ‘97 weekend united over 150,000 people and 177
organisations. Official designation of first Important Bird Area for the
Americas. Species Action Plans (SAPs) produced for 23 species in
Europe. Following pressure by SEO (BirdLife Partner in Spain), a new
national park was designated in the Spanish Steppes. OTOP (BirdLife
Partner in Poland) opened a new reserve to help protect Aquatic
Warblers.

The Ke Go Nature Reserve in Vietnam received official protection — a
reward for the BirdLife Vietnam Programme. The Indonesia office
produced ‘Conserving Indonesian Biodiversity: the Endemic Bird Area
Approach’. The scientific name of a new bird species was sold to raise
money for conservation in Colombia.

300th member of the Rare Bird Club, launched in 1988. Seven full
Partners in Africa, including the EANHS in Kenya and Uganda.

Reb

Peter’s Twinspot — Roger Barnes

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 63

Birding in... the Taita Hills

Thomas Brooks, Jim Barnes, Roger Barnes,
John Kageche and Christine Wilder
P O Box 40658, Nairobi

For those keen on searching for rare and unusual birds, a visit to the Taita Hills
of southern Kenya is a must. The remaining forest patches of the area hold no
less than three endemic species, all of which are listed as “critical” by BirdLife
International, plus numerous other species that are hard to find or absent
elsewhere in Kenya, or that have endemic subspecies in the Taita Hills. Yet
another attraction of the Taita Hills is its biogeographical uniqueness, for the hills
hold a peculiar mix of birds from three distinct areas: the Central Kenyan
highlands, the northern Tanzanian mountains, and the Kenyan coast.

How to get there and where to stay

Anyone who has driven the Nairobi-Mombasa road knows how imposing the
Taita Hills look looming over the town of Voi, between Tsavo East and West.
From here, access to most of the Taita Hills is in fact surprisingly easy. Take the
Voi-Taveta road (A23), which leaves the main road by the BP and Caltex petrol
stations in Voi, and follow it 23 km to Mwatate. Here turn right onto the
Wundanyi road (C104), which climbs up into the hills allowing spectacular
views over Voi and Tsavo East, along with a first glimpse of forest on the hill-
tops, and reaches Wundanyi after 18 km. All of the roads up to Wundanyi are
tarmaced and in good condition. Frequent matatus run from Voi to Wundanyi and
charge about KSh 100.

Wundanyi (the district capital) is a pleasant town with numerous shops,
kiosks, a market, a Shell petrol station, a Kenya Commercial Bank and a post
office. The Hill View Hotel offers single rooms for KSh 250 per night and double
rooms for KSh 400, with hot showers. The District Forest Office is also in
Wundanyi, and it would be polite to drop in here if you are planning to stay in
the forest for very long—the forester, Ms Mdamu, is very helpful.

Wundanyi is the starting point for visiting the forests of Ngangao, Vuria and
Chawia, plus a number of other smaller forests. Ngangao lies about 10 km due
north of Wundanyi: to reach this forest cross the bridge at Wundanyi and take the
murram road that winds up through shambas into the hills, turning right at the
only T-junction (at a small shopping centre) up to the ridge crest south of
Ngangao forest. Once on the ridge, either drive (4WD necessary) or walk up the
1 km dirt track along the ridge to the forest (100 ha, 1700-2000 m). The forest is

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

IAL HILLS,

Ne iko8)

64

KILIMANJARO ANDO
CHYULU Se

Rvek
wary MSAu
(WURIA | MGENGe ;
SISAL

PLANTATIONS

Vo}

TSAVO EAST
Vor GATE

BukA Burrs
TAVETA |

(

tt

e oF ACER OF Fobasr (imotinou)

C7 Roces | Ques

Ropos

—~- NgEp 4uip

KASIGAU MOMBASA

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 65

a long strip running north-south, with the forest guard’s houses (where camping
is allowed) at the southern end and pine plantations on the northern, western and
southern edges.

Two small towns to the west of Wundanyi, Wesu (lying below Wesu hill) and
Mgenge (below Yale hill), are the access points to Vuria and Chawia. To reach
these turn west on the murram road by the bridge in Wundanyi (turning left at the
T-junction on the road up to Ngangao also brings you to Mgenge). To reach
Vuria, at 2,200 m the highest peak in the Taita Hills, continue west through
Mgenge and then take a steep turn south up the northern flank of the mountain,
up to the radio tower at the top (4WD necessary). Very little natural forest
remains on Vuria, although wonderful views in all directions can be had from the
peak. To reach Chawia, bear south on the murram road out of Wundanyi, passing
through several small shopping centres and under Fururu and Susu hills. This
road meets another murram road (E687) coming up from the Mwatate-Wundanyi
road, and then winds up to Bura Bluffs (1,500 m), the dramatic cliffs on the
southern edge of the Taita Hills, which are topped by Chawia forest (about 50
ha). Matatus are frequent on all of the murram roads between Wundanyi, Wesu
and Mgenge, and anybody will give you directions if you get lost!

Sagalla hill lies isolated from the main Taita Hills massif, due south of Voi. To
reach Sagalla, follow the main road south of Voi for 2 km to the turn-off onto a
murram road which climbs about 10 km south-west up the hill to Sagalla town
(frequent matatus ply this route). Sagalla forest (5 ha) lies 3 km to the south of
the town (walk or drive a 4WD up a dirt track), on the ridge top at 1,500 m, and
is surrounded by extensive pine plantations. The eastern edge of the forest
provides magnificent views out towards Aruba Dam and Mt Kasigau.

The most difficult forest to access is Mbololo, requiring either a 4WD or a
long, steep walk. The easiest access to the base of Mbololo hill is to turn off the
Nairobi-Mombasa road 2 km north of Voi and drive about 15 km along a murram
road towards the small town of Msau (Msau can also be reached by murram road
by driving east from Wundanyi, or north from the Voi-Mwatate road). Many
matatus take these routes, but none climb the poor road up the hill to the village
of Ronge Juu (about 5 km through thorn scrub). There is a large forest station in
Ronge Juu (the forester, Mr. Mwakwida, is very friendly), administering the huge
pine plantation here, but very few other services are available. There are a few
tiny patches of heavily-disturbed indigenous forest (Mwabira and Ronge) left
along valleys within the plantation (1,200 m). To reach Mbololo, a number of dirt
tracks continue steeply uphill from Ronge Juu for about 3 km up onto the ridge
top. Mbololo forest (about 200 ha) cloaks this ridge (1,700-2,000 m) and runs

considerably lower on the eastern flank, dropping down to merge into thorn scrub
at about 1,200 m.

66 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

The endemics

The rarest of the three Taitas endemics is the Taita Thrush Turdus (olivaceus)
helleri, which is restricted to the shady understorey of dense forest in Ngangao,
Chawia and Mbololo. It is commonest at Mbololo, but given the difficulty of
access to this site, it is probably easiest sought at Ngangao. The species is most
easily located by listening for the rustling as it tosses over leaves on the forest
floor. Birds become very active at dusk, singing and often chasing each other,
calling excitedly.

The Taita Apalis Z. fuscigularis is also quite difficult to locate. It is only
found in the western Taitas: Ngangao, Chawia, Vuria and intervening small
patches of forest. It is not really a true forest species, being commonest in the
dense understorey along the forest edge. It is a skulker, difficult to see, but, with
its distinctive song of rapidly repeated scolding notes, easily heard. While the
taxonomic status of this form is uncertain—although very distinct, some still
believe it to be a race of the Bar-throated Apalis Z. thoracica—the only other
Kenyan locality for any Bar-throateds is the Chyulu Hills, 50 km north-west of
the Taitas.

The final endemic, the Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus (sometimes
regarded as a race of the Montane White-eye Z. poliogaster), is easy to see. It is
probably the commonest forest bird across the Taita Hills, occurring even in tiny
scraps of forest as low as Wundanyi. At times it forms mixed flocks on the forest

AB

Taita Apalis — Roger Barnes

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 67
a I TT LE EL LES
edge with Abyssinian White-eyes, although it is easily identified by its grey
underparts and broad white eye-ring. Note that the Taita White-eye is absent
from Sagalla (although it is reported to occur on Mt Kasigau).

Species rare in Kenya

Besides the three endemics, two other species listed in “Birds to Watch 2” occur
in the Taita Hills. One, the Abbott’s Starling, was present in Chawia in July and
August 1996, along with large flocks of both Sharpe’s and Violet-backed
Starlings. It seems likely that this poorly-known species is a wanderer to the
Taita (and Chyulu) Hills from Mt Kilimanjaro, but it may be a scarce resident;
more information is needed. There is a single record of the “Near Threatened”
Southern Banded Snake-Eagle from July 1996 in Chawia, and it seems likely that
this species is also a visitor to the Taita Hills from the coast.

Two species only barely reaching Kenya from the Tanzanian mountains are
common in the moist forest of the Taita Hills: Stripe-cheeked Greenbul and
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler. Both species are best looked for’ in
Ngangao, but are also present in Chawia, Mbololo and several smaller. forests
such as Fururu. Another mainly Tanzanian species, the Orange Ground Thrush, is
present in deep forest in Ngangao and Mbololo, although it seems to be scarcer
than the Taita Thrust..

Other species

There are also a number of more widespread species of high montane forest
which are easily seen in the Taita Hills. Mountain Buzzard, Lemon Dove,
Hartlaub’s Turaco, Cabanis’s (Placid) Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Riippell’s
Robin-Chat, African Dusky Flycatcher, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Sharpe’s
Starling and Eastern Double-collared Sunbird can all be found in Ngangao and
most of the other high altitude forests.

Most of the lower altitude forests of the Taita Hills have long been cleared,
but the forests at Sagalla, Ronge and Mwabira retain some birds typical of the
coastal forests and the foothills of the Eastern Arc of Tanzania. These include
Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Eastern Nicator, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Ashy
Flycatcher, Black-headed Apalis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and Peter’s
Twinspot. The little-known Grey-olive Greenbul of the foothills of the northern
Tanzania and central Kenya highlands is also common at these three sites.

Along with the above, a number of widespread forest species are found
throughout the Taita Hills. Examples are African Goshawk, Great Sparrowhawk,
African Crowned Eagle, Crested Guineafowl, Tambourine Dove, African Wood
Owl, Silvery-cheeked Hombill, Black-backed Puffback, Collared and Olive
Sunbirds and Green-backed Twinspot. Black-throated Wattle-eyes are common

68 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

on Sagalla but apparently
absent elsewhere in the
Taita Hills. Rufous-
breasted Sparrowhawk,
Scarce Swift, and
Mountain Greenbul. are
apparently rare visitors
to the area, and five
species for which
historical records exist
from the Taitas may now
be extinct here: White-

eared Barbet,

Moustached Green

. Tinkerbird, White-tailed

fo : Ate wee Crested Flycatcher,

Black-fronted Bush-
pe Shrike and Four-
! coloured Bush-Shrike.

The non-forest birds of
the Taita Hills should not
be ignored. The Taita and
Chyulu Hills are the only Kenyan sites for Striped Pipit, and the birds are not
hard to find on the rocky outcrops of Vuria. Freckled Nightjar and Rock Cisticola
apparently inhabit similar habitat, although they are not easy to find. Keep half
an eye on the sky for raptors like Egyptian Vulture, Wahlberg’s and Verreaux’s
Eagles, and Lanner Falcon; the rare Taita Falcon has even been recorded here.
Other interesting species to look out for around the shambas include Spot-flanked
and Brown-breasted Barbets, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, White-shouldered Cliff
Chat, Pale and Lead-coloured Flycatchers, and White-necked Ravens. The
Yellow-bellied Apalis has a rare endemic Taita Hills race.

Abott’s Starling — Roger Barnes

Other wildlife

The Taita Hills, being so heavily populated, have lost most species of large
mammals, although Leopards are rumoured to survive in Mbololo, and most of
the forests hold Sykes’ Monkeys. Mongooses, duikers and bushbabies are
relatively common, and three species of small mammals have endemic Taita
Hills subspecies. The Taitas also hold three endemic butterflies (including the
large and beautiful blue Taita Swallowtail), an endemic caecilian (which
apparently lives around wild banana trees), and an endemic back-fanged snake

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 69

(in Mbololo). At Mwabira, look out for the small treeferns (Cyathea dregei)
along the stream valley, as this is the only Kenyan locality for the species. The
spectacular endemic Taita African Violet is easily seen on rocky outcrops in
Mbololo forest. Last and largest, stop and marvel at the huge camphor and fig
trees in Mbololo, which give an idea of what the whole of the Taita Hills forest
must once have been like.

Conclusions

Undoubtedly, the Taita Hills are a highly rewarding area for a birdwatching trip,
with incredible views and beautiful forests as well as a good selection of rare
birds. However, the forests have been cleared, leaving only a tiny fraction of
their former extent (even in the 1960s it was possible to walk from Vuria to
Ngangao in forest), and although the Forest Department is now doing a good job
of protecting the remnants, the forests are still under serious pressure. When you
visit the area, please let the Forest Department staff and local people know how
important the remaining forest is for the special birds, animals and plants of the
Taita Hills, and remember to send your records of birds to Kenya Birds, so that
you contribute a bit to the future conservation of this wonderful area.

Records

compiled by Colin Jackson
PO Box 40658, Nairobi

This section exists for the rapid publication of interesting observations and for updates to the
Bird Atlas of Kenya (Lewis & Pomeroy, 1989). Contributions are welcomed. If you are
sending in records for Kenya Birds, please consider the following guidelines. Records for
confirmed breeding are useful for ALL species, even the most common ones; records of
probable breeding (nest-building, courtship etc.) are only needed for rare species or ones
where there are few breeding records. See this issue for definitions of confirmed and probable
breeding records. Interesting records will be published here and the others stored by the
EANHS for analysis of breeding seasons, success rates, habitat requirements etc. Please try to
fill in a Nest Record Card at the same time. Much more detail can be recorded on a card, and
if your record can be added to the card collection then it is of permanent value. Cards can be
obtained free of charge from the EANHS Nest Record Scheme Organiser (see back page). A
report listing records submitted to the scheme is published periodically in the Annual Bird
Report of Scopus.

For other records of Afrotropical, oceanic and Palaearctic birds, please send in any
observations and notes that you think are of interest (e.g. earliest/latest dates for Palaearctic/
Intra-African migrants, unusual records for your area). Records with information other than
simply a list of birds are particularly good, e.g. “male singing from bush”, or “4 seen in flock

70 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

of Barn Swallows...”, or “flock of 85 roosting with other terns” etc... The Editors will select
records for publication according to the space available.

For all records, including breeding records, please be precise as possible about dates and
location. If you have sightings from places not easily found on the map, please take the
trouble to give the latitude and longitude of the site to as much precision as you can
(preferably the nearest second of arc or better). This will allow us to use these as we update
the Bird Atlas of Kenya by computerised bird distribution records.

Supporting details and descriptions are always welcome for unusual records and will
improve the chances of publication (see Kenya Birds 4(2), p. 84 for suggestions on how to
submit a record). Records of certain species are requested for inclusion in the Scopus Annual
Bird Report (the third issue of Scopus each year). Species of interest to Scopus are indicated
in the new Check-list of the Birds of Kenya (EANHS 1996) and records should be sent to Don
Turner (P O Box 48019, Nairobi). For particularly unusual sightings supporting details (i.e.
field notes, photographs etc.) will be needed for scrutiny by the Ornithological Sub-committee
(OS-c) Rarities Panel.

Key to records
New atlas square records are indicated in brackets. All records are from 1996 unless otherwise
indicated.

Codes are: pres, present (first record); post pres, present (first post-1970 record); prob,
probably breeding; conf, confirmed breeding; post conf, confirmed breeding (first since
1970); e.g. conf 25B indicates that the species is confirmed as breeding (and is therefore also
present) in square 25B.

Where scientific names are not stated (here and elsewhere in Kenya Birds) the English
names follow the Check-list of the Birds of Kenya (3rd edition), EANHS, Nairobi 1996.

Overview

Perhaps the most stunning record of the past few months is the probable Orange-
winged Pytilia seen at the proposed Biodiversity Park next to the Carnivore
restaurant, Langata, Nairobi. This is a rare and seldom-recorded species in Kenya
these days. If the record is accepted by the OS-c. Rarities Panel, it would be the
first for the central highlands in at least half a century.

New atlas-square records in this issue are dominated by a few areas: the
northern part of Laikipia, the Taita Hills and Taveta, south Nyanza and
Kapenguria. Some species seem to have cropped up at once in several new
squares, notably the Pearl-spotted Owlet, new for three squares and a new
breeding record for a fourth. The final holes in one or two species’ ranges are
being filled in — with its presence in 49A, the Laughing Dove has been recorded
from all but one square in west, central and southern Kenya. It surely must occur
in square 60D too, but has not been reported there yet (see the map for where that
is!).

There have also been some interesting sightings of birds out of season, such
as the Osprey on 22 October — either an extremely early migrant or, more likely,

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 71

a non-breeding bird that stayed on in its wintering grounds. Seabirds are a group
of birds only seen by the fortunate few who can get out to sea on a boat! Recent
records include Wilson’s Storm-petrel off the coast from Shimoni. This species,
despite being one of the most numerous in the world, is very infrequently seen
off our coast. Similarly, there has been an unusually large number of frigatebirds
recorded during the year. Either these birds are not as uncommon as was thought,
or have recently become commoner closer to the shore.

Some other Afrotropical records worthy of note include the Blue Quail found
dead one morning outside Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West NP. This species is
considered regionally Vulnerable there have been very few recent records. The
Piapiac seen near Lake Kanyaboli is also a nice record for a species which, while
common in parts of Uganda, has a very restricted in range in Kenya. One of the
strangest records must however be the Yellow-crowned Bishops at Ileret — the
only other northern record for this species being 120 km further south at the
mouth of the Turkwell River. This presumably represents a movement related to
local rainfall conditions. Also from Ileret is the first record of the Abyssinian
Ground Hornbill to the east of L. Turkana, other than at Moyale. A nicely
detailed list of birds by Tony Stones from Lambwe Valley in South Nyanza
produced some good records too, such as Marsh Tchagra, African Penduline Tit
and Common Button-quails, the last being quite some way out of the previously
recorded range. The introduced Indian race of the House Sparrow now seems to
be firmly established in Nairobi: not unexpected, as their spread from the coast
and Tanzania has been documented over the last decade or two. This is not
exactly a welcome arrival, since introduced species often out-compete local
species for nest sites and food, causing their populations to decline. As a result
we would welcome ALL records of this species away from Mombasa — though
please make sure what you are seeing ARE House Sparrows and not Rufous
Sparrows, with which they can be easily confused!

Palaearctic migrant records were fewer this year, especially falcon records.
One particularly interesting record, though, is the juvenile female Eurasian
Sparrowhawk that hit a window in Gatab, Mt. Kulal in September. It was picked
up stunned, photographed and released once it had recovered. This is an
extremely early record for a species for which there have been fewer than 20
records, previously only between November and March. Another rare migrant
Accipiter, a Levant Sparrowhawk, was observed hanging around the escarpment
by Ngulia Safari Lodge for a few days in November, the second one to be seen
there in the last two years. The most fascinating, however, must be the Northern
Lapwing at Sabaki River mouth in August. This is surely the same individual
which was first seen there in February 1995, and regularly observed afterwards
by birders who visited the site. What it was doing there in August, 18 months
after it was first found and when it should normally be breeding, no-one knows.

72 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Individuals of this species usually starts breeding at latest by their second year.
Perhaps it was unable to find its way back to its natal area and has now got
thoroughly confused about where it should be and when! ,

Lastly, there have been some interesting breeding records received since the
last issue, including the well-watched (and twitched!) African Water Rail at the
Splash wetlands beside Wilson Airport, Langata — the first breeding record for
the species in the Nairobi area. One other unusual record was that of an Eastern
Yellow-billed Hornbill nesting in a termite hill at Ileret beside the north-eastern
shores of L. Turkana. This is an extraordinary record and the first of its kind to
our knowledge: this species normally uses tree cavities to breed in.

Do send in any records you have, particularly any first and last dates of
migrants seen, both Palaearctic and intra-African, or any unusually large or
impressive movements of birds. We are keen to publish information of this kind.

Observations: Afrotropical species

Wilson’s Storm-petrel: a small black miles out to sea” off Shimoni, 16-17/3,

petrel with white rump and square tail,
probably this species, was seen off
Shimoni, 12/10, PDH — a good record
as this species is rarely seen off the
Kenya coast, visiting from its sub-
antarctic breeding grounds. Awaiting
acceptance from the Rarities Panel.
White-tailed Tropicbird: at sea in the
Pemba Channel off Shimoni, 1/9 & 6/10,
SH, PDH — a generally uncommon
species, most frequently recorded from
this site.
Masked Booby: single bird seen Pemba
Channel, 14/9, PDH
Great Cormorant: [pres 49C] Nandi
Hills, 12/10, JH
African Darter: on L. Baringo, 29/9,
KB, JL; L. Naivasha, 9/10, AL; 5 soaring
overhead at the proposed Carnivore
Biodiversity Park, Langata, Nbi, 31/10,
FN, WBW — it is good to receive
records of this species now considered as
regionally Vulncrable.
Frigatebird sp., probably Greater:
“masses of frigatebirds seen about 55-60

and a single bird seen 15/9, PDH, SH —
frigatebirds are recorded almost annually
off the Kenyan coast but due to difficulty
in identification are not narrowed down
to species level. The Greater is the most
likely identity for most records, however.
Another frigatebird was seen flying
along Tiwi Beach on 22/9 and appeared
as if it would attack the toy kite that the
observer was flying! A second bird was
seen there mid-morning on 31/12,
A&KR

Little Egret: [pres 51C] Lewa Downs
Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Green-backed Heron: [post pres 100D]
Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA

Abdim’s Stork: Lambwe _ Valley
(including Ruma NP), S. Nyanza, TS:
numbers built up over a week — 30 on
6/11 to 500+ 12/11

Hadada Ibis: [pres 51A] Samburu NP,
Archer’s Post, 26/10, WV, TM

Egyptian Goose: [pres 51A] Samburu
NP, Archer’s Post, 26/10, WV, TM

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

73

African Black Duck: Mpala Ranch, 55
km NNW of Nanyuki; 13/10, CT —
unusually low altitude (1600 m) and dry
habitat for this species.

African Swallow-tailed Kite: one, Tsavo
East NP, 29/7, JE

White-headed Vulture: [pres
“Maralal square”, 10/10/95, TP

Banded Snake Eagle: Kakamega Forest,
28 & 29/9, NS — a scarce and very local
species; Kakamega is one of the best
places to find it.

Great Sparrowhawk: [pres 51C] Borana
Ranch, Timau, 8/10, NW, MD

Lizard Buzzard: Ridgeways, Nbi, 10/7,
WBW

Ayres’ Hawk Eagle: one seen taking a
Eurasian Roller in front of Ngulia SL,
Tsavo West NP, 17/12, ND, CJ — the
eagle was almost immediately pushed
off its meal by a Wahlberg’s Eagle who
was then chased off by a pair of Augur
Buzzards! This is an unusual record for
this species, the bird probably
originating from the population known
to occur on the Chyulu Hills to the
north-west.

Lanner Falcon: [pres 49A] Sergoit Rock,
nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK

Peregrine Falcon: [pres 38D] ‘“Maralal
square”, 9/2, TP; [pres 60C] one low
along valley, Lambwe Valley, S. Nyanza,
13/9, TS

Blue Quail: one found dead in morning
by lodge, Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, 4/11
GM & PG; now a rare intra-African
migrant in Kenya, this is only the second
record for Ngulia (the first was a bird
ringed on 17/12/82)

Harlequin Quail: [pres 49A] Sergoit
Rock & surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10,
CK

38D]

Common Button Quail: [pres 60C] 2
seen separately on 13/11, Lambwe
Valley, S. Nyanza, TS — a very
interesting record, significantly further
west than previous ones. Recent heavy
rain may have attracted the birds into the
area.

African Water Rail: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK
Black Crake: [pres 49A] Sergoit Rock &

surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK

Allen’s Gallinule: 50+ seen around
islands in L. Baringo, 29/9, KB, JL

Purple Swamphen: [pres 37C] 1 on
Keringet Dam, Kapenguria, 19/7, JE —
some way out of the species’ normal
range, probably a wanderer.

Hartlaub’s Bustard: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Spur-winged Plover: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Crowned Plover: [pres 60C] Lambwe
Valley, S. Nyanza, 21/8, TS

Brown Noddy: “common” at Kisite
Marine Park and at sea in Pemba
Channel off Shimoni, 12/10, EM, JS &
PDH

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse: [pres
51C] Lewa Downs Conservancy, Isiolo,
16/10, FK

African Mourning Dove: [pres 50D]
Mpala Ranch, Nanyuki, 13/10, CT

Laughing Dove: [pres 49A] Sergoit Rock
& surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK;
this is the penultimate Atlas square to be
filled for this species in western, central
& southern Kenya — amazing it has
lasted so long! (The only one remaining
is 60D...)

Brown Parrot: Sergoit Rock &
surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK; first
time seen at this site. 1-2 birds in garden

74

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

every day, Kilimani, Nbi, 1-13/11, Cr;
also at Splash Wetlands, Langata, Nbi,
23/12, ND — this western species is
now seen from time to time around Nbi:
presumably escaped birds.

Hartlaub’s Turaco: 14 together in a fig-
tree is an usually high number for this
regionally endemic species, Karen, Nbi,
6/10, I & GvS (...the figs must have
been really tasty...)

Black-&-white Cuckoo: at proposed
Carnivore Biodiversity Park, Langata,
Nbi, 17/11, FN

Great Spotted Cuckoo: 2 at L. Baringo,
15/7, JE — considering the date, these
are probably “local” breeding birds,
rather than Palaearctic migrants.

African Emerald Cuckoo: [pres 60D] N.
Mathioya River Camp, Muranga Dist.,
11/10, PP

Yellowbill: 1 found in City Park, Nbi, 15/
9, FN

Black Coucal: a juvenile was seen flying
across a field, Kakamega, 24/8, ND — a
nice record of a skulking and local
species that is not seen very often.

Barn Owl: [pres 49A] Sergoit Rock &
surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK;
Limuru Rd, Kiambaa, Kiambu, 12/10,
AC-B — not an uncommon species but
often overlooked.

Pearl-spotted Owlet: [pres 38D]
‘“Maralal square”, 9/2, TP; [pres 51C]
Lewa Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10,
FK; [pres 51A] Samburu NP, Archer’s
Post, 26/10, WV, TM
Nubian Nightjar: 4 ringed at Ngulia SL,
Tsavo West NP, in Nov/Dec, NRG — the
first for some years.

African Black Swift: Ngulia SL, Tsavo
West NP, 13/12, NRG, normally a
highland species, this bird was probably
from the small population on the Taita
Hills.

Half-collared Kingfisher: recorded at the
weir on the Mkurumingi River, Shimba
Hills NR, 12/10, FA

African Pygmy Kingfisher: [pres 100D]
Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA;
1 ringed 15/10 and retrapped 26/10,
NMK, Nbi, NbiRG — this is the third
individual of this species to be ringed at
NMK.

Giant Kingfisher: [pres 100D] Ziwani
Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA

Violet Wood-hoopoe: observed at Ziwani
Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, by AA, and
around L. Jipe on 21/8 by WV & TM; a
local and uncommon species that is not
often reported. It is possibly resident but
more records are needed to confirm this.

Common Scimitarbill: [pres 61A] Homa
Lime, Koru, January, NW

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill: [pres 4C]
Ileret, June, EJN (photo supplied) — this
species has rarely been recorded to the
east of L. Turkana in Kenya.

African Grey Hornbill: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK
Hairy-breasted Barbet: Kakamega
Forest, 29/9, NS — a rare resident of
Kakamega Forest, the only place in

Kenya it has been recorded.

Brown-breasted Barbet: [pres 100D]
Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA

Red-&-yellow Barbet: [pres 51C]
Borana Ranch, Timau, 8/10, NW, MD

Greater Honeyguide: [pres 38D]
“Maralal square”, 9/2, TP; [pres 49A]
Sergoit Rock & surroundings, nr Eldoret,
13/10, CK

Grey-rumped Swallow: 2 in a mixed
flock of swallows, Kenyatta University
Sewage Treatment Ponds, Nbi, 2/10,
WBC (EN)

Rufous-chested Swallow: Musiara
Swamp, Masai Mara, 2/10, WO, EN, SN
— an uncommon species:, the Mara is

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

75

one of the better-known areas where it
occurs.

White-headed Saw-wing: flock of 50+
seen, Lambwe Valley, S. Nyanza, 11/9,
TS — an exceptionally large flock for
this species, the largest previously
reported being one of c. 40 birds in Zaire
(Birds of Africa, vol. 4)

Grassland Pipit: [pres 100D] Ziwani
Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA; this
species was formerly — considered
conspecific with Richard’s Pipit from
which it was recently split.

Long-billed Pipit: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK
Rosy-breasted Longclaw: Musiara
Swamp, Masai Mara, 2/10, WO, EN, SN
Northern Brownbul: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK;
[pres 51A] Samburu NP, Archer’s Post,

26/10, WV, TM

Grey-chested Illadopsis: a single bird
seen feeding on a path just after rain with
2 Equatorial Akalats and a Red-tailed
Bristlebill, Kakamega forest, 21/7, JE —
this little-known and very restricted
species is not often sighted.

Little Rock Thrush: Kijabe, Rift Valley
escarpment, 8/10, CD

African Thrush: [pres 49A] Sergoit
Rock & surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10,
CK

Lead-coloured Flycatcher: this
infrequently recorded species was seen
during the World Bird Count on 9/10 in
the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest near Gede
Forest Station, DN, ET, TaB

Whistling Cisticola: seen on 2 separate
occasions near Rondo in Kakamega
forest, 21/7 by JE and 24/8 by ND, MiP
& MS

Grey Wren-Warbler:
“Maralal square”, 9/2, TP

{pres 38D]

Banded Parisoma: [pres 100D] Ziwani
Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA

Yellow-bellied Hyliota: Ololoolo
Escarpment, Masai Mara, 4/10, WO, EN,
SN — an infrequently reported species,
at its southern limit in Kenya at this site.

Southern Hyliota: Kakamega forest, 28/
9, NS — a rare resident of this and the
Nandi forests, keeping mostly to the
tree-tops.

African Penduline Tit: a flock of at least
7 birds feeding in a seeding tree, Olando,
Lambwe Valley, S.Nyanza, 11/9, TS —
an interesting western record of this less
common species, in this case presumably
of the race sharpei; 2 at Kenyatta
University Sewage Treatment Ponds, nr
Nbi, 2/10, FN

African Paradise Flycatcher: [pres
100D] Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/
10, AA

Black-throated Wattle-eye: [pres 49A]
Keringet Dam, Kapenguria, 19/7, JE

White-crested Helmet-shrike: [pres
17C] Funanyata, nr Moyale, 23/4/95, CJ

Marsh Tchagra: 2 in Ruma NP, Lambwe
Valley, S. Nyanza, 12/11, TS — another
infrequently reported species.

Doherty’s Bush-Shrike: Derby House,
Kericho 5/10, KB; Molo, 13/10, G&DI
— an uncommon and local species that
is not often reported.

Tropical Boubou: [pres 100D] Ziwani
Tented Camp, Taveta,6/10, AA

Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike: [pres
100D] Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/
10, AA

Black-headed Oriole: [pres 100D]
Ziwani Tented Camp, Taveta, 6/10, AA

Piapiac: near L.Kanyaboli, Siaya, 24/8,
ND, MiP, & MS — a scarce and local
species in Kenya, records possibly
referring to wanderers from Uganda

76 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

where it is and
widespread.

Abbott’s Starling: a male and a female
seen together, Kieni Forest (30 km NW
of Nbi), 5/10, TB, TP & FN

Magpie Starling: L. Baringo, 29/9, MR
and 10/10, MO; also Ndololo Camp,
Tsavo East NP, 21/11, SFS — classic
dates for these areas, thought to be birds
involved in a post-breeding dispersal
movement from the north. Tsavo East is
at the southern boundary of their usual
range.

Western Violet-backed Sunbird: 1 seen
in garden of Sinkwa Guest House,
Kapenguria, 19/7, JE

Marico Sunbird: [pres 49A] Sergoit
Rock & surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10,
CK

House Sparrow: there has now been a
smattering of records of this introduced
species from around Nairobi: Splash
Wetlands, Langata, 24/11, FN, TP, TB

Yellow-spotted Petronia: Kingfisher
picnic site, Nbi NP, 26/12, ND

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver: [pres
60C] Ruma NP, Lambwe Valley, S.
Nyanza, TS: only around the Nyadende
Gate, 1 on 12/9 and 3 on 15/11.

Clarke’s Weaver: flocks reported of 3-
400 birds from Arabuko-Sokoke Forest,
30/7-1/8, JE — these are unusually large
numbers of this species in a single flock.

Brown-capped Weaver: [pres 76A] Ol
Donyo Sabuk NP, 22/9, FN; this species
is known from other ‘forest islands’ such
as Marsabit, but has previously been
overlooked at this site.

Red-headed Weaver: female foraging in
top of a Croton tree in a fixed bird party,
Arboretum, Nbi, 18/8, FN

Yellow-crowned Bishop: [pres 4C] a
flock of over 110 birds by the lake,
Ileret, L. Turkana, June, EJN (photo

more numerous

supplied) — an extremely interesting
observation, being c. 120 km further
north than the only other northern record
(Turkwell delta); this for a very local
and uncommon bird of swampy and
moist grassland found mainly in the
western and central highlands. It is
described as being a wanderer with
movements at least partly stimulated by
rainfall, as are several of the bishops.
Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird: 2 seen
near Keringet Dam, Kapenguria, 19/7,
JE

Orange-winged Pytilia: a male and
female pytilia with orange edges to their
wings were seen together at the
proposed Carnivore Biodiversity Park,
Langata, Nbi on 17/11, by FN and
WBW — yet to be accepted by O-Sc
Rarities Panel. If accepted, this will be
the first record of this rare species in the
central highlands for 50-75 years
Yellow-bellied Waxbill: recorded for
first time in Langata and regularly since,
Nov., GB

Crimson-rumped Wakxbill: [pres 26B]
Gatab, Mt Kulal, MB

Zebra Waxbill: 3 seen in wheat stubble
at Sergoit Rock, nr Eldoret, 12/10, CK;
a local and usually uncommon species
recorded here on the edge of its western
range in Kenya.

Village Indigobird: : [pres 49A] Sergoit Rock
& surroundings, nr Eldoret, 13/10, CK

Steel-blue Whydah: Homa Lime, Koru,
April-June, NW — a local and generally
uncommon species recorded here at the
eastern edge of its range in the L.
Victoria basin

Golden-breasted Bunting: [pres 49C]
Nandi Hills, 12/10, JH

Somali Golden-breasted Bunting: [pres

51C] Lewa Downs Conservancy, Isiolo,
16/10, FK

ie cae

&
i
2

Bird Atlas of Kenya — Quarter Square Degree numbers

A number of Kenya Birds readers will already be familiar with the Bird Atlas of Kenya (Lewis and
Pomeroy, 1989), being fortunate enough to either own or at least have reference to a copy. In the
records section of each issue of Kenya Birds, reference is made to “new atlas records” and are
followed by a number in parentheses such as: [pres 64C]. Those who are not familiar with the
Atlas may have wondered what these mean and also what should be filled in on the National Bird
Map checklists and Nest Record Cards where a box is given labelled as “Atlas Square’.

The Bird Atlas of Kenya, written by Adrian Lewis and Derek Pomeroy and published in 1989 is a
book that both maps and describes in some detail the known distribution of every species of bird
that had been recorded in Kenya up until 1984. The map of Kenya was divided into Squares and
for every species, if it had been seen in a given square, it was marked with a symbol indicating as
to whether it was present, was probably breeding or confirmed breeding. The squares thus form
the basis for the Atlas distributions, and the numbers in the records section as mentioned above,
therefore refer to the number of the atlas Square in which the record was made.

number and letter (e.g. “64C”). The number, in this case "64", refers to the degree square that you
are in and the letter, “C’, to the particular quarter of the degree square. The sequence of the letters
(a, b. Cc and d) is shawn in ennara Siaecneteneinsaananeaceiaa - qo aa

Bird Atlas of Kenya — Quarter Square Degree numbers

A number of Kenya Birds readers will already be familiar with the Bird Atlas of Kenya (Lewis and
Pomeroy, 1989), being fortunate enough to either own or at least have reference to a copy. In the
records section of each issue of Kenya Birds, reference is made to “new atlas records” and are
followed by a number in parentheses such as: [pres 64C]. Those who are not familiar with the
Atlas may have wondered what these mean and also what should be filled in on the National Bird
Map checklists and Nest Record Cards where a box Is given labelled as “Atlas square’.

The Bird Atlas of Kenya, written by Adrian Lewis and Derek Pomeroy and published in 1989 is a
book that both maps and describes in some detail the known distribution of every species of bird
that had been recorded in Kenya up until 1984. The map of Kenya was divided into squares and
for every species, if it had been seen in a given square, it was marked with a symbol indicating as
to whether it was present, was probably breeding or confirmed breeding. The squares thus form
the basis for the Atlas distributions, and the numbers in the records section as mentioned above,
therefore refer to the number of the atlas square in which the record was made.

In view of so few people having access to an Atlas, we thought it would be useful to publish in
Kenya Birds a map of Kenya showing the Atlas squares along with the major towns. This Is to
assist observers in knowing which square they are in when completing any checklists or nest
record cards they wish to submit to the Ornithology Dept. Each square has two parts to it — a
number and letter (e.g. “64C”). The number, in this case “64”, refers to the degree square that you
are in and the letter, “C’, to the particular quarter of the degree square. The sequence of the letters
(a, b, c and d) is shown in square number 2 of the map overleaf. For example therefore, Mtita _———
Andei is in square 89C, Kisumu in-60B—and-Malindi 4193A—Kitale—-is-shown—as—being on an
intersection and is in fact mostly in 37C. The map overleaf doesn’t show much detail due to the
lack of space on a small map. You can tell more accurately which square you are birding in by
using a commercially available road map (that shows the main lines of longitude and latitude) and
drawing your own extra lines at half-degree intervals to make the quarter degree squares.

Despite the intensive amount of fieldwork carried out over a number of years to produce the map
and the amount of birding done since it was published, there are still many new records being
submitted each year. If you are able to visit more remote areas of the country, you are almost
bound to see something new! Do let us have your records so we can publish all the new ones in
Kenya Birds. An update of all new records from when the Atlas was carried out (1884) to October
1994 is available in the Ornithology Department at a minimal cost.

“Intersection and is in Tact MOST In S7U. INE Map OVETICal GUSSITT SiiUw Truc UStan GUS WwW UIC ~
lack of space on a small map. You can tell more accurately which square you are birding in by
using a commercially available road map (that shows the main lines of longitude and latitude) and
drawing your own extra lines at half-degree intervals to make the quarter degree squares.

Despite the intensive amount of fieldwork carried out over a number of years to produce the map
and the amount of birding done since it was published, there are still many new records being
submitted each year. If you are able to visit more remote areas of the country, you are almost
bound to see something new! Do let us have your records so we can publish all the new ones in
Kenya Birds. An update of all new records from when the Atlas was carried out (1884) to October
1994 is available in the Ornithology Department at a minimal cost.

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Quarter Square Degree numbers

as in the "Bird Atlas of Kenya"

‘$malindi
103

basa

100

Kilometers

200

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 77

Observations: Palaearctic species

White Stork: 200+ moving south,
Maseno School, 24/2 and a further 200+
low over trees heading north-east, 3/3,
JA; 350+ over Nandi Hills town, 18/3,
KK; few dozen moving north along with
Common Buzzards, Moi University
Chepkoilel Campus, Eldoret, 18/3, LL,
PN, CJ, EW, JO, TB

Black Stork: 1 at proposed Carnivore
Biodiversity Park, Langata, Nbi, 21/10,
and another on 17/11, FN

Garganey: L. Naivasha Country Club, L.
Naivasha, 25/10, CR; one of the first
records for the year.

Osprey: Lambwe Valley, S. Nyanza, 22/
8, TS — with a date like this, probably a
non-breeder that stayed on during the
northern summer; 2 immatures
migrating south away from the lake,
western end of L. Naivasha, 21/9, CJ —
an early record for this species; 1 seen
over Thika Falls, 10/10, WBC (FN’s
group); a less common record away
from the usual locations of the main
lakes or coast.

Pallid Harrier: Musiara Swamp, Masai
Mara, 2/10, WO, EN, SN — an early
record.

Montagu’s Harrier: Musiara Swamp,
Masai Mara, 2/10, WO, EN, SN — an
early record.

Eurasian Marsh Harrier: Musiara
Swamp, Masai Mara, 2/10, WO, EN, SN
— an early record.

Levant Sparrowhawk: Ngulia SL, Tsavo
West NP, 11-16/11, NRG; another bird,
probably this species and awaiting
acceptance by the Rarities Panel, was
seen at Ndara Ranch, Voi on 26/11, MR

Lesser Spotted Eagle: Ngulia SL, Tsavo
West NP, 1 on 14 /11 and a second,
apparently unwell, on 12/12, NRG

Steppe Eagle: Ngulia SL, Tsavo West
NP, 16/11, NRG: a visible movement of
eagles with over 50 birds moving south
over the lodge along the Ngulia ridge
between 8:30 am and mid-day.

Booted Eagle: Mara River Camp, 3/10,
WO, EN, SN — an early record; 1 at
Ngong Race Course, Nbi, 18/12, WBW

Amur Falcon: Ndololo Camp, Tsavo
East NP, 21/11, SFS

Corncrake: 2-3 seen, Ngulia SL, Tsavo
West NP, around 16/12, NRG

Little Ringed Plover: [pres 51C] Lewa
Downs Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Northern Lapwing: 1 present at Sabaki
River Mouth, 1/8, JE — this is probably
the same individual that was first seen
here in Feb. 1995; it was the first record
for East Africa and clearly lost (!).
Considering the date of this record, it is
likely that it has been unable to return to
its breeding grounds and has spent its
time moving up and down the east
African coast.

Little Stint: [pres 51C] Lewa Downs
Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Ruff: [pres 51C] Lewa
Conservancy, Isiolo, 16/10, FK

Bar-tailed Godwit: a single bird at Mida
Creek on 1/8, JE, probably an over-
summering individual.

Green Sandpiper: at proposed
Biodiversity Park, Langata, Nbi, 18/9,
FN

Eurasian Swift: [pres 38D] ‘“Maralal
square”, 10/10/95, TP

Eurasian Scops Owl: 3 ringed at Ngulia
SL, Tsavo West NP, on 6, 8 & 11/12,
NRG

Eurasian Bee-eater: [pres 38D] “Maralal
square’, 14/10/93, TP

Downs

78

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Hoopoe (Palaearctic race Upupa e.
epops): Ngulia SL, Tsavo West NP, 27/
9, DP

Common House Martin: [pres 60C] at
least one over Ruma NP, S. Nyanza, 12/
i Ts

Grey Wagtail: Ngulia SL, Tsavo West
NP, 25/9, DP; 1 in Arboretum, Nbi, 16/
10, FN, WBW

Sprosser: 1 ringed NMK, Nbi, 26/10
with a further 6 on 31/10 and 28 in
Langata, Nbi on 2/11, NbiRG; also
several observed at Carnivore
Biodiversity Park, Langata around the
same time by a number of observers.
Unusually abundant around Nbi (in two-
and-a-half years ringing at NMK, only
one other Sprosser had been ringed).

Irania: female at proposed Biodiversity
Park, Langata, Nbi, 30/10, FN — an
unusual species for Nbi

Whinchat: : [pres 49A] 2 birds seen in
wheat stubble at Sergoit Rock, nr
Eldoret, 13/10, CK; a male on 9/11 and
several later during Nov., Lambwe
Valley, S. Nyanza, TS; 1 at Muhoroni,
10/11, CJ; 1 at Ngulia SL, Tsavo West
NP, 13-14/12, NRG — a scarce species
at Ngulia.

Northern Wheatear: a male at proposed
Biodiversity Park, Langata, Nbi, 18/9,
WBW |

Isabelline Wheatear: an early record at
Gitiligini, Mai Mahiu, headwaters Little
Kedong River, 2/10, P&MF; also
recorded in Masai Mara on the same
date, WO, EN, SN

Common Rock Thrush: 1 at proposed
Carnivore Biodiversity Park, Langata,
Nbi, 21/10, FN — one of the first
records for the year.

Sedge Warbier: L. Naivasha Country
Club, L. Naivasha, 25/10, CR — an
early record for a species which is also
more commonly seen during its
northward m gration.

Olivaceous Warbler: more than one,
Ridgeways Estate, Nbi, 13/11, FN; 2 in
garden, Kiambere Rd, Upper Hill, Nbi,
MA EN

Upcher’s Warbler: one bathing at Hippo
Pools, Nbi National Park, 28/12, CJ

Common Whitethroat: [pres 61A]
Homa Lime, Koru, January, NW
Eurasian Golden Oriole: Loresho

Ridge, Nbi, 6/10, CS, TI; a relatively
early record

Breeding records

Many thanks go to all those who have sent
in Nest Record Cards over the past six
months or so. A total of 181 records have
been submitted of which 144 were
confirmed and 37 probable breeding
records. These cover 105 species and were
submitted by 33 contributors. Those
people who sent in breeding records are
listed below, with the number of records
submitted — all those who sent in more
than 10 deserve special congratulations,

particularly Jeffory Coburn’ who
submitted an amazing 81 _ records
including nests of hard-to-find species
such as Slender-tailed Nightjar and
Heuglin’s Courser.

Cards submitted:
Jeffory Coburn 81
Tony Stones 20
David Mutinda 16
Neil Willsher 14

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 79

Peter Maina 1
Sybil Sassoon
Kuria Ndung’u
James Wainaina
Dorrie Brass
Maia Hemphill
Charles Rugara
Kimbo Beakbane
Korir Kimtai
Bernard Mburu
Onesmas Kahindi
Beatrice Kamami
Kevin Mulai
Joesph Oyugi
Sailesh Patel
Marlene Reid

NNNNNN WWW KKH D OO CO W

Single cards were submitted by: Reuben
Chege, Andrew Cheruiyot, Pat Frere, L.
Grumbley, Philip Hechle, F. Kagema,
Susan Kamami, Carol Kruger, Paul
Lascelles, Francian Muthoni, Reuben
Nagaya, George Oyuga and Dave
Richards.

Blank Nest Record Cards are available
upon request (see above).

Records of interest

Somali Ostrich: 8 eggs in a _ nest,
Samburu Game Reserve, 1/9, JC — all
the eggs disappeared overnight; ostrich
nests are robbed even in “protected”
areas...

Little Bittern: a pair nest-building, L.
Baringo, 24/8, JC; nest with 3 eggs,
Elsamere, L. Naivasha, 9/10, RC

Common Squacco Heron: nest with 4
eggs, L. Baringo, 24/8, JC

Hooded Vulture: [conf 51A] 2 nests with
incubating adult, Samburu Game
Reserve, 2/9, JC

Lappet-faced Vulture: [conf 51A] nest
with incubating adult, Samburu Game
Reserve, 1/9, JC

African Harrier Hawk: [conf 61A]
adult incubating, Homa Lime Co. Koru,
nr Kisumu, 16/4, NW

Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk: 1
young in nest, L. Baringo, 24/4, JC

Great Sparrowhawk: [post conf 37C]
young seen in nest, Saiwa Swamp NP,
nr Kitale, 9/10, PL

African Crowned Eagle: juvenile near
nest, Kakamega forest, 21/7, JE

Grey Kestrel: [prob 60A] a pair
observed courting and later copulating,
ICIPE Research Centre, Mbita, L.
Victoria, 25/8, TS; this species is
usually thought to copulate inside its
nest, rather than outside as here

Stone Partridge: [conf 50B] 5 adults
with 2 young unable to fly seen daily, Ol
Malo Ranch, Laikipia, 4-12/9, SS

Helmeted Guineafowl: [conf 61A] 3
adults with 4 young observed, Homa
Lime, Koru, nr Kisumu, 23/5, NW; nest
with 12 eggs, L. Baringo, 25/8, JC —
eggs all disappeared overnight

African Water Rail: [conf 75B] 2

downy’ chicks following adults
swimming, Splash Wetland, Langata,
Nbi, 9/10, DR — a skulking an

unobtrusive species (like most crakes!),
this is a good record and goes to show
what proper treatment of waste water
can do!

Allen’s Gallinule: 1 nest with 4 eggs &
another with 8, L. Baringo, 26/8, JC

Grey Crowned Crane: nest with 2 eggs,
northern edge of lake, L. Naivasha, 5/
10, JW — good to get breeding records
of this regionally near-threatened
species.

80 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

White-bellied Bustard: Juvenile too
young to fly, Ol Malo Ranch, Laikipia,
4-12/9, SS

Black-bellied Bustard: [prob 60C]
displaying birds seen Ruma _ NP,
Lambwe Valley, S. Nyanza, 21/8 & 7/
11, TS

African Jacana: nest with 4 eggs, L.
Baringo, 26/8, JC

Spotted Thick-knee: 2 young near nest,
Samburu Game Reserve, 2/9, JC

Black-headed Plover: nest with 3 eggs,
L. Baringo, 26/8, JC

Roseate Tern: many young seen, Whale
Island, off Mida Creek, Watamu, 16/9,
LG — this is one of the largest breeding
colonies of terns along our coastline.

Black-faced Sandgrouse: [conf 51A]
juvenile being fed by adult male,
Samburu Game Reserve, 2/9, JC

Namaqua Dove: 3 nests found, 1 with 2
eggs, another with 1 chick and the last
with 2 chicks, L. Baringo, 26-27/8, JC

Speckled Pigeon: [conf 61A] adult on
nest, Homa Lime Co., Koru, nr Kisumu,
24/5, NW

Great Blue Turaco: 2 adults building
nest beside road near Rondo, Kakamega
forest, 20-21/7, JE

Klaas’s Cuckoo: [prob 60A]
unaccompanied young calling
repeatedly, ICIPE Research Centre,

Mbita, L. Victoria, 19/8, TS

Spotted Eagle-Owl: nest with young that
fledged sucessfully, Sulmac, Naivasha,
Oct, GO

Pearl-spotted Owlet: [conf 89C] adult
seen entering nest hole in tree and
staying for long periods of time, Nyika
Camp, Mtito Andei, 21/10, PH

African Wood Owl: recently fledged
young photographed, Windsor Golf &
Country Club, Kiambu, Nbi, 20/10, KN

Slender-tailed Nightjar: 4 nests of 1-2
eggs each for which “rains had broken
all the eggs”, 1 nest with 2 chicks about
1 week old, L. Baringo, 22-27/8, JC

Narina Trogon: juvenile male and
female on Miotoni Rd, Karen,
constitutes the first successful breeding
record “for many years” at this site, 12/
10, I & GvS

Little Bee-eater: [conf 89C] adults
carrying food to nest in bank, Galdessa
Camp, Tsavo East NP, 17/10, KM

Red-billed Hornbill: nest with 3 eggs,
but adult killed on nest by children, L.
Baringo, 27/8, JC; male feeding female
through nest’ slit, Tsavo East
Information Centre, Tsavo East NP, 28/
12, OK

Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill: [conf
4C] Ileret, June, EJN (photo supplied)
— an interesting record since the nest
was in a termite mound rather than a
tree, the first time this has been
documented

Hemprich’s Hornbill: adult taking food
to nest on a cliff, L. Baringo, 15/7, JE

African Grey Hornbill: adult carrying
food to nest, Loldia Farm, Naivasha, 5/
10, JW

D’Arnaud’s Barbet: [conf 50B] 3 nest
holes with young heard inside,Ol Malo
Ranch, Laikipia, 4-12/9, SS

Greater Honeyguide: juvenile fed by a
Hoopoe, 20/1, CR — the Hoopoe is one
of the commonest hosts for this species.

Wire-tailed Swallow: adult carrying
food to nest, Loldia Farm, Naivasha, 10/
7, PM; juvenile being fed by adult,
Windsor Golf & Country Club, Kiambu,
Nbi, 16/10, KN

African Pied Wagtail: [post conf 60A]
adult feeding young, ICIPE Research
Centre, Mbita, L. Victoria, 24/8, TS

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 81

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul: nest with 2
young, Kakamega forest, 30/8, JOO —
a species for which nests are not often
found.

Common Bulbul: [conf 74C] nest with 3
young, Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara
NR, 18/11, OK

Black-lored Babbler: [prob 60C] bird
cairying nest material, Nyaboro thicket,
Lambwe Valley, 12/9, TS

Rufous Chatterer: nest with 3 young,
L.Baringo, 25/8, JC

White-browed Robin-Chat: [prob 60A]
juvenile accompanying adult, I[CIPE
Research Centre, Mbita, L. Victoria, 18/
8, TS

White-browed Scrub Robin: 3 nests, 2
with 3 eggs, 1 with 1 chick, L. Baringo,
26/8, JC

African Thrush: [conf 61A] adults
feeding young in nest, Homa Lime Co.,
Koru, nr Kisumu, 20/4, NW

African Grey Flycatcher: nest with 2
eggs, L. Baringo, 26/8, JC

Red-faced Crombec: [conf 61A] single
chick being fed by adult, Homa Lime
Co., Koru, nr Kisumu, 10/12, NW

Yellow-bellied Eremomela: Nest with 2
eggs, Olorgesailie, May, ND; nest with
2 eggs, L. Baringo, 25/8, JC

Chin-spot Batis: female on nest fed by
male; deserted next day — when blown
by the wind, a thin branch was hitting the
female’s head... Gitingini Farm, Mai-
mahiu, Rift Valley below Kijabe, 2/10, PF

Common Fiscal: [conf 60C] recently
fledged young begging food from adult,
Kitogo Village, Lambwe Valley, S.
Nyanza, 20/8, TS

Brubru: nest with 2 young, L. Baringo,
25/8, JC

Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike: [conf
49C] nest watched with 2 chicks that
fledged successfully in a private garden,
Nandi Hills, April/May, PS

Montane Oriole: 3 juveniles being fed
by adults, Derby House, Kericho, 17/4,
KB

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird:
juvenile bird in nest fed by adult female,
Campi ya Samaki, L.Baringo, 5/11, MR

Spectacled Weaver: [prob 61A] adult
building nest, Homa Lime, Koru, nr
Kisumu, 21/4, NW

Bilack-billed Weaver: adult entering nest
hole and remaining inside for long
period, Samoei School, Nandi Hills, 10/
10, KK

Lesser Masked Weaver: [prob 60C]
adult building nest, Nyaboro thicket,
Lambwe Valley, 9/11, TS

Bronze Mannikin: [post prob 61A] adult
building nest, Homa Lime, Koru, nr
Kisumu, 20/4, NW

Yellow-fronted Canary: [prob 114C] 2
young birds accompanying adult,
Shimoni, Kwale Dist., 8/2, MH

82 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Notes

Probable versus confirmed breeding records... |
What's the difference?

We still know remarkably little about the status and seasonality of many bird
species in Kenya, particularly the pattern and timing of breeding. We have a
general idea of the distribution in most cases, but there are lots of mysteries and
* gaps — witness the fact that so many new Atlas records are still being added!
Even for a species like the Common Bulbul, first breeding records are only now
being filled in for some squares.

Over the past two years the Department of Ornithology has been working on
‘National Birdmap’ — a project to build up a biogeographic database of the
distribution and seasonality of birds in Kenya, using all the records that are
available. Developing the database has taken time, but it is now running smoothly
and we are keen to receive as many records as possible of birds from around
Kenya. For this we rely on people like yourself — keen birders, who spend time
out in the field birding, very often in areas that the Department is never likely to
get to.

~ Using World Birdwatch as a focus, we designed a checklist for recording field
observations. Data collected using this National Birdmap form are especially
useful for mapping species distributions and seasonality, including breeding. The
purpose of this short article is to clarify the difference between a probable and a
confirmed breeding record on the form.

In the ‘status’ column, we ask observers to record ‘1’ for probable or a ‘2’ for
confirmed breeding records. However, it has become clear that we usually need
some extra information to decide whether the record is really probable or confirmed
— we cannot be sure that everyone is using the same criteria! Our standard
guidelines are those set out in the Bird Atlas of Kenya by Adrian Lewis and
Derek Pomeroy (and based on categories used in Europe). They are quite
straightforward, but worth looking at carefully. Here they are, with their two-
letter codes:

Probable breeding

PA. Pair observed in suitable habitat in breeding season. Evidence of a
permanent territory (e.g. song) on at least two occasions, a week or more
apart, at the same place.

PB. Brood patch seen on a bird in the hand.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 83
a eee
PC. Courtship and display, by non-migratory species
PD. Visiting probable nest site
PE. Nest building activities, including hole excavation
PF. Agitated reaction of adult to observer
PG. Egg in oviduct (for a bird in the hand or museum specimen)

Confirmed breeding

CA. Nest with young

CB. Used nest or egg shells found

CC. Recently Bedged young of nidicolous species (those that stay in the nest
until they are fully feathered), or downy young of nidifugous species
(those that leave the nest after hatching)

CD. Distraction display or injury feigning

CE. Nest with eggs

CF. Adult carrying food for young

CG. Adult carrying faecal sac

CH. Adult entering or leaving nest hole (or similar site) in circumstances
indicative of an occupied nest (but note that many barbets and woodpeckers
roost in tree holes as well as nesting there, and frequently visit potential
holes — so careful observations are needed)

CI. Adult incubating

CJ. Adult feeding young or juvenile birds (only for non-migratory species)

Attempts at breeding that are known to have failed before egg-laying are not
included in either category.

If, therefore, you see a bird nesting or showing any indication of breeding,
please use these guidelines to decide whether it is a probable or confirmed
breeding record. Even better, add the appropriate code in the status column to
indicate what category it falls into. For example, if you see a Black Kite carrying
nest material but are unable to check at a later date to see if it has laid eggs, you
could record it as ‘PE’ or ‘1’.

And where you have a confirmed breeding record — it’s EVEN better if you
can fill in a nest record card! It takes a little time and effort, but it is a big, big
help. — Colin Jackson, Ornithology, P O Box 40658, Nairobi.

84 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

The last record of the Lammergeier in Hell’s Gate?

On 30 July 1987 I was driving through Hell’s Gate from Fischer’s Tower towards
the gorge I stopped on the main track at a point approximately level with central
tower. From here I could see a large bird of prey circling above the cliffs to my
left (looking back towards the park entrance) with long straight wings and
prominent tail, at about 1.5 times the height of the cliff. The bird continued to
soar in broad arcs for quite some time — between 10 and 15 minutes — on
occasions coming within 300 m and giving plenty of opportunity for observation.
The time was twenty or thirty minutes past midday on a very hot afternoon, and
on our journey, White-backed and Rtippell’s vultures had been active around the
cliffs and in other areas of the park. Through binoculars I could easily make out
the distinctive silhouette of a Lammergeier, and with the help of a telescope I
could see some plumage features. Notes and sketches were taken at the time and
although they are rough, they clearly refer to this species. The bird had long
Straight wings, quite narrow wing tips without ‘fingers’ (although these were

Lammergeier in Hell’s Gate— Simon Thomsett

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 85

discernible through the telescope when the birds flew on tighter arcs) and no
clear secondary bulge on the trailing edge. The wings were held flat and were
wholly dark on the underside. The head was prominent and both the head and
chest were pale whilst the dark diamond-shaped tail was very prominent. The
bird was big, at least as big as nearby Riippell’s Vultures which were there for
comparison. Earlier in the week I had seen one adult Egyptian Vulture in the
park, but the head on this bird was very small in proportion to its body, compared
to the Lammergeier, and the tail too was much less prominent, being more
wedge-shaped than diamond-shaped. Young Egyptian Vultures are browner and
more variable in plumage than the adults, but do not show the plumage
combinations of this bird: in any case the size and silhouette proportions rule that
species out completely.

At the time, I did not think the record was anything worth reporting — but I
have since learned that this may be one of the last documented records of the
species in Hell’s Gate. I would be interested to learn if there are any more recent
records. — lan Henderson, British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford, Norfolk IP24
2PU, UK.

Birding in northern Kenya — some new records

The habitat of much of northern Kenya, part of the so-called ‘Somali-Masai
biome’, is generally very arid with little or no surface water. The vegetation
cover ranges from very sparsely scattered grass on lava-rock desert to tough,
unforgiving Acacia thorn-scrub. As a result, relatively few bird species occur, but
most of these are well adapted to survive in the harsh environment and several
are in fact restricted to this biome. However, after heavy rain, when for a short
time there is a flush of fresh foliage and abundant surface water, such areas can
receive an influx of other species that are not normally found there, providing
some interesting and unusual records.

Towards the end of April 1995 I travelled through northern Kenya en route to
Ethiopia, making the return journey southwards in mid-May. The route was the
main road through Isiolo, Marsabit and on through the Dida Galgalla desert to
Turbi, Sololo and finally the border at Moyale.

Being April, the journey coincided with the long rains which, that year, were
very good. As a result the vegetation was lush and green and there were rainwater
pools in almost every hollow and gravel pit beside the road. Large numbers of
birds were exploiting the rare abundance of food brought about by the rain —
including a number of waterbirds on the rain pools. A number of the species seen
were new records for the relevant Atlas squares, and others are uncommon in this
normally extremely hot and arid environment.

86 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

My observations were limited, on the northward trip, to what could be identified
from the top of a moving lorry(!) with one or two stops north of Marsabit whilst
waiting for slower vehicles to catch up with the rest of the convoy. (Due to
security problems in the area, all vehicles and particularly lorries, must travel in
convoy with an armed guard.) On the southward journey, there was even less
chance for birding, as I had a lift in a Land Cruiser which didn’t stop at all on the
way. So the list that follows of unusual birds, and new Atlas records, is probably
far from exhaustive.

Birds of interest seen:

Isiolo — Marsabit

21.4.95

Magpie Starling: a northern breeding species, that moves south in the non-
breeding season (see Records).

Black-capped Social Weaver: carrying nesting material, just north of Sereolupi.

Somali Bee-eater: a species of dry bushed habitats below 1000 m, it is common
in the north and east of Kenya.

Marsabit town

22/4/95

Eurasian Hobby: a single bird over the town centre.

Dida Galgallu desert (QSD 28A)

22/4/95

Collared Pratincole: [pres 28A] 2 birds flying south, at the edge of the desert.

Magpie Starling: [pres 28A].

6/5/95

Greater Kestrel: a pair seen on a stunted tree by the road in the middle of the
desert.

Collared Pratincole: two single birds seen at different points along the road.

Wood Sandpiper: [pres 28A] 5 birds on a rainwater pool in the desert.

Golden Pipit: [pres 16C & 28A] many seen along the road through the desert. I
did not see this species on the north-bound journey in April — either it was
absent, or in such small numbers as not to be noticed from a moving vehicle.

Turbi, Ngaso Plain (3°20’N, 38°23’E; QSD 16C)

22/4/95

Black-headed Heron: [pres 16C] 4 birds by a pool not far from edge of road.

Sacred Ibis: [pres 16C] 47 birds beside a waterhole.

Egyptian Vulture: [pres 16C] circling over Turbi centre

Black-winged Stilt: 2 birds on a rainwater pool just before Turbi.

Wood Sandpiper: [pres 16C] good numbers on rainwater pools both in Dida
Galgallu desert and around Turbi.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 87

Common Sandpiper: [pres 16C] many on rainwater pools — almost every pool
had one or two birds on it.

Crested Bustard: [pres 16C] a single bird beside the road.

Laughing Dove: [pres 16C] around Turbi centre.

Red-backed Shrike: [pres 16C] a single bird perched on an Acacia bush to the
north of Turbi.

Lesser Grey Shrike: [pres 16C] 2-3 birds seen perched on bushes to the north of
Turbi — this record is well out of the normal range for this species.

White-crowned Starling: several individuals of this chunky starling — one of
the northern ‘specialities’ — were seen around Turbi centre .

Magpie Starling: [pres 16C] this is not an uncommon species in the north, so it
is surprising that it had not previously been recorded in either this square or
28A (see above).

6/5/95

African Spoonbill: [pres 16C] a single bird on a rainwater pool.

Egyptian Vulture: again seen in flight near Turbi.

Fire-fronted Bishop: [pres 16C] many birds in flocks of 10-20 — this distinctive
and delightful small bishop is known to make extensive movements in
response rainfall; this record seems to be the most northerly so far in Kenya.

Laga Walde, Sololo (3°26’N, 38°31’E; QSD 16D)

22/4/95

Yellow-billed Stork: [pres 16D] a single bird by a water-hole just before Laga
Walde.

Egyptian Goose: [pres 16D] a few by the same water-hole as the stork.

Spur-winged Plover: [pres 16D] by the same water-hole.

Crowned Plover: a flock of 12 not far before Laga Walde

Funanyata, c.20k m south of Moyale (3°20’N, 39°5’E; OSD 17C)

23/4/95

White-crested Helmet-shrike: a small party seen of the race vinaceigularis.

Marico Sunbird: [pres 17C] this record represents an individual at southern
limit of the Ethiopian population, and is in line with previous observations
in this area which also coincided with the rains.

Willow Warbler: [pres 17C] it is perhaps surprising that this, one of the most
widespread and numerous Palaearctic migrant warblers, had not previously
been recorded in this atlas square.

Cheracha, c. 10 km south of Moyale

23/4/95

Eleonora’s Falcon: [pres 17C] a single bird low over the trees by the road —
this is the first record for this species in north-eastern Kenya. The migration
route for this species (and several other of the migrant falcons) is still
mysterious, but it may pass over this area on northward passage to its breeding

88 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

grounds. It is thought to fly at considerabie altitudes whilst migrating, thus
obscuring its movements, but is most frequently recorded in areas where
there has been heavy recent rain: either forced down by storms, or attracted
down to feed on the abundant insects.

Moyale (3°32’N, 39°03’E; QSD 174A)

23/4/95

Bruce’s Green Pigeon: there were small groups of this local and uncommon
savannah species, which is infrequently recorded in Kenya, in fruiting fig
trees around the town.

African Orange-bellied Parrot: common around the town.

Diederik Cuckoo: [pres 17A] an intra-African migrant, whose movements are
not yet fully understood, but which is most often recorded during the rainy
season.

Bearded Woodpecker: a generally local and uncommon species, the female
seen represents the southern limit of the Sudan-Ethiopian population.

Northern Black Flycatcher: birds seen here represent the southernmost limit of
the Ethiopian highland race schistacea.

On the southward journey there were far fewer migrants present than when I
travelled north. Then, passerines were plentiful and several waders were seen
around every waterhole. On the way back I saw no shrikes at all, and waders
were in smaller numbers and more scattered . Unfortunately it was difficult to
Carry out any systematic count from the top of a lorry or the back of a bumpy
pick-up, but the change was very noticeable.

Clearly there is a lot that we do not yet know about bird distribution and
seasonality in northern Kenya. Anyone who is able to visit or is passing through
such areas can contribute tremendously to the little we do know. If readers are
ever anywhere north of Isiolo, please do let us have all your records. You might
find, as I did, that what appears to be a very common species, has hardly been
recorded there before! — Colin Jackson, P O Box 40658, Nairobi

Barred Owlets take the plunge!

Literature relates the odyssey of the Owl who put to sea in a pea-green boat, and
it is therefore possible that Edward Lear would not have been greatly surprised to
find owls indulging in other aquatic pastimes. But I was!

Five metres from my house I have constructed a double bird-bath of local
stone. At ground-level the lower of the two basins is designed for ‘divers’, the
slightly higher basin is for ‘bathers’. The outer branches of the forest over-hang,

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 89

affording: dappled shade, convenient perches, and spring-beards. I felt impelled
to build the diving pool for the Pygmy Kingfisher who annually spends a few
months with me, up from his southern haunts. My first, temporary bird-bath was
a karai, and I nearly had heart-attacks watching the tiny, brilliant arrow plunge
momentarily into three inches of water, convinced that each dive would be his
last. Nowadays, nine inches of water entices even Brown-headed King-fisher to
make an occasional dive. The light ‘pink’ of Pygmy and the solid ‘splosh’ of
Brown-hooded are sufficient for identification even without a sighting!

Seven metres downhill is a third pool, a little more exposed than the top baths.

Apart from the kingfishers, the bird species which frequent the baths include
all ‘my’ pycnonotids: Common Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Zanzibar Sombre
Greenbul, Little Greenbul and Terrestrial Brownbul; Tambourine and Emerald-
spotted Wood Dove, Red-capped and White-browed Robin Chats, Peters’ Twinspot
and Bronze Mannikins.

In late January this year, at 6.30 a.m., a movement caught my eye at the
lower, further basin, but all I was able to capture was a fleeting glimpse of what
at first I took to be a small mammal crouching a the lip of the pool. Then
instantly it was off — on wings. Brownish, with much white on the wings. Well,
I thought of all the denizens of my forest shrubbery, and could only come up
with one candidate: Barred Owlet. But an ow/ — on the ground, drinking from a
bird-bath in the full light of morning?

Then on 16 February, sitting on my treetop-level balcony in the dusk, ten
metres obliquely above the upper basins, I became aware that something was
happening in the diving pool. The whole surface of the basin seemed to be
ruffled, and heaving. I perceived a Barred Owlet ducking and fluffing his plumage,
droplets flying about. He scrambled out and sat briefly on the rim, then plunged
in again with gusto. The water was lower than usual, and he was obviously able
to stand on the bottom. Then out and up on silent wings into the shrubbery
canopy above. Within a second or two, back into the water again. After four or
five repeat performances, I realised there were two of them, taking it in turns to
have a splash, one being marginally larger than the other. Despite the incipient
darkness, I had wonderful views of the owlets in my glasses; they would sit on
the rim of the basin facing me for quite some seconds after a dip. Then they both
flew up into a nearby woodland tree, perching cosily together on a horizontal
branch, and commenced tidying up their plumage.

These Barred Owlets are my constant companions, trilling their attractive,
mellow calls nightly from the forest and occasionally on the roof. In five years I
have had only two previous fleeting glimpses before this red-letter evening.
Despite the most intense searches, I have failed to locate the nest-hole, which

would of course be a fairly important discovery, as I understand only one has
ever been actually found in Kenya.

90 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Well, Edward Lear apart, I find that the literature does record the habit of
owls ‘plunge-bathing’, so my sighting may well be ‘old hat’ to many folk. I think
its specialness was the fact that they were miniature owls, thus investing the idyll
with an indefinable charm. I hope the performance will be repeated, and better
still, in sufficient light for photography. — Fiona Alexander, Sable Valley Wildlife
Sanctuary, P O Box 890, Ukunda

Manic birding moments at the 9th PAOC...

The 9th Pan-African Omithological Congress that took place in Accra last
December (see elsewhere in this issue) was indeed a week of meeting world-
renowned ornithologists, talking deep ornithology-talk and hearing amongst other
things about why the structure of the Blue Swallow’s breast feathers makes them
more water-proof than most other birds, etc. However, one can’t expect to have
300-odd ornithologists gather together in one place and not have some mega-
birding sessions as well! And so it was — indeed the organisers had thoughtfully
arranged for mid-congress excursions for all those who wanted to get out and see
a few West African birds. However, there were of course those even more manic
birders who either went to Ghana before, or stayed on after, the congress so as to
have enough time to ensure they got the Long-tailed Hawk on their list!

Two major hot-spots, at least, were visited by the Kenyan contingent. These
were Kakum National Park and the Shahi Hills Reserve. Kakum is probably
Ghana’s best known Park amongst birders as it is a huge (by Kenyan standards)
area of forest — real West African tropical rain forest — situated about three
hours drive west of Accra... and is heaving with legendary birds such as the
Long-tailed Hawk, Sandy Scops Owl, Framer’s Rufous-Thrush, Blue Cuckoo-
Shrike (what a stunner!), Madame Verreaux’s Sunbird, Buff-throated Sunbird,
and on and on... One can even see Cassin’s Hawk Eagle from the Jungle Cafe at
the visitor centre whilst tucking into a fine bowl of fufu and chicken in groundnut
sauce!

One of the greatest things about visiting Kakum however, must be spending
time on the canopy walkway. This is effectively a rope bridge slung between a
few large trees with just a 30 cm-wide plank to walk on and a bit of rope netting
either side to stop you falling more than 40 m to the forest floor below; you are
literally in the canopy! For those who braved it (actually, whilst terrifyingly
wobbly at times, it is very safe!), the walkway provided the chance to see at
ridiculously close range species which one normally would see as a tiny black
dot against the bright sky at the top of a huge tree — while cricking one’s neck in
the process! We had views of such things as Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Tit

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 91
ke) Aa GE AE 6 OE Tp APA Ak
Hylia so close that you could almost touch them, Black Dwarf Hornbill sitting on
the ropes of the walkway a mere 15 m away, and a Red-chested Owlet was seen
by most people sitting in the canopy of the largest walkway tree, again only a
matter of 9-10 m away. Blue Cuckoo-Shrike, Ussher’s Dusky Flycatcher, Violet-
backed Hyliota, Fernando-Po Batis, and Cassin’s Honeybird were only a few of
the other awesome birds seen from the walkway. In just few days, we had a list
of over 120 species recorded only from the canopy walkway! This is surely
something we need in Kenya — in Kakamega or Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, maybe?!

Shahi Hills Reserve, by contrast, is a tiny area of grassland and scattered trees
around a small range of hills about an hour north of Accra. The reserve was
created to protect the remnant population of Kob that occur there — only about
100 animals remain in the park and none at all outside it — but it also holds
some good birding habitat with West African specialities such as Senegal Parrot,
Violet Turaco, Vieillot’s Barbet and Red-winged Pytilia. It was also crawling
with Stone Partridge which, in the evenings, you could hear in all directions, and,
with the hills and hot weather, it was great for raptors including migrant Eurasian
Hobbies and Eurasian Marsh Harriers. One of the more stunning birds there was
the Gonolek, similar to ours in western Kenya, but with a golden-yellow crown
instead of jet black — safi sana!

What was also great to see were some of the Palaearctic migrants that really
only visit West Africa — such as Melodious Warblers, Common Redshank, Red
Knot and Sandwich Terns. The waterbirds were seen at an enclosed lagoon not
far to the east of Accra, where huge numbers of migrant waders and terns
congregate during the northern winter. There large numbers of Whimbrel and
godwits, and we also saw a skua species (either Pomerine or Arctic) off shore,
from the bus as we were driving along the beach road near the lagoon.
Unfortunately the driver wasn’t a birder and so didn’t realise that when someone
shouts “SKUA!” you should slam on the brakes and haul out the ‘scopes in order
to get a good eyeball-full of the bird (especially if you are from East Africa
where skuas are few and far between!). Squeals of anguish followed as he kept
driving... but to no avail!

For those who weren’t able to stay on after the congress for some more manic
moments of birding, the time at least finished in style whilst we were queuing for
at the buffet banquet laid on beside the swimming pool of the Shangri-La Hotel.
Lavish food and deep ornithology-talk were instantly forgotten when a Long-
tailed Nightjar sailed in over our heads, circled over the pool and dipped down to
take a sip of water from the surface... talk about performing! — Colin Jackson,
P O Box 40658, Nairobi

92 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Forest fragmentation in the Taita Hills:
its effects on the fauna

Luc Lens and Marc De Meyer.

Biology Department, University of Antwerp,
B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium, and
National Museums, P O Box 40658, Nairobi

February 1997 will mark the official start of field work for the three-year project
‘Biodiversity of Taita Hills; zoo-geographical position and impact of habitat
fragmentation’. The project is largely funded by the Belgium government through
the University of Antwerp, but with considerable input from two Kenyan
counterparts, Kenyatta University and the National Museums of Kenya. Apart
from an investigation of the biodiversity of Taita Hills through a focus on birds,
insects and small mammals, the project aims to transfer knowledge and provide
training in biodiversity and applied ecology through an MSc. programme in
Animal Ecology at Kenyatta University.

The bird part of the study aims to investigate the population dynamics and
genetic structure of a group of Taita species that differ in threat status, level of
habitat restriction and mobility. The findings will be linked with the heavily-
fragmented nature of the landscape in this remarkable and unique mountainous
area of Kenya. This will be done through a detailed study of the effects of habitat
structure and fragmentation on both the morphology and behaviour of individually-
marked birds of the following species: Taita Thrush, Taita Apalis, Taita White-
eye, Orange Ground Thrush, White-starred Robin, Placid Greenbul, Stripe-cheeked
Greenbul and Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler. The choice of target species is
based on the findings of the team led by Thomas Brooks (Tennessee University)
during its survey in the hills (see Kenya Birds 5(1)).

The bird work involves a number of different levels of data collection, from
the broad and general to the focused and specific. A ringing team, consisting of
two ornithologists, will be working in a number of fragments scattered across the
Taita Hills, collecting detailed morphological data and blood samples from the
target species, for DNA and parasite analysis. They will also colour-ring the
target birds they catch, to enable movements to be tracked more easily. At the
same time, Edward Waiyaki of the Department of Ornithology will conduct an
in-depth study on the ecology of the Taita Thrush — probably the most threatened
of the suite of Taita species — in a number of selected sites, as part of his PhD

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 93

fieldwork. In addition,
Mwangi Githiru will
focus on frugivory and
the role of birds as seed
dispersers (and
whether fragmentation
affects this) as part of
an MSc thesis at
Kenyatta University.
We also hope that John
Kageche will link in
with the project with
an ecological study of

av Taita White-eyes, for

e an MPhil degree at

Moi University. The

Stripe-cheeked Greenbul — Roger Barnes White-eyes present an

interesting contrast to
the Taita Thrush, being more widespread and apparently much better able to
adapt to habitat disturbance.
Whereas future field work will certainly yield most interesting scientific results
— from the perspectives of insects and mammals as well as birds — the main
aim of the project remains to produce recommendations for a sustainable
management plan for the area, taking into consideration the needs and requirements
of the local communities. It is hoped that the project will at least provide some
baseline data that might contribute to the chances of survival of some of its
precious and elusive inhabitants.

The East African Wild Life Society’s
Taita Hills Project

Michael Gachanja
EAWLS, P O Box 20110, Nairobi

Kenya’s Taita Hills Forests are the northernmost extension of the Eastern Arc
forests of Tanzania. These ecologically isolated and scattered forests represent
the region’s last remaining significant area of cloud forest. They provide a rich
and diverse ecosystem with a wide variety of endemic species. However, this.

94 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

fertile land is also attractive to the growing population and the little forest cover
that remains is threatened by spreading agriculture.

Recognising that these forests are among the most endangered in Kenya, the
East African Wild Life Society and the National Museums of Kenya, with funding
from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the World Conservation
Union (IUCN), undertook a one-month research survey in the area in 1984. This
identified 13 taxa of plants and nine of animals that are endemic to this region.
Among the endemic plants is a species of wild coffee (Coffea fadenii). Further,
22 plant species and at least 3 animal species represent the rare Eastern Arc flora
and fauna only known in Kenya and Tanzania. Thirty-seven species of plants in
the Taita Hills are rare in Kenya and in the world at large.

Since 1984, the forests have continued to shrink to a few small patches. This
instigated the society to implement the first phase of a project entitled ‘The
Biodiversity Conservation of Taita Hills Ecosystem’. The project was implemented
in March 1995 and ran for 15 months. Its components included compilation of
biological and social-economic literature on the Taita Hills, and public awareness
campaigns at various community levels. Project activities culminated in a three-
day workshop at Taita-Wundanyi Farmers Training Centre from 22-26 November
1996. The theme was ‘Sustainable resource management: forests and people,’
and it brought together different actors interested in forest conservation from
within and outside Taita-Taveta District.

At the end of the three days, the participants came up with management,
community and research recommendations for the sustainable conservation of
the forests. These included:

e The need for tapping and recording indigenous knowledge on natural

resource use, and documenting all information on Taita Hills forests.

e The need of reviewing management structures on forest conservation
within Taita-Taveta District so as to involve all stakeholders and interested
parties.

e The need for initiating a Memorandum of Understanding between the
Forestry Department, local Taita communities and other stakeholders such
as County Councils and NGOs, so as to ensure sustainable utilisation of
forest resources through implementing environmentally friendly income-
generating activities.

¢ The need for promoting a people friendly integrated forest management
programme.

¢ The need for initiating actions to save threatened forests and exploring
possibilities of protecting endangered species.

¢ The need for establishing the status of forest boundaries and resolving
anomalies and conflicts with participating parties across the board.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 95

¢ The need for conducting a study on water resources and harvesting potential

in reference to run-off and river flow.
¢ The need for undertaking vegetation survey, soil survey, ethnobotanical
and zoological studies, hydrological survey and socio-economic surveys.
From the recommendations made, the Society is implementing the second
phase of the project which is anticipated to run for two years starting February

1997. This phase targets Chawia, Ngangao, Vuria and Mbololo forests and will:

(1) Enhance conservation of forest resources through raising environmental
awareness and strengthening capacity of local institutions.

(2) Document non-timber product activities being carried out in the area by local
communities and other institutions.

(3) Gather information that can be used in drawing up an integrated conservation
plan incorporating sustainable pilot collaboration management activities.
Through this phase the society hopes to initiate actions and mechanisms that

will enable the local people to take measures that will halt the degradation of the

forests and enable them to share in various economic and social-cultural benefits
that the forests provide.

The Ahero heronries: problems and solutions

Jeam Agutu
Maseno School, P O Box 120, Maseno

The site and its history

The Ahero heronries are today the single most important waterbird nesting site in
the Kisumu area of Lake Victoria. Ahero is the only remnant of the area’s once
thriving cain of colonial heronries, which included the now dormant Orongo
bird sanctuary by the lake shore.

“Too many birds, too few trees” sums up the scenario at the onset of the
breeding season in March. Every tree in the area is dotted with hundreds of noisy
birds, all busy bringing in grass, moss and sticks for the construction of their
bulky nests. In 1996, between 1,000 and 1,500 birds of 10 different waterbird
species had been part of the mayhem of the breeding colonies over a nine-month
period. |

The Ahero heronries are situated 1.5 km from Ahero centre off the Ahero-
Ombeyi-Miwani rural access road 15 km south-east of Kisumu. The birds nest on
scattered trees within the village of Obiayo, in an area covering about 2-3 acres.
A total of eight families are long-term residents here, mainly dependent on
commercial rice growing in the Ahero scheme.

96 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

The settlement of the Ka-Noo people in this area dates back many years, to
the large-scale migration and settlement of Kenyan communities. In 1970 they
were approached by the National Irrigation Board (NIB), who were planning to
introduce a commercial rice-growing programme. Systematic introduction of rice
farming among the Kakola and Kolwa clans (now the names of sub-locations)
followed.

The land on the scheme is owned by the local people, but, under an agreement
reached in 1970, the NIB handles all inputs to the scheme and marketing of the
rice. Recently, the residents have been in dispute with the NIB over the terms of
the agreement, which has brought them into confrontation with the Provincial
Administration as well. Many farmers have refused to tend their rice farms: thus
at the end of 1996, only 200 ha of the 1000 ha scheme were under rice. These
recent problems made it difficult at first to discuss the heronry with the local
people or even visit the site. However, the eight families involved have now
accepted my involvement and come to understand my interest in the birds and
their conservation.

Birds versus people

Just 14 trees in the heronry play host to the breeding birds each year. They
include Acacia and Eucalyptus species, Syzygium cuminii, Ficus capensis and
mango. In 1996, breeding started in the first week of March and did not end until
the last week of November. Different species bred at different times — competition
apparently forcing the less dominant or numerous species to wait until last. The
following are the species in the order in which they started breeding, and the
approximate number of nests counted over the whole season: Black-headed Heron
(300), Cattle Egret (400), Long-tailed Cormorant (51), Great Egret (104), Yellow-
billed Egret (172), Little Egret (102), Yellow-billed Stork (5), Sacred Ibis (100),
African Spoonbill (49) and African Open-billed Stork (95).

The Ahero heronries have been active for 20 years, but the level of use by the
birds has almost doubled in the last decade. This is a consequence of the destruction
and eventual collapse of the heronries at Orongo and Kisumu, and of course the
increase in rice growing, which gave the assurance of plenty of food even outside
the rainy season.

The future of the Ahero heronries themselves is now threatened. The trees
that they nest in continue to be felled for fuel, building and making room for
cultivation. The most important reason, though, is to discourage the birds from
nesting. There are many reasons why people dislike the birds and would be
happy if they moved somewhere else:

e The nesting birds are very noisy.

¢ Bird guano stinks, corrodes roofing sheets and destroys crops.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 97

The nesting birds attract other problem animals, such as monitor lizards,
snakes, mongooses and wild cats.

Regurgitated food falls to the ground, creating a noisome mess that contains
sharp bones from fish, snakes and rats, and is a danger to people (especially
children) walking nearby.

Young birds fall from the nests and die. The bodies decompose and smell
terrible.

Birds nesting on the acacias break thorny twigs that fall to the ground and
become a menace to walkers.

The birds interfere with the collection of fruits from the Syzygium cuminii
(‘jamna’), which are harvested and sold at the local market or in Kisumu.
Some people are superstitious about the birds. One farmer, Henry Lusi,
who has many birds nesting at his home, was accused of being a wizard
who had powers to keep the birds in his compound. His family later
lopped several trees to discourage the birds from nesting.

The other problem in 1996 was the dispute between the NIB and the farmers.
The birds rely on the nearby rice paddies for food. It is because only a few farms
were under cultivation in 1996 that the breeding season extended right into
November. Since both the NIB and the farmers rely so much on rice-growing, it
seems likely that the dispute will be resolved fairly quickly.

“These birds will never leave our compounds” says Okuta Adolo, a sentiment
echoed by other landowners. Many of them have tried every possible means to
discourage the birds from nesting, but they always return.

Solutions
How can the conflict between birds and people be resolved?

Conservation education is needed to help the people learn to appreciate
the heronries for the rare wonders that they are. This would be directed
towards the villagers and the pupils of Obiayo Primary School (where a
large tree was recently hewn down to discourage nesting).

All the landowners seem willing to assist in setting up alternative nesting
places for the birds. A new site needs to be identified near the existing
heronries and the rice paddies, but away from the village. Fast-growing
trees could be planted here, and experiments made with artificial nest-
sites mounted on poles.

In the meantime, the villagers should be asked to let the birds breed in
peace while the new area is being developed. The heronry is a site of
great potential interest to birdwatchers, and could be included in the

western Kenya tourist circuit (e.g. for visitors to Kakamega Forest and
Kisumu).

98 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

What is happening to
Naivasha’s Fish Eagles?

Munir Virani, Russell Thorstrom and David Harper
c/o Elsamere Conservation Centre, P O Box 1497, Naivasha

As part of the ongoing studies on Lake Naivasha funded by Earthwatch, the Aga
Khan Foundation, the Peregrine Fund Inc.(World Centre for Birds of Prey), and the
Elsamere Conservation Centre, we have investigated the apparent lack of breeding
success by the African Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer at the lake. This species, a
close cousin of the American Bald Eagle H. leucocephalus, continues to intrigue
scientists and bird-watchers alike because of its majestic voice and appearance, and
its high density along the Naivasha shoreline — the highest in Africa.

The adult population appears to have been relatively stable over the last two years
ataround95 individuals (whichmayequatetoapproximately 55 pairs), butthenumbers
of young produced over this time have been extremely low. Only six recently-fledged
juveniles were seen during 1995 and only two in 1996. This gives a mean juvenile
proportion of 4% for both years. The late Leslie Brown, who studied the African
Fish Eagles for many years, found juvenile/immature proportions of 19.7% during
his counts of 1968-69. In addition to the eagles apparently not breeding, there is also
evidence that their overall numbers at Lake Naivasha has declined over the last 25
years. For example, in Leslie Brown’s paper “Population structure and dynamics
in the African Fish Eagle at Lake Naivasha, Kenya” (E. Afr. Wild. J. 1973, Vol 11,
pages 255-269), he obtained a mean total fish eagle population of 184 individuals
(over 12 counts). In 1987, Andrew Smart (in “Density and distribution of the Fish
Eagle on Lakes Naivasha and Oloidien, Kenya”, Scopus 14: pages 76-83, May 1991)
obtained a mean total fish eagle population of 158 (over three counts). Our counts
of 1995-96show ameantotal fisheagle populationof95 (20counts)on Lake Naivasha.
Continuously observed pairs, such as the two that occur on either side of the Elsamere
jetty, bear out this trend: neither have bred in five years. Other riparian land owners,
such as Joan Root, have not seen their pair of eagles breed in over nine years.

There are many theories as to why the fish eagles of Lake Naivasha may not be
breeding as they used to 25 years ago:

(1) Over the last twenty five years, the Lake Naivasha area has seen profound
changes and development in terms of human activity. Large and small farms involved
in horticultural or livestock activities have mushroomed. This increase in intensive
farming brings concern over the use of pesticides — many of which have been banned
in developed countries but still manage to find their way to Kenya. The knowledge

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1$97 99

that organochlorines such as DDT, dieldrin and aldrin cause egg-shell thinning in
raptors, especially fish-eatingspecies,isquite welldocumentedintemperatecountries.
However, there is also a theory that, in the tropics, organochlorines degrade rapidly
into harmless by-products and hence may not be responsible for the lack of breeding
in the fish eagles here at Lake Naivasha.

(2) The flora and fauna of the lake have also changed over the years. All the fish
species presently found in the lake have been introduced earlier this century. Prior
to that, the fish eagles were believed (and are still seen) to hunt on the large coot
population that existed in the lake. Up to 1982, and again in 1987-90, large
concentrationsofcootwere presentaroundthelake.Cootmainlyfeedonthesubmerged
vegetation and form an important part of the fish eagle’s diet. After the introduction
of the Louisiana crayfish in 1974, the floating water lilies that dominated the lake
surface in the shallow lagoons typical of Lake Naivasha began to disappear. The
crayfish were partly responsible for the decimation of the water lilies, and are certainly
responsible forpreventing theirreturn. Crayfishalsofeedonthesubmerged vegetation
andhencemay haveout-competedthecoot whicharenowfoundonlyinsmallnumbers,
scattered around the lake. Following the disappearance of the water lilies, the
introducedaquaticweedSalviniamolestabecamepredominantandcoveredsubstantial
parts of the lake’s surface during the mid-1980s. This may have affected fish eagle
hunting, since the weed prevented the birds sighting the fish below the mats. The
disappearance of Salvinia (thanks partly to the introduction of an Australian beetle,
partly to continuous declines in lake levels in the 1990s), has coincided with the rise
in another water weed, the Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes. This first appeared
in the lake in 1988 and is now predominant over most parts of the shoreline. Unlike
the situation in Lake Victoria, the Water Hyacinth at Naivasha grows very slowly
due to the low temperatures, and will never take over the lake as some people fear.
However, the floating hyacinth mats provide the second most important perching
sites for the fish eagles after the fever-trees Acacia xanthophloea on the shoreline.

(3) Large tracts of papyrus fringes around the lake are being burnt deliberately
(by fish poachers) and this might affect prey availability. The lake is also being over-
fished andas aresult, the fish eagles may notbe getting enough foodto getintobreeding
condition.

(4) Thereisnewconcernaboutcertainchemicalsthatmimicthehormoneoestrogen
andare finding their way into aquatic environments. Intemperate countries, increasing
levels of oestrogen in aquatic environments are causing male fish to feminise; in
Florida, male alligators in have been found to have deformed penises, while female
terns are pairing and courting with one another. It would be worthwhile to investigate
oestrogen levels in the fish eagles.

(5) Leslie Brown also suggested that fish eagle pairs at Lake Naivasha are so
close to one another that they spend all day calling and defending their tiny stretches

100 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

of territories. As a result, he found that each pair produces on average just 0.5 chicks
per year. With approximately 55 pairs around the lake, though, we should still be
seeing at least 25 juveniles.

(6) Other theories about human persecution, felling of shoreline riparian forest,
fluctuating water levels and localised cases of poisoning have also been put forward,
and should also be investigated.

During the first two weeks of February 1997, Munir Virani and Peregrine Fund
biologist Russell Thorstrom, assisted by Elsamere staff Chege and Alfred, embarked
onafish-eagle trapping programme. Theidea was to obtain blood samples foranalyses
as well as to colour-band individual birds for future identification and monitoring.
A total of 12 fish eagles (seven males and five females) were banded and released.
Alarmingly, overthree-quarters of the individuals caught appeared tobe underweight.
On average, males should weigh approximately 2.7 kg while females should weigh
over 3 kg. The biologists caught one male and one female with weights of 2.1 kg
and 2.7 kg respectively. This strongly suggests that the fish eagles may be limited
by the amount of food available. The eagles may be food-stressed and thus cannot
gain enough weight to get into breeding condition.

Further attempts will be made in 1997 to band as many fish eagles as possible
to determine how fast the birds are replaced. The lake may be acting as a ‘sink’ where
fish eagles are dying (due to unknown causes) but are rapidly replaced by fish eagles
without suitable territories, either birds from neighbouring areas or wanderers.

Other objectives during the course of this year will be to:

e search for active nests and determine whether eggs are being laid;

e determine the causes of nest failures;

e collect data on the birds’ nest site characteristics;

e obtain more blood samples and analyse for oestrogen and heavy metals such

as mercury;

¢ collect data about fish stocks;

¢ establish a fish eagle ‘adoption’ programme, whereby riparian owners living

around Lake Naivasha would ‘register’ their pairs of fish eagles and spend a few

hours a week observing them for any signs of breeding and/or other activities.

Munir Virani (Peregrine Fund Kenya Project, Aga Khan Foundation,
Earthwatch and National Museums of Kenya) is conducting research on
birds of prey in the Lake Naivasha area for his PhD from the University
of Leicester (UK). Russell Thorstrom is a raptor biologist from the

Peregrine Fund Inc. World Centre for Birds of Prey, Boise, Idaho, USA.
Dr David Harper is at the Department of Zoology, University of Leicester
(UK) and also the Principal Investigator for the Naivasha Earthwatch
Project.

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 101

Van Perlo
Corrections Corner no. 1

Colin Jackson
P O Box 40658, Nairobi

The relatively new Collins ‘Illustrated Checklist to the birds of east Africa’ by
Ber van Perlo has already been reviewed in Kenya Birds (see vol. 4 (2): 105-108).
Many people have found the book a very useful addition to the field guides
available for East Africa — but it does contain quite a few mistakes in the text,
plates and maps. Some of these problems have already been highlighted (see
Kenya Birds vol. 5 (1): 21-23), but there are many more, some major, some
minor!

This ‘corrections corner’ will draw attention to mistakes that book users
discover — incorrect colours on the plates, text that is clearly wrong, wrong or
mis-numbered maps, and so on. By noting these errors in their copies, we hope
that Kenya Birds readers can make the book more useful for their birding, and
avoid being misled into wrong identifications. If Collins ever puts out a second
edition, perhaps these corrections will be taken into account as well.

So, please send in any errors that you’ ve found, for publication in Corrections
Corner no. 2. To start the ball rolling, here are a few obviously misleading cases
that we have noted:

Plate 39.17, Ring-necked Dove.

Problem: The text suggests that this species only occurs below 2,000 m altitude.

While its main range is at lower levels, this dove can be common at high altitudes

too — for instance on the Kinangop Plateau at 2,400 to 2,500 m.

Plate 50.11, Crowned Hornbill
Problem: The plate shows the colour of the upperparts and breast too brown
— they should be blackish.

Plate 83.7, Uluguru Bush-Shrike

Problem: The text does not indicate that the species is endemic to Tanzania

— in fact, it only occurs in the Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania, as shown by

the map.

Plate 83.8, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike

Problem: The text describes it as a Tanzanian endemic — in fact it is found in

south-western Uganda, as the map shows — the text has been transposed

with that for the Uluguru Bush-Shrike (see above)
Plate 87.4, Red-billed Oxpecker

Problem: The plate shows the rump as pale, contrasting with the mantle —

102 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

in fact it should be brown, and uniform with back and mantle. The Yellow-
billed Oxpecker has a contrasting pale rump.

Plate 89.8, Large Golden Weaver (standard name: Holub’s Golden Weaver)
Problem: The plate shows the male’s breast as yellow, uniform with the head
and belly — in fact, the breast should be a rich golden colour, contrasting
with the yellow head.

Plate 89.16, Lesser Masked Weaver
Problem: The plate and the text indicate that the eye-colour is brown — in
fact, adults have pale yellowish-white eyes, which is a very useful characteristic
for distinguishing this species from the similar Vitelline Masked Weaver.

Plate 90.2, Clarke’s Weaver
Problem: The text states: “Not social (breeds in single pairs)” — in fact,
nothing is so far known about the breeding of this species (its nest has yet to
be described!). Also, one can at times find flocks of up to 300 birds together
in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.

Plate 90.21, Grosbeak Weaver
Problem: The plate shows a male weaver with a brown head, which is correct
for the western race melanota that occurs in Uganda, north-west Tanzania and
western Kenya. However, birds in central and eastern Kenya have a black
head (the races concolor and montana), but this is not indicated in the text or
the plate.

Threatened birds of Kenya
9: Taita Thrush

Thomas Brooks, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi

The 1994 publication of “Birds to Watch 2” by BirdLife International launched
the Taita Hills into conservation infamy, for BirdLife decided, quite rightly, that
no less than three very distinctive races of birds found only in the Taita Hills
should be given the status of full species. Not only this, but due to the massive
deforestation that has swept the Taitas over the last half century, BirdLife listed
all three “new” species as “Critical”—having a 50% chance of extinction within
the next five years.

Of the three, the most notable is the Taita Thrush Turdus helleri. This species
is much rarer than the other two, Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis and Taita White-
eye Zosterops silvanus, which are in any case still treated as subspecies of,
respectively, Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica and Montane White-eye

Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997 103
SE de So A I A ee re
Zosterops poliogaster in the new “Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania”
(Zimmerman et al. 1996, Russel Friedmann Books CC, South Africa). In
contrast, there is now a general consensus that the Taita Thrush is a separate
species from Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus.

The Taita Thrush is known from only three tiny forest patches in the Taita
Hills: Mbololo (about 200 ha), Ngangao (about 100 ha), and Chawia (about 50
ha), where it was only discovered during our research in July-August 1996.
Reports of the thrush from Mt Kasigau, 50 km south-east of the Taita Hills, need
confirmation. The three forests lie between 1,500 m and 2,000 m altitude, and are
montane in character, having once been dominated by tree species such as
Podocarpus and Ocotea. However, all three have been logged quite heavily, and
Ngangao and Chawia are now dominated by species such as Tabernaemontana
stapfiana and Albizia gummifera. Mbololo remains the least disturbed and still
holds some trees with circumferences of up to 20 ft, but, in contrast, Chawia is
very shrubby in character, with a broken canopy and an understorey dominated
by indicators of disturbance like Dracaena afromontana.

Of the three patches, the thrush is, unsurprisingly, commonest in Mbololo and
rarest in Chawia. In 6,000 net-metre-hours each of mist-netting effort in the three
forests, we recently caught six thrushes in Chawia and six in Ngangao, but no
less than 22 in Mbololo. It seems that, like other forest thrushes, the species’
preference is for a shady understorey beneath a dense canopy.

The Taita Thrush is a large, boldly-plumaged bird, with a very dark grey head,
upperparts, throat and breast, bright orange flanks and a white belly and
undercoverts. Its bill, orbital ring and feet are bright orange and its eyes dark
brown. Immature birds are easily recognised by heavy mottling on the breast,
head, mantle and wing coverts.

The ecology of the species is still very poorly known. Fruits certainly make
up a considerable proportion of its diet, and a loose flock of eleven birds were
seen in an area of fruiting trees on the forest edge at Mbololo, feeding on berries
dropped by foraging Stripe-cheeked Greenbuls Andropadus milanjensis. Birds
are almost always seen on the ground, generally being first located by the rustling
of leaves as they toss over the leaf litter.

The song of the Taita Thrush, most often heard at dusk, is short, but loud,
musical and flute-like: it appears that no tape-recordings have yet been made.
Birds also have two alarm calls, a single sharp note (often made in as one birds
chases another, possibly in territorial dispute) and a short rattle.

The association of the species with the Orange Ground Thrush Zoothera
gurneyi, the other forest thrush found in the Taita Hills, is interesting. It has
previously been speculated that the two species use different micro-habitats in
the Taita Hills forests, with Orange Ground Thrushes being restricted to more

104 Kenya Birds Volume 5, Number 2, January 1997

Taita Thrush — Roger Barnes

disturbed forest. However, we found Orange Ground Thrushes only in the similar
deep forest, often in exactly the same areas as Taita Thrushes. We caught five
Orange Ground Thrushes at Ngangao, none at Chawia and only one at Mbololo
(although it has previously been reported to be common there), which does not
seem to cast any further light on the association between the two.

The future of the Taita Thrush is uncertain. While the Forest Department,
happily, now appears to be carefully safeguarding the remaining fragments of the
Taita Hills forests, the total habitat of the species now covers less than 5 sq. km,
and its global population cannot be more than a few hundred. Good news,
however, is that the Taita Hills are now the focus of a major National Museums
of Kenya project, which will include a large ornithology component, and so
hopefully the information required to plan a successful conservation policy for
the thrush and the other Taita Hills endemics will soon be forthcoming.

Acknowledgements. I would like to thank Jim Barnes, Roger Barnes, David
Gitau, Silvester Karimi, John Kageche and Christine Wilder for their help in the
field in the Taita Hills.

vil
Events and Announcements

Wednesday Morning Bird Walks led by Fleur Ng weno and
Damaris Rotich continue weekly. Meet at 8:45 am aft the National
Museums entrance for a walk in the Nairobi area. These walks are
for EANHS members: non-members are welcome but requested to
join the Society (see below).

WORLD BIRDWATCH ’97, 4-5 October 1997. Contact BirdLife Kenya
for details.

The East Africa Natural History Society offers lectures, excursions
and publications with a strong bird focus and organises ringing and
nest record schemes in Eastern Africa. For membership details: Tel.
749957, or write to the Hon. Secretary, EANHS, P O Box 44486
Nairobi. The office at the National Museums of Kenya is open each
weekday 09:30 fo 16:00 (closed Friday afternoon).

For sale in the EANHS office: Birds of Kenya and northern Tanzania,
by Zimmerman, Turner and Pearson — very special members’ price
KSN 2950/=. Also BirdLife T-shirts, ‘I'd rather be birding’ stickers, plus
books, cards, posters...

National Birdmap. The Ornithology Department's biogeographic
database needs YOUR bird records!! For your free National Birdmap
checklists, contact Colin Jackson.

Birding Hotline! Feeling twitchy? The EANHS is running an experi-
mental birding info service. Phone on Nairobi 749957 for the latest
on what's been seen where — and to report any unusual records.

Scopus, the lively regional journal of ornithology, is published by
the EANHS Ornithological Sub-committee. Contact Don Turner, P O
Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya (tel. Nairobi 48133). Annual subscription
KSh 600 (KSh 650 up-country); write for overseas rates. Records are
pee ned for the East African Bird Report which is published in

COPUS.

African Bird Club. The ABC produces an excellent colour Bulletin
and provides a worldwide focus for African ornithology. For mem-
bership details, write to: African Bird Club, c/o BirdLife International,
Wellbrook Court, Girton Rd., Cambridge CB3 ONA, UK. Membership
presently costs UK £12 per year.

EANHS Nest Record Card Scheme. For information and cards,
contact the acting Nest Record Scheme Organiser, Colin Jackson,
at the Department of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya
(address below).

Contacts: For Kenya Birds, write to the Department of Ornithology,
National Museums of Kenya, P O Box 40658, Nairobi, or telephone
742131/61, extension 243. For BirdLife Kenya, teleohone Nairobi
749957; fax 741049.

WIN

Kenya Birds, Volume 5, Number 2: January 1997

Contents
Editorial <-.....2......222 sdiidevasioctuddecenstevencenvocseusesdqiblecssecesttalete ee ar vi
News from Kenya and abroad .:.......0:..00..32..0.s.colhentll catecedeeeedee eee 49
Birding in. ..the TaitasHills 0.0.2.2. .c.200 so ecgisceonsoeneneevecocereane cee eee 63
ReCOrds ....2. ccc ee seen eo SBR Ree 69
NOtes 2.0508 oda ans Pes ce nee Eee 82
Probable versus confirmed breeding records: what’s the difference? ........: sateen 82
The last record of the Lammergeier in Hell’s Gate? ................cccccssssceseseecsensceeeees 84
Birding in Northern Kenya—some new records ................:ccesceescceeceeecceeeesneeenaeeees 85
Barred Owlets take the plunge! ..<...............0....-ccsstesecseosessenacuece=0 or 88
Manic birding moments at the 9th PAOC «.....012.......00...22.c-sccecce- suse eee 90
Forest fragmentation in the Taita Hills: its effects on the fauna........................ 92
The East African Wildlife Society’s Taita Hills Project ................cscccccsssseceeeenes 93
The Ahero heronries: problems and solutions <............0.2¢ccc-0--ce---2es=ee=eee eee 95
What is happening to Naivasha’s Fish Eagles? ...............20:-:-...--cnest eee 98
Van Perlo Corrections Corner m0. 1 oo... ....sec.c.se.00-c0-rseepseteedsceancecesa eer 101
Threatened birds of Kenya 9: Taita Thrusht «:.........2:2-cc-ccccee-c--2--02-2 eee 102
Events ‘and announcementts............5..62..<scassecetaeeseesenstececuceececcvenes settee er Vii

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill — Roger Barnes