GiH 7 E/3S NH E A N H S BULLETI N t A publication of the East African Natural History Society, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Price 10 shillings. / EANIIS ' BULLETIN \ MOVEMBER^ECEMBER 1984 CONTENTS i Breeding at Kisumu Heronry 1982 The House Sparrow in Kenya -------- Snakes in Kajiado - i Banana Dihedrals: A thought for Christmas Review: Where to watch birds in Kenya - - The Kenya Bird Atlas: The results - - Bird walk x^7it]J^ a difference- ------- Outdoor Action - Courses for young people Final date for Kenya Bird Atlas records - Wanted Society Functions ------------ The Kenya ''Birdathon'' Notices 112 —3 114 114 116 117 118 118 119 119 120 120 120 BREEDING AT KISUMU HERONRY 1982 The Kisumu Heronry, located some 7 kra east of Kisumu and close to Lake Victoria, is nowadays a well defined, barbed wire enclosure of a square piece of forest, which seems to be respected by the neighbouring inhabitants. It is used all the year round by roosting birds, but is most intensively used during the breeding season which is from March to July. Ten species of birds were recorded nesting there during 1982 with a total of 1570 pairs.- Thus the protection of Kisumu Heronry is well established. Breeding species recorded were? Long- tailed Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Black-headed Heron, Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis and African Spoonbill. During 1982 I followed the development of the heronry throughout the breeding season except at the end of the season in July xvhen it is next to impossible to reach it, as the whole area is heavily flooded at that time of the year. The Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus bred this year x^ith about 125 pairs from May to July. The Cattle Egret Ardeola ibis was numerous with arownd 500 pairs breeding from May to July. The Great White Egret Egretta alba \ras there with 25 pairs breeding from May to July. The Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia was ther^ with 35 pairs breeding also from May to July, The Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala had a longer breeding season with many pairs already present in March, although the main part of the 150 pairs first started their breeding in May to continue until June and into July. The Open-bill Stork Anastomus lamelligerus was represented by 75 pairs who bred frail May to July. The Yellow-billed Stork Ibis ibis was breeding, with early starters, in March and continued until July a total of 100 pairs bred. The Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus had an impressive colony of 500 pairs which were concentrated in just a few trees and continued, breeding from April to June . I The Kadada Ibis Sostrychia hagedash x<7as breeding from April to June with 10 pairs . The African Spoonbill Plataiea alba was breeding with 50 pairs nesting from May to July. Hans Swegen, Sothonsgrand 123 49 Farsta, Sweden. EANHS FUNCTIONS Enclosed is a questionnaire reRardinr? the optimum time of indoor functions of the Society. PLEASE complete and return to the Functions Organizer, Box 44486, Nairol.'i as soon as possible. TKE HOUSE SPARROW IN KENYA The House Sparrow Passer domeszicus probably originated in the wooded grasslands of western Asia and in the regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Grzitnek 1968) where they began living in man-^aade habitaLi e.g, in s^;;'::r:r.’LLtnral villages. As villages spread throughout cost of Europe and Asia, so did the House Sparrow. In the 1800’s it v/as introduced to North America, where it has now spread every- where south of c. 60 RN, through Central America ai;.d into most of South America, It was also introduced to the eastern half of Australia and to various parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, Somalia and, in Kenya, to Mombasa. It was scarce in Mombasa for more than half a century, and gradually began increasing in numbers around 1979 until it became a pest. In 1980, several were recorded at Mariakani (a. 30 toa inland from Mombasa along the Nairobi - Mombasa road, the A109) and since 1982 it has been recorded at Waa and in the hotel strip at Diani Beach (c, 15 and 30 km icspectivcly , south of Mombasa on the A14), at, Malindi (J. Goodhart pers, comm, and Museiun Avifauna News 1983 No. 3, and Lewis 1983 a & b) , Voi (c, 140 Lm inland along the A109) and at Mtito Andei (uncon- firmed record. East African Bird Report 1983, and pers, obs.). On June 24, 1984, I .saw 9 Rouse Sparrows at Mtito .Andei: at least 3 males and 2 females among them. The males seemed to be searching for nesting sites on the block of buildings closest to Nairobi on the right-hand side of the road- coming into the town (the.se buildings incltxde the Okay Safari Lodge, Divo Crafts and Curios Shop and the Post Office) , while the females were feeding by the roadside next to the buildings. Previously, rhere had been an unconfirmed record for Mtito Andei and on December 2j, 1983 a pair was seen by J. Mulder (East African Bird Report 1983). Throughout its distribution in Kenya, the House Sparrow is sjanpatric with the Grey-headed Sparrow P, griseus but there dees not seem to be any direct competition. It is slightly smaller overall but plumper than the Grey-headed Sparrow, more in shape like a Rufous Sparrow P. motitensis and males have extensive black ■* bibs ' , very similar to those of male Somali Sparrows P. castan- opterus, and mostly dark chestnut crowns and napes (ssp. inclicus) . Females mostly resemble Yellow-spotted Petronias Fstj:on:.a pyrgita (and even more so the Yellow-throated Petronia P, superclllarzs of Tanzania, Central and South Africa), but are very much paler than P, pyrgzta^ l.cc-k the yellox; throat ’spot’ usually visible in both Petronias and Lave hczilly streaked t ides. As House Sparrov7S -5;re .grc.nt foilov^ers of ^;,^vil^aation5 it seems likely that they will move further ini jnc from i'''c-'.foasa5 and since they can thrive at high altitudes (e.g, in Mexico >'ity, 2 2';./ nctrr-s a-s,!,), to Nairobi and perhaps even further along the more denselv will probably become the deni riant nopalatc-'i regaons, 7f they reach Nairobi, they "cies cf bird tlisre, even more abundant than Black Kites Milvus vzzgrvns,. and r.’ill create direct competition with the closely related Rufous Sparrow aud verions cth--r sjiocier. Being more adaptable to man- made habitats than the Rufous Spvirrcc, t’^i'>,' nay well- cause a decline in the numbers of that species in the arca.s 'icere they will be sympatric. It seems likely that Hou.se iparrow’s x/i". 1 roach Nairobi around the year 2000 if the rate at v/hicli it has extended its raxige in.land since 1979 remains the same Therefore, it vxould be good if a v;ay could be found to stop this unwanted advance REFEEENCES Cunningham-van Someren, G.F., 1933. House Gparroi/ on the move. Museum Avifauna iVews East African Bird Report 1983. Scevus 7:121 Ginn, P. 197 4.' Birds of tho Lc'-r/cld Lo-r-gnicu Rhodes ia« Grzimek, B. 1963, iizirok's Ani:'-! Li:..c Pray day ■; da Vol.9 Birds 3. Nexj York; Van Nostraxid .Reinhold, Lev/is, A..D. 1983a, P.ange ■'^xten.sion and r opulation increase of the House SparroT/7 in Kenya, Scopus 7 :23-26. 1983b. Further notes on Sparrows Passer in Kenya and Somalia EANHS Bulletin 1983:22. Hector Gomez de Silva, Box 47074, Nairobi. 113 SNAKES IN KAJIADO I never deliberately set out to look for snakes s but they have thrust themselves upon my attention from time to time. Road kills provide the best source of specimens, and they are safe though not always pleasant to handle. (Polythene bags are highly recommended , ) I and my field assistants have also encountered a number of live snakes when working in the bush. My list is certainly very far from complete. Our commonest large snake is the very poisonous Puff Adder Bitis arietans . In the rainy season when driving after dark I often saw puff adders crossing the road, some of them being well over a meter long. Larger still hut much rarer is the Egyptian Cobra Naja haje. One that was killed in a neighbour's kitchen in October 1978 was 206 cm long. Another very large one was recovered as a road kill near Bissel (20 km south of Kajiado) in February 1930 The commonest of the smaller snakes is the Brown House-snake Boaedon fuligin-^ osus. This species, and also the Garter Snake Edapsoidea sundevallii (dark grey with broad white bands across) and the Wolf Snake Lycophidon capense (plain grey) had the uncomfortable habit of moving in to the hole overnight X'/hen we were digging out a termite nest.. While digging in the garden I often unearthed Centipede-eaters Aryarallactus lunnatus , which are small, slender, dove-grey snakes. Among dead xwod and other surface litter we frequently disturbed the Stripe-bellied Grass Snake Psarmophys subtaeniatus a handsome fast-moving bro.^'uish snake x^^ith cream stripes along its body. • The “'mobbing" behaviour of small birds, especially weavers, often pinpointed snakes I would not otherv/ise have seen. Usually the snakes concerned were long, thin, dull tree-climbing snakes v/hich I \>7as never able to identify. (Sometimes, however, the focus of the coimnotion turned out to be an embdrrassed-looking cat.) I am most grateful to the Herpetology Section of the National Museums of Kenya for identifying even the most mangled specimens. Jo Darlington, c/o Section of Entomology, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi. BANANA DIHEDRALS: A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS I remember the first occurrence well, chiefly because I didn't believe a x-jord of it. We were in Saudi Arabia, in the middle 1970s, and we’d just come in from a hellish couple of v/eeks in what can only be described a-s a scorching sea of nothing, just like that first and Most appalling chapter of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, all over again. Coated in dust, dying for a drink, but in a town where there X’7as only a third of wine, women and song, the only outlet for our stifled emotions had to be Mohamed Abdul. So, at least clean, and lubricated by myriad cups- of syrupy sweet, ultimately milky ~ well - tea, we xorent down that evening to his concert. And as alx'/ays on those steaming, Arabian nights, we sat there^ held in fascination of the great man, x^ith the sweat falling, and the perfume . rising. And all at once, a chorus of what seemed like a million, strident yet silky violins swelled into a sinuous, sensuous, insinuating melody of the East and, sure enough, there, coming from what seemed to be the bowels of the Earth, uas a strangled, throaty x^ail that everyone knew was the maestro himself. And suddenly, a. pounding, insistent beat, that gave us no alternative but to hitch our jelebas up to our knees, and to plunge into movements which, at their most inspired, XArere a horrible hybridisation of the Palais Glide and, as we had once been habituees of the Pocky Horror Picture Shoxj, the Pelvic Thrust and the Timewalk. 114 Finally, aghast with exhaustion, but at least with our Terpsi.chorean tendencies temporarily terminated, we retreated to yet more steamy, syrupy tea and it was then, as we lay back dazed, and gazed at the desert sky, eminently visible above the city's glow, that I distinctly remember George giving me a befuddled, quiz- zical and mystified look and asking, in a tone only redolent of curiosity and confusion: "Do you find your bananas wilting in the middle of the day”. Well it was always possible, despite the vendor’s assurances that it vrould stop all radiation short of a nuclear attack, that George’s admittedly fetching head dress had sprung a leak, that he was grilled up top, and that he’d have to go home^ And so, with my most expressive Gallic shrug, I took, another pull at my hookah and promptly forgot about his query. But now however, sitting here at Atlas House, writing the bird atlas’ text with what many can only summarise as plus que un neu de savoir faire, I am also prone to fits of plus que un veu d'-' ennui, et - neno hilo lingine litaoka wapi? Of course, I make much of such charming opening gambits as "this cheeky little fellow can be met within any dewy, early morning ^lade”, and "its crimson wings, royally translucent in the lovrering tropical sun”, but with over a thousand species to talk about, the magnificent and well-tried stand-bys do wear a bit thin, and even Roget’s Thesaurus pretends not to think about it, and I find myself, increasingly, staring out of the window for inspiration. And, to be fair, I do occasionally find it. Seasonal flocks of Bronze-naped Pigeons habituate a single tree which I must get round to identifying. Slender-billed Greebu-ls attack their reflections in the glass and are often announced by their rather garruluos chatter, and, in the sane way that buses pass the door, aeroplanes, Booted and Ayres Eagles pass the roof. And roof is the point, because I’m on the first floor and therefore opposite the vraving fronds of two banana trees. In all sincerity, and in all contrast to much of the foregoing, the waving and rustling of the banana leaves., taken together with the dusk chirp of bulbuls, produce a beautifully peaceful and relaxing scene. So I stare at the bananas (and, some would opine, go bananas), and all that I've seen up to now is a male Baglafecht (oh, alright, Reichenow’s) Weaver, end- lessly tearing off strips of the leaves for its nest. When I get up to that species, I’m really going to wax lyrical on that but, grappling with kingfishers and still many hundreds of birds aw<..y from that bright new day, I’ve seen some- thing else; George was right - the banana leaves change shape! More inspired scribes might visualise their nodding fronds as encouraging or possibly sagely admonishing fingers, but of course I vzould never be capable of that, and all I've noticed is that their cross-sectional shape varies throughout the day. Thus, in the first, early-morning- tea, light of dawn, the halves of the leaf on either side of the central stalk are at an obtuse angle of about 120° but as the morning progresses and the sun burns down, this angle lessens and becomes acute until finally, by mid-morning, the two sides of the leaf hang down vertic- ally from the stalk, touching each other. Then as the afternoon wends on, they edge apart again until, near dusk, they're back out at 120° to each other again. Old Kenya h.ands may know all about this of course, may even have banana leaf clocks for all I know, but can they tell me ~ whu? Delving back to whatever botanical knowledge I ever boasted, are the plant’s cells full of fluid and turgid in the morning, so keeping the leaf outspread? And do they then loose fluid and become limp and flaccid, like the rest of us, during the heat of the day, so that the x^hole affair droops? And if this is the case, does this serve any useful purpose for the plant, such as minimising the incidence of the sun’s rays on the leaves, and thus suppressing as far as possible overheating and water loss? The Age of Amateur Enquiry is not dead though some might opine that it should be, so if anyone can give even the merest hint of a murmur' of explanation, then at least I'll have something else to distract my mind from a thousand species accounts. Adrian D. Lewis, Geology, Box 30197, Nairobi. 115 REVIEW WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN KENYA. By Ray Moore, 1982o Nairobi; Transafrica Press. Hardback 82 X' Sj” pp. 229. Illustrated with 23 Photographs (5 colour and 24 black and white; 23 maps; 35 line drawings. Price at the Society Office (to members) KSh.150/-. Recent articles appearing in the Bulletin, written by Adrian Lewis, have frequent' ly referred to Ray Moore's book as a publication which would fill a large gap in the literature available to birdwatchers in Kenya. This sentiment is echoed by G.R. Cunningham-van Someren in his foreword to the book itself, and I have looked forward to the publication of this guide with interest. So, novr that it is finally available, what is the verdict? The simple answer is that it performs the function of its title well and the gap referred to above can be considered pretty well filled. The amount of work involved in researching and preparing the book must have been considerable, and Mr Moore is to be commended in this respect. My praise is not, however, without reservations and I have various criticisms to make later. However, let us first consider the book in some detail. The author has divided Kenya into eight sections, which are then subdivided into areas of particular interest. There are 112 areas covered in all, ranging in scze and detail from Saiwa Swanp National Park to the complete North Eastern Province. For each area, details are given of how to reach the area; what the access roads are like; how long it takes to get there; what ty'‘^ of habitat(s) occur there; and generally which species of bird are most interesting or commonly to be found in that area. Following this narrative is a more complete list of the birds of the area (split into sub-locations where considered necessary) , detail- ing birds which are either "resident", "passage" (palaearctic or intra-African migrants), or "breedin : visitors". Further emphasis on specifit species is indicated either by italics, denoting rare or locally distributed species, or by asterisks, denoting seasonal residents. The above information is generally very useful, and any queries arising can usually be answered by reference to the books listed by the author as "recommended reading". Interspersed within the text are various photo'd^'^^ bs , sketch maps, and line drawings. p found the quality of the photographs to be rather poor, particularly the last two black and white ones, which are so blurred as to be unrecognisable. Generally though, the photographs do give the reader a reason- able representation of the various habitats depicted. The sketch maps are use- ful in general terms, some being more detailed than others and obviously subject to change as time goes on. The line drawings, depicting various species of birds, are nicely executed and make interesting additions to the bobk. The book is completed by the provision of suggested birdwatching routes; a recommended reading list; a list of East African ornithological societies and publications; a list of references; an index of places and routes; and blank pages for field notes. A fairly comprehensive book on the face of it, so what are my criticisms? Basically, there are three. Firstly, the number of misspellings, typing errors or misprints is fairly high and one ife left with an impression of a lack of attention to detail either in the oroof-reading or printing staoes. Allied to this is the fact that some directions are not precise enough, and inforraation about some areas is already slightly cut of date. Secondly, if you vrant to follow the recommendation made in the foreworl of consulting this book in order to know where to find a specific species of bird, you cannot do this without checking all 112 area species lists, or by referring to other books first. This book tells you what you can expect to see if you decide to go to a particular place, but not where to go. to see a particular bird. I would have liked to have seen an index of bird species, so that if you particularly wanted to see, for example, a Red-headed Malimbe, you could quickly consult the index to see where this species might be found. The third criticism, and in i?iy opinion, the most important one, is the fact that the author uses the nomenclature of Mackworth-Praed and Grant (1957, I960) for this book. There has been, and there still is, much discussion on the subject of splitting species, lusiiping races, and general name-changing in the ornithological vrorld, Kenya is no exception, but I believe that most peoole here have now become familiar, for the most part, with the treatment given to the subject by The Birds of East Africa (Britton, 1980). I think, therefore, that many people, particularly recent arrivals and tourists, will find that if they are armed with, 'for example, a William's field “guide and the EANHS Check List of the Birds of Kenya (based entirely on Britton, 1980), then many of the names in Ray Moore's book will be totally confusing. I should mention that whilst in pursuit of a more recent identity for one particular; bird I found what appears to be a complete error. Listed among the species to' be found in Karen-Ololua Forest in Nairobi is a bird called Percival^s- Oriole. Research- into this revealed that Fercival'.s Oriela is a race-of the bird now kriovm as the- Slack-winged Oriole, which 'does not occtfr-inr' Kenya, ad: all* According. to Brittoa.( 1 980) . its-di^ribujtion in East:. Africa - is T^estricted-'to Uganda . \ . Soy-lo sum: UT, a 'book-witlr an excellent concent^ executed well in -term of the^'fT!‘gB%work,..but~'atmr?y‘i^ in some of the detail. Despite- my- criticisms , LdbcfOk on this book as a useful addition to my ornithological shelf. ' R. Fletcher-, Box 43675, Nairobi. THE .KENYA''BIRD-^ A-TLAS : THE REStJLTS Our Monday evening talk on 1 October, saw Adrian Lewis giving us the latest,' information on the present status of the Kenya Bird Atlas Project. The atlas now boasts a total of over 40 000 records from some 216 contributors which sur'ely represents an enormous total of dedicated man hours. In addition to bird records per se, attention has also been focussed on .breeding statuAand migratory patterns, this information combined with a complete, bibliography of over 1000 references dating from as far back as 1930 will certainly form the most comprehensive account of Kenya ornithology ever attempted. Adrian took us through the grid square method and notation to be used in the final public- ation and introduced the computer analysis which will allow species distribution to be compared with altitude, vegetation pattern and Bailey's Moisture Index (a combination of rainfall and temperature) and thus present a more logical analysis of species distribution throughout the country. With other African countries adopting this sarae methodology, oerhaos we can look forward to an African Bird Atlas* at some time in the future! The problems encountered in observing and recording the distribution of all i bird species throughout Kenya are obvious when one considers the remoteness of many areas combined with a total number of 1061 recorded species. The reasons for such a prolific number of species is interesting especially when one considers the very small numbers of species endemic to Kenya. The over-riditjg factor, as Adrian explained, is the fact that the country is situated at the junction of a number of biogeographical su^-regions and displays a diverse . variety of ecological habitats. This has permitted the spread of many species into the country, many of these being at the periphery of their overall range. With the final date of . submission for records being 31 December 1984, the 117 project enters the final and exciting stages leading up to publication and we wish Adrian and all his colleagues in the venture every success in putting the final touches to this mammoth undertaking. ; . Graham Reid, Zoology, Box 30197, Nairobi. BIRD WALK WITH A difference: On 26 September, 1934, birdwalkers were invited to the home of Mr and Mrs Pat Frere on Txiriga Hill Road, Langata. The drought was still biting hard, and despite the ideal conditions provided by the Freres, birds were not abundant. However, 34 differnt birds were seen. The Freres have specialist feeding tables in different parts of .their ; gar den. : .'^^ihere is one hidden in creepers on the side of a tree which is the ’cheese' tray, much appreciated by the Olive Thrush. There is another table .quite high, in another tree with sunflower seeds, that brings in the squirrels and Grosbeak Weavers . There is one in the safety of overhanging shruos , but well-off the gr-^und, that the. smaller birds frequent feeding on bread and millet. Pat also feedv Kites on scraps of meat at 5 every evening, and they start queueing up at 4 p.m. he says. For our special benefit he brought the feeding time forxi;ard, and we were able to marvel at the superb flight of this most agile of birds. All tastes were catered for. Ruppel's Robin Chat, in the bushes, gave a fine rendering of his wide repertoire, though he fell down a bit on the call of the Red-chested Cuckoo; the last note came out distinctly off-key. Yvonne Malcolm-Coe vras particularly delighted with his performance. Pat is a very keen photographer and has created habitats to attract birds as well as providing, a rich and varied diet. He has made a small pond, behind which he has dragged a dead tree, providing many suitable perches for any bird contemplating drinking or bathinc^ - rocks attractively arranged with sedge and water plants complete the setting. He has also disguised a wheel-barrow to look like a bird paradise; it has a small pond, trailing plants and rocks, and this he wheels around to the various hides built in the garden from which he takes his splendid bird photographs, and if anyone would like to know more about Pat’s photos,' he can be contacted on tel. 891 195 . After a pleasant 'bird-stand', rather than a bird walk, the Freres very kindly gave iis coffee and biscuits, in fact they treated us as xv'^ell as they treat their birds, and to them both, many thanks for a lovely morning. D. Brass. - OUTDOOR ACTION - COURSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE i Outdoor Action courses have been designed primarily for young people. The main aims being to give them an opportunity to achieve a reasonable level of competence in a variey of outdoor activities and at the same time to develop self confidence and leadership qualities. The courses also will enable them to explore the more remote and beautiful areas of Kenya and lastly to learn how to work as a team in a variety of situations. The first course, OAK 1, is an intensive course aimed at giving participants an opportunity to take part in a large number of activities in a short, eight day period. The programme will be located in the Rift Valley and the Loita Hills. It will include campcraft, bushcraft, navigation, orienteering, caving, sailing and rock-climbing. There will be very little free time on the course and participants will be expected to take part in all the programmed activities. A very rewarding if somewhat tiring eight days are guaranteed! The course is open to boys and girls between the ages of 13 and )B. There are only a limited number of places on the course and all applications should reach Alan Dixson of Let’s Go Travel by the middle of November. Application forms and further details should be obtained as soon as possible from Let’s Go Travel, P.O. Box 60343, Nairobi. Telephone 29539 or 29540. The all inclusive cost of the course will be K.Sh.4!C0. The course will be based at, and organised through Hillcrest Secondary School Ltd. It will be run by Andrew Wielochowski, a qualified mountaineering instructor, and Ian Munro, a Royal Yachting Association sailing instructor. Both have had wide experience of work in outdoor activities centres abroad and they have also run numerous successful trips for young people in East Africa. These include ascents of Batian on Mt. Kenya, of Kilimanjaro by the Heim Glacier, a traverse of the extensive lava tube caves in the Chyulu Rills and safaris to Turkana, Mt. Kulal and the Ndoto Mountains in the Northern Province. All specialist equipment will be provided, i.e. climbing equipment, tents, stoves, boats, life jackets, maps and compasses. Participants will be expected to bring their own rucksack, sleeping bag or blanket, waterproof jacket and stout shoes. A limited amount of this equipment could be hired from Outdoor Action. Because of the strenuous nature of most of the activities, participants should be fairly fit in order to appreciate the course fully. Smoking and drinking of alcohol will not be permitted during the course and a high standard of behaviour will be expected at all times. Course OAK 1 will take place from 11 to 1 8 December 1934. FINAL date foe ICENYA BIRD ATLAF RECORDS WE ARE NOW WELL INTO THE C0>iPILATI0N OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES ACCOUNTS THAT WILL ACCOMPANY AND AMPLIFY EACH OF THE ATLAS’ MAI^S . ADDITION OF NEW RECORDS TO THE SCHEME WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THESE MAY NECESSITATE REPEATED REWRITING OF AT LEAST PAPvT OF THE TEXT. THUS THIS IS A BRIEF, BUT I HOPE NOTICED, NOTICE TO ALL KENYA BIRD ATLAS CONTRIBUTORS, THAT WE SHALL CEASE TO ACCEPT FJRTEER RECORDS ON 1 JANUARY. 1985 . A.D. Lewis, Geology, Box 30197, Nairobi. WANTED Uganda in Black. and White hy Hugh Cott; The indigenous tree species of the Ugandan Protectorate by W.J, Eggeling I.R. Dale| Elephants and their habitats by R.M. Laws , I.C.S. Parker A R.C.3. Johnstone. Offers (not the books themselves) to D.E. Pomeroy, Department of Zoology, Maker ere University, Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. 119 SOCIETY FUNCTIONS MONDAY 5th November, 1984; In the Museum Hall at 5.30 p.m. Paul Goriup, Assistant Director ICBP will talk on "Bustards, their ecology, behaviour and conservation - what do we know?" MONDAY 19th November, 1984; In the Museum Hall at 5.30 p.m. A Film Evening. Title or titles to be arranged. 23rd - 25th November, 1984; Week-end trip to Fisherman’s Camp on Lake Naivasha, a lovely spot for walking, binding and mucking about in boats (6 free rowing boats arc available) , Adrian Lewis has volunteered his services as "bird man" so we have the promise not only of observing 'wee brown jobs' but having them identified to boot. Accomodation is in Bandas which come in two flavours (Class ! v9 Sh.70/-- pp/pn; Class 2 (? Sh.60/~ pp/pn) . In addition there is unlimited camping space @ Sh.20/- pp/pn. All prices subj^ect to 20% discount for bona fide members. Further details and bookings through Dr Graham Reid, EANHS , Box 44436 , Nairobi (please enclose stamped, addressed envelope). Please note that bookings for bandas will be on a first come first served basis. Would members please fill in the enclosed slip concerning a proposed alteration * in the time of Society meetings. VJEDNESDAY MORNING Bird walks continue led by Mrs Fleur Ng'weno. Please meet at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. sharp. INFORMAL "POT LUCK" outings are held on the second Sunday of each month. Please meet at the National Museum at 8.45 a.m. and be prepared for event- ualities . THE KENYA "BIRDATHON” Are you sponsoring a team in the Block’ Hotels 24 hour bird watch to be held on November 25th? The three teams, all members of this Society, competing against each other will attempt to break the World record for the number of birds seen during a 24 hour period. If you have not already obtained a form put out by Block Hotels and available throughoi't Nairobi, please do so, and support a worthy charity namely, Gertrudes Garden Children's Hospital. X Hay we wish all Members and friends a very Hanpy Christmas and a prosperous N ev Year , May T7e also suggest that you visit the Society office where you m,ight well find a suitable gift for your friends. Again, may we appeal to mexnbers to contribute notes of their observations to the Editor for inclusion in f or thccraing issues of the Bulletin, !20 THE EAST AFRICAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Chairman: Prof. J O. Kokwaro Vice-Chairman; Dr A D. Lewis Joint Editors: Jl E. African Nat. History Soc. Nat. Mus: Dr. J.J. Hebrard and Dr. D. Widdowson Secretary; Mrs. B. Bryan Treasurer; Dr. S.G. Njuguna Hon. Librarian: Miss P. Allen Executive Committee: (in addition to the above) Mr. G.C. Backhurst (Ringing Organiser), Mr. N.K. arap Chumo, Dr. D.J. Pearson, Mr. D.K. Richards, Mr. D.A. Turner. Co-opted Members: Mr. P. Davey, Mrs. J. Hayes, Mr. J.S. Karmali, Mrs. F. Ng'weno, Mrs. A.L. Campbell, Dr. C. Gakahu Journal Editorial Sub-Committee: Dr. J.J. Hebrard, Dr. D. Widdowson. Ornithological Sub-Committee: Dr. D.J. Pearson, D.A, Turner, G.C. Backhurst, Dr. A.D. Lewis, T. Stevenson, D. K. Richards, Dr. M E. Smalley, Dr. K.M. Howell & N.E, Baker (Tanzania), Dr. M.J. Carswell, Prof. D.E. Pomeroy (Uganda), B.S. Meadows, J.S.S. Beesley & J.F. Reynolds (United Kingdom). Joint Library Sub-Committee: (Society representatives) Miss P. Allen & Mr. N. arap Chumo. Nest Record Scheme Organiser; Mr. P.B. Taylor Bulletin Editor; Mrs. D. Backhurst MEMBERSHIP This offers you free entry to the National Museum, Nairobi; free lectures, films, slide shows or discussions every month in Nairobi; field trips and camps led by experienced guides; free use of the Joint Society-National Museum Library (postal borrowing is possible); reciprocal arrangements with the Uganda Museum, Kampala; family participation; wives and children of members may attend most Society functions; one copy of the EANHS Bulletin every two months; a copy of each Journal published during your period of membership; the Society controls the ringing of birds in East Africa and welcomes new ringers and runs an active Nest Record Scheme; activities such as plant mapping and game counting are undertaken on a group basis. Membership rates are given at the foot of this page. JOURNAL The Society publishes The Journal of the East African Natural History Society and National Museum. Each issue consists of one paper, however, sometimes two or more short papers may be combined to form one number. The aim of this method of presentation is to ensure prompt publication of scientific information; a title page is issued at the end of each year so that the year's papers may be bound together. Contributions, which should be typed in double spacing on one side of the paper, with wide margins, should be sent to the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Authors receive twenty-five reprints of their article free, provided that these are ordered at the time the proofs are returned. E. A.N.H.S. BULLETIN This is a duplicated magazine issued six times a year, which exists for the rapid publication of short notes, articles, letters and reviews. Contributions, which may be written in clear handwriting or typed, should be sent to The Editor (EANHS Bulletin), Box 44486, Nairobi, Kenya. Line drawings will be considered if they add to the value of the article. Photographs cannot be published. SCOPUS The Ornithological Sub-Committee publishes this bird journal five times a year. Cost: EANHS members KSHS.75/- p.a. All correspondence to D.A. Turner, Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATES Institutional (schools, libraries) . . . annual payment:KShs. 1 00/- Full Local and overseas . . . annual payment: KShs.100/- Junior (full-time student, no Journal supplied) LOCAL OVERSEAS US$ ll.OOfst. 7.00 US$ ll.OOfst. 7.00 Life Membership . . . annual payment: K.Shs.10/- KShs.1500/- US$ 4.00 f St. 2.50 US$ 144.00 £st. 90. 00 Subscriptions are due 1st January. From 1 st July you may join for KShs.50/- and receive publications from that date. Application forms for membership are obtainable from the Secretary, Box 44486, Nairobi. 3 9088 01230 2956