EANHS BULLETIN The East Africa Natural History Society Executive Committees Nature Kenya officials 2000 Nature Uganda officials 2000 Chairman Vice-Chairman Hon Secretary Hon Treasure* Hon Journal Editor Mon Librarian Member* Co-opted and Ei-ofticto Management Sub- committee JOutn* Conor. al Sub- committee Jo.nl Library Sub- committee 0i*d Committee o* the EANHS Chairman Secretary Edilon Hnging Organiser Laon Bannun Theresa Aioo Fleur Ng'weno LornaA Oepew Deborah Nightingale Tom Butynski Benny Bylebier Barbara Gemmili John Koike Nick Oguge Judith Rudnai Richard Bagma Ann Btmte Uana Dodds Catharine Ngerachu Shrill Ra|anl Julian Standing Steve Turner Philip Adolwa Leon Bennun Benny Bytobler Tom Butynski Fleur Ng'weno Lorna Depow .Editor) TomButynski Deborah Nightingale Tom Butynski Deborah Nightingale Ohvor Nesirwa Leon Bennun Leon Bennun Colin Jackson Graeme Bockhuril Hon Chaiiman Hon Vice-Chairman Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer Publicity Serrata'y Executive Committee Sob-committee convenor* Bi-'dllfe Uganda Uganda Wetlands Working Group Plants Working G'oup Hsrps Worl.ng Group Eiecutlve Officer & Editor Doputy E.oculive Office* Events Ofteer Conservation Officer Panta Kasoma Robort Kityo Deborah Bnranga Paul Mafabi Herbert Tushabe J Bunny Norah Mulekanga Dorek Pomeroy Ale* Muhws* T Otim J Tabuti M Bohangana Julius Annailwe Achilles Byaruttsnga Mana Naksbito Ambrose Mugabe Insect Committee Mammal Committee Succulenta Eest Africa Prolact Chairpersons/ Convenors Biodivorsity Par- Project friends of Nairobi Arboratum Ffronos of City Por« Important Bird Areas Jud.th Rudnai Nick Oguga Marie Dodds Fleur Ng'weno Ann Birnie Catherine Ngarachu Paul Maliku Polyclad Life Around Invertebrates, ihe Earth's most biodiversc creatures, that live- near, on - and in - us Fleur Ng’weno Box 42271. 00100 GPO . Nairobi FLATWORMS Platyhelminthes simple animals that wriggle inside us The first arriclc m this sene*. Corals and Jellyfish: Builders and Stingers, was published in the EASIIS Bn/ltti a volume 30 number 1 Parasitic worms arc ugly, lazy and disgusting, right/ Well. Ralph Buchsbaum. in his wonderful book. Animal* Without Bjtkbmttt, looks at parasitic animals from a different point of view: "Living at the expense of one's neighbour is an old habit among animals." he explains. Almost every animal provides food and lodging lor some unwelcome guests - parasites. Most parasites arc themselves hosts to still smaller parasites. In facr. there arc probably more parasites than hosts! Most people sec patasites as somehow 'immoral* or at least less respectable' than their free-living relatives." writes Buchsbaum. But since there arc more parasites than tree-living individuals, a parasitic existence must be considered a normal w-ay of life." To survive, a parasite must do as little harm as possible to its host, lie adds. Who can say that a parasite is less considerate* than a carnivore, which kills irs victim outright' Elat worms live near us - too near' Many of them live inside our bodies Flatsvorms include the blood flukes that cause bilharzia and the tapeworms and hydatid cysts Flat w orms arc not all parasites. Polyrlads are some of the most beautiful creatures of the sea. like brightly coloured ribbons Other flatworms live independent lives in fresh nr salt water and in damp places on land 2 f AT*iSi toot) Flue worms arc mainly mcat-cutc-rs The parasirir one* Iced on our blood or the lood in our intestines. Free- living. or non-parasitic, flatworms Iced on very small animals. Some also cat the dead bodies ol' bigger animals A few flatworrm are fed by tiny algat living inside their (issues. Flat worms live in damp places They occur in the sea and seashore, in fresh water, and on the forest floor in moist tropical forests. Parasitic flat worms live inside a host animal Flat worms arc simple animals They have flattened bodies with onl\ a lew layers of cells. The bodies of most flat worms, however, arc arranged in rhr same way as other, more complex animals. Most flat worms have a head, mouth, and eyes or cyespots. They have a nervous system and a reproductive system Most of them have a digestive system Flatworms have no lungs or gills They use the surface of their bodies to talce oxygen from water or damp air. Flatworms mate and lay eggs Usually, flatworms arc both male and female; they mate and exchange sperm. Some flatworms can fertilise themselves Many flatworms arc also able to reproduce asexually - one flarworm dividing into two or more. Parasitic flatworms have complex life histories (pages F5> Some ot them simply lung onro the outside ol fishes and tuttlcs. Others must spend part of their lives in one hosr animal, and another part in another host Some parasitic flatworms live their lives in three different hosts. Acknowledgements: Alex Maikay. I) Davis and Dr. Rees kindly provided intormarion; Maryanne kamuu wrote some of the original text; and Dr. Kocn Maes kindly read through this version. Illustrations from R.unbou magazine. April 1988, by Nani Croze. Arabron Osjiu a-\ v viici|u» and Ruy Mudibu. An earlier version of this series of articles lirst appeared in Rambou magazine References: Brusca. R.( & t> J Brusca. 1990, hiirritbrum. Smaller Associates, Inc, USA Buchsbaiim. R . 1948. Animals UirlioUt liai’bbtinti. Penguin Books Richmond, M.D. «rd». 1997. A C.utde rofbt Srai bum <>/ Eastern Africa. Sub I Department lor Research Cooperation. SAKHC Zim. II S. and L. Ingle. 1955.1 Stmhom. (.loldrn Press. New York 3 ZAHHS VcAtrmX No***. 2 Oee en*»r tOOO Turbellaria flat worms of land, sea and .area??/ Free-living flar worms j shaped like leaves: longer than wide and very thin They usually feed on smaller invertebrates or dead animals. On their underside they have masses ol cilia, or tiny hair- I ike structures. Many Hat worms prodtue shine Item their bodies, then glide on the slime by bearing the tiny cilia. Planaria Planana are easy to find in streams with clear, clean water. Just life up Stones from the stream and look on the underside You will see small, flat planaria wriggle across the stone. They arc dark brown in colour, and one or two centimetres in length. Their bodies seem to stretch or contract as they move. Planaria live in dark places, under sticks, stones or among water plants in streams, marshes and lakes. They crawl or swim by contracting rheir muscles. Planaria lay a lew eggs in sac-like capsules. The eggs hutch into small planaria like the adults. Chemoreccptors — areas near the head that are sensitive to concentrations of chemicals — help planaria to find food pla, iariun'% mouth is on the 'dc of its body, near the In the mouth is a long ig tube, used to break off and I low small pieces of prey. Scientists have learned much about how animal tissues grow and heal and change by studying the little planaria II a planarian is cut into two pieces, the pieces will eac h grow into a now planarian ll a piece ol one planarian is fined onto another, rhr planarian may grow two heads or other body putts. Land flatworms You can find land flat worms in damp places or in the rainy season In the Nairobi urea, lift up a stone during rhe rains; a flat worm may be under the stone. These flatworms are 2 nr 3 cm long, dark grey above, pale grey below, and quite narrow Marine flutsvorms or Polyclails Pulycluds arc beautiful as they glide over tile coral reef or ripple through i hr water. Mosr of them are a few centimetres long and brilliantly coloured and patterned They arc rhin and delicate and will break apart if you handle them roughly Polyclads lay eggs that hatch into tiny larvae 'I'hc larvae swim as part of the plankton for a while before developing into adult flatworms. They Iced on small sea animals. 4 fAf+a Z OmcanOf 2000 Tremacoda Flukes Plukw .ire parasite*. They live on nr in an animal, called che hose, and feed on blood or animal (issues. They have suckers co hang onto their host. Flukes are not the same as leeches, however. Leeches arc bigger, easy to sec with the naked eye; most flukes arc very small. Schistosoma flukes that cause bilbarxia (schistosomiasis) live msidr people Adult flukes cling to the walls of body organs and suck blood After mating, females lay eggs, which enter the person’s bladder or intestine (depending on the species of Schistosoma). The eggs leave the human body through the urine or faeces. When Schistosoma eggs arc dropped in water, they hatch into tiny la rvac called mirac idia. The miracidia seek out and enter a freshwater snail. The host snails live in standing water, such as dams, irrigation ditches, rice paddies and slow-moving rivers, usually below I .NIK) metres altitude Schistosoma flukes cannot live in land snails or slugs. Inside the snail, miracidia change into sporocysts. which have the ability to reproduce ascxually. The sporocysts produce thousands of larvae called cercariu. The ccrcaria leave the snail and swim in watet. They must find a new host within a few days or they will die. I his time, the host will be a human being Schistosoma cercaria arc able to go through human skin. Inside the person, they find their way to the blood system The young flukes may swim around a person's blood system for several years. riir pretence of blood flukes feeding inside the body is the disease bilharaia or schistosomiasis. Ir alfcers millions of people mi tropical arras. There is treatment for the disease, but prevention is bertcr than cure" The lust prevention is to use latrines - it is people who put bilhar/ia in water, not snails' bridges made of logs or "stepping stones' help people to cross standing warcr. It is best 10 (liter or boil water from a dam or slow-moving stream before drinking it EAHHS Bu— >n Wunt 30. Numb* 3. Oec*me*» 2000 5 Ce S tod a Tapeworms Tapeworms arc parasitic flatworms. flat hut often scry long — up to 1 5 metres! They live in the intestines of animals. Tapeworms feed on tood that their host has already digested. They take in digested food through the walls of their bodies - they have no digestive system of small cysts called bladderworms in the host animal's muscles. ft Cooking meat thoroughly by roasting, trying or boiling kills bladderworms by high temperatures. But when a person eats raw or partly cooked infected meat, the bladders open and release tapeworm heads. A bee! tapeworm may live for more than ten years! Medicines arc available to kill their own. At one end of an adult tapeworm is the head, with suckers that attach to the host's intestine. The long hotly is made up nt pieces called segments. New segments grow’ from the area near the head Older segments contain the reproductive parts, both male and female. Eggs may be fertilised by sperms from the same segmrnt, or from another segment. Two tapeworms of the same kind in a host can fertilise each other. The segment becomes a sui containing thousands of eggs. The tapeworm larvae must now develop in a different kind of host. Beef Tapeworm is the commonest tapeworm in the world A person who has a Tapeworm passes segments like small whitish postage stamps in lus stool, or faeces. If the faeces arc left in the open, gracing cattle may swallow segments filled with eggs. The rggs hatch into larvae that form tapeworms, and using latrines stops the cycle. Hydatid cyst or Dog tapeworm is rare, but txcurs in northern Kenya where people keep livestock and dogs The adults arc very small. 2 to 3 mm long. They live in the intestines of dogs and jackals, who get them from eating the meat of infected cattle or sherp. Tapeworm segments full of eggs arc passed in the faeces. Hydatid cyst tapeworm larvae have many possible hosts, including people, domestic mammals and wild animals. The larvae form cysts, usually in organs such as the liver or lungs. Small at first, the cysts can become very large. Dogs may be treated to kill the adult tapeworm, or led only on cooked meat Hydatid cysts in people can be treated with medicines or surgery. 6 [ANUS J xoo Meet the staff at the Nature Kenya office Ann Gathitu /\ Jmmnt ration \'o/mtittr Ann handles office filing and stationery, routine correspondence, sorts records for billing and assists with accounts. Anthony Kiragu C • n i t r t a / / 0 n Programme Off net Dan Omulu C u n 1 1 r i a t I •> n Programme Officer and Dan work for t h e Important Bird Areas program me. assisting the Programme Manager and rhr Executive Director to work with community environmental groups. Government officials and other NGOs for biodiversity conservation. Catherine Ngarachu Membership Senieei Manager Catherine has been working for Nature Kenya since 1096. coordinating membership activities and programmes She also manages rhe database and web site, and edits the newsletter Satan Set. Daniel Abash Anon n/a ni Aka. h manages the Nature Kenya books of ai < ounrs and is in « harge of financial accounting and financial reporting lor protects ami i ommictccs. Daniel Kathtirima / Vn /» i i a I Hi o! ogy A it n t i a I i o n . A i I /' i / a ii 1 Pm jut Officer it" I coordinates the follow -up support programme tor TRA as well as assists in the day to day running of the 1 BA courses and oilier amtririni/on/iiylS EAUHS Gufeno VWum* 30 Numb* 3. 0*(* WOO L.Tu d MEMBERS FIF.LI) TO KOOBI J, IK-24 APR for the Wei Wei valley, a half hour For me. the trip proper’ started as we took the short-cur from the Iten road to Kapenguria. We stopped at a Police post to ascertain the way. and spotted a Blue Flycatcher among some flame trees. We then descended thi ma|cstic Munch pass through the Cherengani Hills Marie h Pass Field Studies Centre, where we were to spend the night, is at rhe bottom of the escarpment, in an area studded with trees, bordering a wide river bed which trickled water thinly down off rhe mountain. Simple bands* dotted the area; university studenrs worked quietly on benches under the trees A giant Kingfisher flew back and forth along the river bank and a brief bird-walk revealed RuppcH's Kong-tailed Starling, the Double-root tied Barbel, and the flashy Gonolck Wednesday set the standard of our early-morning wake-up calls, never later than 6:00 a m. A quick scramble for breakfast, and inrn J-whecI drives away Luscious mango trees harboured colonics of chattering Violet-backed Starlings We walked a hot dusty trail meandering upwards alongside a tumbling stream. I caught sight of the white phase of the Paradise Flycatcher flitting ghost- like through the hushes. Up an. I up. ..hotter and hotter A small rapid and refreshing pool were too tempting and soon most of us were enjoying the cool water We ambled back, gating up in awe at the rainbow, ringing the sun in a perfect circle: sure sign of rain. After a late lunch. Fleur Ng'wenn arrived, bringing the news that there was only one convoy to Lodwar the following morning at 6:00 a m. Our bird lisr grew mightily with Fleur urniind . and I was mildly rcproachcd for not recording each bird at every location As I remembered. Fleur diligently recorded the Common Bulbul for Marie It and Wei Wei On an evening walk, we learned about the local medicinal use of various plants. EAMMS Bu*»fn. Vokjim SO 7. 7000 Thr next day wc had our bags packed ready lor a 4:30 a m start, quirk breakfast, and on the road There was a lengthy stop at thr barrier, then a ponderous start as the convoy formed and motored on. The broken tarmac forced us onto the corrugated dirt track alongside Our heads nodded away the kilometres to I.odwur as the landscape became more and more harrrn. more moon-sc ape-like, and ever hotter There were luke-warrn sodas in the noisy patio of a local dive Then we met up with the Jade Sea bus which led us to a discreet p a I m - I i n e d compound where we were serves! soup and an excellent buffet lunch under t he shade. At Kalokol curious children • rowdrd c lose, their goats and camels in the background, as we prepared to embark on two open boats with enormous outboard engines. We exclaimed at our first sightings of water-birds and listed many, as our hags were enclosed in waterproof canvas and the paraphernalia oi camping was loaded on. There was a short trip to the Fishing Lodge to purchase tickets tor Central Island, dodging fish nets on the way. One boar snarled its engine Then we were off again the bow rising above rhe little waves and crashing down. sending up welcome spray to cool us There was silence as we savoured the hour-lung journey, watching the two humps of Central Island approach, wondering where the craters were We lugged our luggage up the sandy beach, and then, hastily changed and headed back to the water strange, soapy, and almost slimy. Wavelets trashed on us. we painfully stubbed toes on the pebbles, but it was oh so refreshing! We heard warning shouts trom the shore to watch our for i rocodilcs. but none appeared to spoil our lun. My rhr rime we had dried, col leered our mattresses and naked our claims to patches ol sand on the beach, the tun was dipping in the west in a glorious display of oranges, greys and blues We lav on our backs, watching the %rar% appear and listening to Fleur as she pouucd out Orion's belt, the dog scar, the southern cross. Satellites darted busily across the sky. and the occasional meteorite distracted us. Then the lull moon rose in the cast, the stars laded, and supper was ready. It was another early start in the boars to a small beat h towered over by rocks. An Egyptian Vulture soared above, as we stumbled up a tiny scree to rhe rim of the first crater EANHS B H 2 Dmcwnto’XXCO There, nestled below us. was a small lake encircled by a thick rim of pink: the experts estimated 3.000 flamingos. We paused for breath and photographs, then slid down onto the crater floor, and up the other side, our party spreading out. There was a stop near the highest peak to marvel at the sulphurous steam-jets. We were hurried forward along the rough path, painfully detained by wait-a-bit thorns, with warnings that it would soon get too hot lor comfort. Another crater came into view, deep green and i|uier; no flamingos here bur two enormous crocodiles lurked death- like in the dark waters. Breeding herons and egrets were glimpsed in the bushes between water and chfl wall. It really was getting hot now. und water hordes were flapping emptily at our sides. The long plunge down to the lake-level seemed to go on forever The sun baked down. L another early start, and we piled into landrovcrs for the long bumpy tourney southwards to the petrified forest at Allia Hay Burrhcll s and Grevy’s Zebra, elegant-necked Gerenuk, stately Oryx, and numerous Dik-Dik were passed. And. of course, there was a wealth of new birds. We eagerly scanned the dry river heds. lined with green fig trees and acacias, and were rewarded by several lllc birds' as the migrants had not yet passed norrhwards, and the Somali species were, of course, resident. One by one we made the campsite and rushed for the meager shade of the only two bushes in the area. The lake was irresistible, and the dip was a welcome respite, but very soon we were swrating hot again as we waited for lunch before embarking yet again, rhis time for a s hour boat ride over to Knob i Fora. As we beached at 6:00 p m., crocodiles slid silently off the sand into the lake. Pompous little Crested Larks strutted among the grassy tults as a brautiful sunset reflected on the clouds Then night engulfed us. We had another excellent meal, wine und sound sleep atop the bed. Wr climbed a gentle rise towards a distinctive rocky outcrop in the barren landscape, to the strange spectacle of fallen trees, tut up into regular chunks as if by giant saws except that the logs were stone, retaining for millions of yrars the exact grain of the original wood, and the colouring of numerous minerals The smooth breaks were due to earth movements, we were told, which cracked arid broke the fossilised trunks. In the rocks above we found more fossils: great toots or vines entwined, more partly exposed trunks, stones with fascinating hurs 10 CONNS V#un» X r*jm t»t 1 D'c*v*m> !000 Wc- withdrew to a sand river Tor refreshments. The birds werr quiet in ihc midday hush Another rough journey, eastwards this time, led us ro a low stone-walled building nestling in a depression, its iron roof gleaming incongruously in the barren surrounds We shuffled gratefully intu the shade while our guide explained the amazingly complete, in situ, fossil elephant, which had roamed these plains two million years ago Another short ride revealed two similar constructions, visible onl\ from a few metres away in the undulut mg terrain. An enormous tortoise, and easily recognisable crocodile curled inwards along its tail. As we left the site, protruding Irom an insignificant mound near the »ars. were a hippo's teeth uncovered only last year. We got hack to tamp for 'lunch 1 at v<)(> p.m.. and. as we approached, the lake sparkled diamonds in the sunlight before us, turning into soft jade in the hay, stretching beyond the hori/nn towards the Onto Delia Then it was time to drive i he short distance to the Knobi fora Museum We could nor leave this out. Bnlliant Carmine Bec- catcrs escorted us part of the way, The single-roomed m u sen n» . de 1 1 g h t fu 1 1 y designed, explained everything so simply And the setting was superb — on a steep cl i It overlooking the Lake. A herd nl Topi and a single Grevy s Zebra grazed on the grreti shore lar below A Eurasian Nightjar Happed to rest below us. I must come again. I resolved, as there had been no time to explore the liominid lossil sites at Katari and I larcr Thunderstorms raged to the north and east, while the sun struggled with grey colours as it dipped towards the west. The final surprise or the satari came after a smooth boat journey back to Kalokol the following day. Three enormous grey elephants loomed out of the bush just a lew yards Irom the road in the reserve north of Marich. That evening, our after-dinner reminiscence at the Field Studies Centre was interrupted as the heavens opened, and we rat ed for our handas The stream bed ihai separated us from the toilet block Hash-flooded in the night and on Monday we left a community thankful lor the respite after many months of drought EANHS BuWr. '.Vun* 30 2 DfcamMr Km 11 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS AN EXCEPTIONAL ROOST OF CATTLE EGRETS IN KAMPALA -< William Banage, Depr <>l Ztx»logy& Derek l*omerov. Institute i «i Environment & Natural Re* mrces \kdxnyvliiuti'jr\- Jitxl/xJtiinpii A Makcrerr University student. Adramah Ben Buttle, counted Cattle Egrets llufiuhui tbn as they came into a Kampala most, and again as they left, on 14 occasions between 25 October and 15 December 2000. The roost is situated at the Kuh.ika s Like, an artificial one of some 5 ha in Mcn^o. south-western Kampala The birds roost on shrubby vegetation on four small islands in the lake They start leaving the most as early as 05*0; by 1800 they are beginning to return. The majority 1 1 y to areas between north and cast from the roost. 4*19. There was no trend in numbers during the 8-week period of observations; however. Carswell (1986) mentions that the species is most common in the Kampala area between September and February, a period which includes rhat of Bottle's study. Although a roost of nearly 5000 birds is impressive, and probably a record tor Fast Africa. forth o / Africa (Brown et .// 1982) record up to 10.000, and Pete Leonard (pers. comm.. OK March 2001 ) reports about 11.000 on the Kafue Flats of Zambia This roosting site has been known lor sumc years, but we know of no previous estimate of numbers. Reference* The egrets arrive and deparr in flocks of around s0 birds, but ranging from _ to 68 All individuals in the smaller Mocks were counrcd— larger flocks had to be estimated, especially when two or more flocks arrived or left together Overall estimates ranged from 1024 to 4669. with a mean of Brown. LH, FK I rban and K. Newman. 1982 7 hr BirJ i of Africa. Vol. 1 Academic Press. London and New York Carswell. M 1986. Tht htr.is of tin artj. Ornithological Sub- .ommirtee of the EANHS. Nairobi 12 URBAN WILDLIFE Nairobi Garden Natural History Observations The Records of Arturo Foresti Edited by I, E. New ton /If* (fliiUniY hnnxitkii im/itswv 1 is> " VtwrV* The lute Arturo Foresti (1930-1999) came tti live in Kenya alter retirement trom his prolcssion js a lawyer in his native Italy. He lived mi Nairobi's Muilutga suburb for about ten years and developed lus property into a botanical garden, specialising in trees, succulent plants, bromeliads and orchids. He kept meticulous records lor each pljrit, especially indigenous Kenyan species that he had collected during his many held excursions. During liis terminal illness lie asked me to tjkc his plants alter his death, and hr gave me his card lilc database This database includes records of animals seen m the garden, ami it seems worthwhile placing on record what this enthusiast ic natural history observer had seen The database includes observations nude since January 1 988 Hach record includes some or all of the following: Family, scientific name, vernacular name, reference to literature used for identification, date of first observation, norrs Most observations were nude by Arturo, but some were lirst made (nbs i nr were confirmed (cunt.) by suitors, as indicated in sijiurc bucke ts alter the date, and one captured specimen was later identified tdet l by someone else The last entry in the card file was made in May 199" which was less than a year before Arturo became aware of his illness and starteJ on a course of mrdit.il treatment. I' ird Crow 5JWS BuWftn VeAjme JO. HarVm .• Drcmrtx* TCCC 13 IH'ITI KH ITS Lyctenidic • tt m»y«. LI. won Giant Cupid Butterfly I Larsen. 1991 ) I • Apr IWV Nymphalidac • Airjra.it.iu/ii tu Wanderer. I Feb 1997, Female • M***rij woriu iZ»«i’«/mmi Ffiir (Larsen. 1 99 IK 19 Feb. 1996. • «/rjv/*i uf'nsMi Common Bush Brown 27 Jan 1997 • Chanxv at/ttyum Whitt- Barred Ch.iraxt» (Larsen. 1991). 9 Dec 1 99V Malt • Chnuxti .tinJiopt. Green-Veined Charaar*. 16 Apr 1997- Male. • Cbaraxu iilluinm *Jirvf>it*t. Bluc-Spoucl Ctwraxcs 13 Mar 199V Female • i Charaxes. Ml May 1995 Idct M Hubert*] • Apr 1995 • Tirunula f*lntrj*.t African Blue Tiger 19 Mar 1995 Pupilionoulcar • (Larsen. 1991). 19 Feb. 1990 • PjfUi* rr.vrrv. Regal Swallowtail I |unr 1995. Picridac • lUlin.n .r«.iui mnin.i Alruan Caper Whirr: ( iunmnn Caper Whitt 15 July 1997 Male • ISiUnon tbfM thy m. False l >oi(cd- Border (Larsen. 1991). 14 Apr. 1995. • bt/iai'ii :«ba/m ngrippimJn. Forest Caper Whirr (Larsen. 1991). 22 Nos. 1995. • Mjhtbrn mcpilh nrUmin RuppelFs Dot ted •Border l June 1995 Female. OTHER INSECTS Apidac • Apii ‘uillifnn unde an (.'). 5 Aug I ‘>88. KEPTI! FS Chamjclcontid.it • ( t-.imjiUo jacki-nii, Jackson’s Three Horned Chameleon. 9 Apr 19H8 Gcckomdac • UimiJj.lylei Buit'im.i Common Home Gecko 29 Srpr. 1992 Scinsidac • iiaat.i Srnpcd Skmk (Hedges 1983) 29 St pi 1992 BIRDS Accipitridae • Atripiur *r/air/r*r*i (*i Grea: Sparn.whuwk (Williams «v Arlott. 1980: Lewis .v Pomeroy. 1989) 12 Feb 199' Immature. • Ibii.-i hstio. Common Biwaard (Lewis a P omeroy. 1989). Strppe Burrnd (Williams & Arlotr, 1980). 14 Jan 1992 lobs L Biddauj. Wincer visitor • A|r/r«i mitr.tni Black Kite ~ Jan 1988 Ccnnf. L. Biddau, Jan 1992) • Pnlj<.aiKiJt\ i.u/uim. Hamer Hawk (Lewis «v Pomeroy. 1989; Williams .v Arlott. 1980). Gymnngenr (Williams A Arlott. 1 9801 14 Jan 1992 [obi. L Bohlau). • ujuJjik*. Battlcur .’ ’ Jan 1995. Apmiidac • Apm Jfjmn. Little Switt 15 Jan. 1992 lobs. L Htddau] Ardctdac • ArJi.i fmrlanoctphiiLi Black-headed Heron. 10 Sept 1996 Sanding in Mat hate River Buccroiidae • Byxaniues hnm Silvery -eheekrd llornhili. 13 Jan 1 988 Capitoniduc • Lykim f*crym*tK C*j n Triehalfrm* hirypiaiunt. Spotted-llankcd Barbel (Lewis a Pomeroy. 1989. Williams a Arlott, 1980 1 2()Ckt 1991 • fPi-^unm/ui Mouuu bed Green Tmkcrbird 10 Jan 1995 14 HANHS Coliidoc • t'. \hu i ttrmlH< Speckled Mousebird 24 Jan l98H[conf. I Biddau.Jan. 1992; conf I Biddau, A. I)cunrii»& A. Polluin. Jan I 9'*' | . On bird feeder Columbidac • y >'tnpt.>ptJt,i ftan~rqH.ua Rid-eyrd Dove lujan 1988 Iconf L Biddau.Jan. 1992} On bird feeder • Smpiufv/ta nirgalfHiii. Laughing Dove I I Jan 1992 [nln I. Biddau] Onbirdfcrdrr Corvidae • C*n»t Pivi Cr*w 14 Jin 1988 tionl'. L Biddau]. Cuculidae • < :..nhn tfliliinui. Red-chested Cuckoo I I Jan 1992 fobs. L Biddau). Fstrildidac • lAigoaoiii.ta ‘rubrixalj lulJtbranJu Afro. an Firtfinch 9 May 199?- • lut; at- thta unr^a/a Rcd-billcd PirrfllKh 24 Jan l9H8[»onf. L Biddau.Jan. 1992. coni' L Biddau.A Dcwn.nsAA Poctutri. Jan. I‘W'}. On bird lecdcr. • baubata attul/ala. Bron/e Mannikin 16 Jan. 198K{conf L. Biddau.Jan 1992; coni I Bidiluii. A Drsanctit & A. Pollurri. Jan 199'} On bird feeder. Falinnidae • / ./A" fxrtfriMMl Peregrine Falcon 11 Mar 1994 Fringiliidae • Str/nm HnJalMt Strraky Seed -cater 2 1 Jan 1992 [nbs. I. Biddau; coni I. Biddau. Jan. 1992; cnnl L Biddau. A. Desancos A A Polliitri. Jan 199“}. On bird feeder llirundinidac • HintiJo abyninua Striped Swallow 1 Mar 1992 [oh. I. Biddau} Laniidae • I~ihhi fullarn bumttaln. Common F'iscjI Shrike (Lewis & Pomeroy. I9H9; Williams a: Arloii. 1980). 15 Jan 1992 l«bs I. Biddau} Mcmpidac • Alter-. r, it,. ( innamon-i heitcd Bcc- taier 1 Mar 1902 [nbv I Biddau} Mutaiillidae • SUia.tH.t cHiafi African Pied Wagtail 20 Feb. 1 99 2. Muscicapidac • /if, Urn. W Inti -eyed Slaty Flycarcher (Lewis a; Pomeroy. 1989; Williams A Arlott, iVHOi. < i Sepf 1995 With a small Ii/ard in ir» beak [Zimmerman */ (1996) tall the White* eyed Sl.it v FlyiJt.her .1lr/.iflnrni fiu/iiri. Mating that it wa» formerly considered to l*e ninvpet ifu with ,11 4Wa/rtii. LFN 1 • Itrptip/i ii, i iriJu paradise Flycatcher. 20 Sepr 1989 Nectariniidac • \t.tjrinia aniitbj fttu .1 AmethyM Sunhird. II Dec 1901 Itor.f L Biddau. |an 1992}. • \„tjriHi-i ii/imiHin Bron/e Sunhird. I Mar 1992 [obs L Biddau] Netting and feeding young in neighbouring garden. • Si.iurima prunu kiknytmn Northern Dnilble-tnllured Sunbird (/minicrman ti .,/ . I996» 22 Jan 199^ lobs. I Biddau, A PetanriB a A PnllurriJ. • \i.tanHta i ‘ir/i tj Variablr Sunhird 2 IVc. 1991 [cont.L Biddau.Jan 1 992; conf I. Biddau. A Detain t is A A Poliutri. Jail 1997) • St.tjrmij ‘1 irt/ra/it. Grccn-hcadcd Sunhird 1 On 1992 I'aridac • I*. i in, a/biniitrn White-breasted Tu i Williams A- Arlncr, 1 980); White-bellied Tit 1 Lewis A Pomrroy. 1989) 2«Oit. 1989 Ploccidac • 4k/;/. Jan. 1992 On bird fredcr • P/nani xamhapt Holub's Golden Weaver. 5 Jun 1992 {coni. L Hiddau. A Desaoctit 6 A Pollutri. Jan. 199 7 ]. On bird feeder. Pycnonotitlac • Pytmmtai harbatny Blaik-capped Bulbul (Guggisberg. 1986); Common Bulbul (Guggisberi;. 1986; lewis & Pomeroy. 1989); Yellow-vented Bulbul (Williams .v Arlott, I980> |5 Dee 1991 Iconf L. Hiddau, J-n. 1992; coni L Hiddiu. A Decani (is A: A. Pulluiri, Jan. I99“l Scopidac • Soipai ambni/j Flnmcrkop. 1 4 Jan. 1992 {«ibs. L Bid. I jul Sylviidac • Camaropur* traehjar* Grey-backed Cimaroprem. 15Jan 1992 {obi. L Hiddau. coni I. Hiddau. A Deoanctis A A. Pollutri, Jan 1997]. I In Williams a Arloti *19801 C'. hrathymrj is called Green-ha. ked (.amaropreru. all. I the Grey-batkrd Gunaropren is called C km ujmhtj . I.HN.) {Zimmerman 1 I ,tl lump the two as C Irafbynrj] Threskiornilhidae • Boilrytbia hafiJaih (syn lljfiJaihia hagtJaih) Hadada (Guggisbcrg, 1988. Lewis «v Pomeroy. 1989) Hadada Ibis (Williams *: Arlott. 1980) 10 Jan 1988 [coni. L. Biddau. Jan 1992] Turdidac- • Caiiypha hi up / 1 m White- browed Robin Chat (Williams .V Arlotc. l980).(Lcwis A Pomeroy. 1989) IK Mar. I '>90 {conf I. Hiddau. Jan 1992] On bird feeder | A. dully Ruppcll'i Robin-C'.hai Canypba itmirnfj. K N'gwcno] • Tarda I akyiuaiitn (syn Turdm d/wnw) Norihern Olive Thrush (Lewis .v Pomeroy. 1989). Olive Thrush (Guggisbcrg. 1986; Williams & Arlott. 1980). 21 Jan. 1988 Iconf 1. Hiddau. Jan 1992. cunt L Hiddau. A Desanens 5; A Pollutri. Jan 199"]. On bird feeder. I pupidae • l! papa tpfp!. liuropran Hoopoe ,'Palarar.tic Racr 1988. Zosteropiduc • y.intimpi pnhofjitrr Hhayatmii Kikuyu White-eye (Williams * Arlott. 1980), Montane White-eye (Lewis & Pomeroy, 1 989). 27 Oct 1989. MAMMALS Ccrcopithccidae • Cn>*pith«a i mini ka/hilf) Sykes Monkey \\ Mar. 1992. An occasional visitor Sciu r id ac • ParaKtrm "hractm Fluer's Bush Squirrel (HalicnorthA Diller. 1980). 1 1 IK*. 1991. On bird feeder Sorcidvc • Shrew. 27 Feb. 1992. Nesting on clump u! BtUbtrpj r.n ift.tr (epiphytic Oil ,M l/llllJ Jura). Viverridae • Hirpruii laagMinmi. Bl*ck-i ippcd Mongoose; Slender Mongoose 28 Apr 1992. Dark-tipped tail seen clearly. An unidentified mongoose was seen leaving i he terrace of the lower garden in late 1987 or early 1988 References Gugji*bri| CA W (1986 1988) Fait Aftbtan Binli Volumes I (Edn. 1988) Or 2 (Edn I. 1986) Minim Kenya Sundries. Nairobi I lalienurili, T a II. Diller. ) Mammal, -/ Afrit j. I •! lading MaJagaiiar Collins, London llriiges, N (i U98') Rrpiiln aaJ Amphibian tf Hail Afrit a Kenya Liinaiurc Bureau Nairobi Larsen, I B (1991) T/u llmirr/ln */ Kinya Oiliml Uoiveisiiy Press, Osfiitd Lr*u. A a D Pomeroy. 1 1989) A Bird Ai/j •/ Kmya. Bilkema. Korrerdam A Brookfield Williams. J.G s Arlcm. N (1980) A FiiU GaiJr t* llr Bndi •/ F.aii AJriu Collins. London Zimmerman. D A , l» A Turner A- D.J Pearson. (1996) Bi’Ji */ Kmya mJ Svrlbirn Tanzania Russel Friedman, Hallway House *RSAi 16 fANHS Ouft.Br JO fAjwbme } XDO HARVESTING TERMITES AND ANTS Jo Darlington U untruly Muuxm of Zotlngy l)«u ntHf Stmt. CamhriJff CB2 1EJ. UK I was very interested to read the two articles in EANIIS Bulletin 29(l&2) pp I k — 15. Of termites and associated plants by Dee Raymer and "Hard times for termites'* by Ian Gordon. Termirc alates usually fly during wet seasons, but since they are not gifted with prophecy (despite rhrir high reputation as weather forecasters), rhev do nor know in advunce if the rains jre going to fail. When I was working on M acrottrmu in Kujiado. the ‘normal" pattern was for alates to fly in the November rains, after seven months development inside the nest. If the November rains were poor Us they often urc) the muture alates remained in the nest, losing some weight but otherwise healthy, unril rhe next rains in April If these uiris were good, the alares could swarm successfully then. However, if the April rains also failed, no flights occurred, but the alates disappeared from the nests shortly afterwards I had assumed that the old brood were probably eaten by their sterile nest-mates (as normally happens when stcriles Ov JOOO 17 ("A plant taking advantage ol ants ", EANHS BuUtti *, Sept. /Oct.. 198 1. p. 10-1). Maybe this is a good time to find out what its distribution in Kenya really is? II you find it. please send derails to Dee or to me. It is a very recognisable plant, as described in Dee's article, the leaves and stems have the texture of sandpaper There is a related anr species Mfiior £ anour i Decern Me 2000 This is predominantly a species ol southern Africa. Kenya is right on the northern edge of its distribution. It is abundant in Kajiado. and south from there to the Tanzanian border, and also in Amboscli. I believe it also occurs around Magadi. and 1 have found them on Mount Suswa. and near Olkuria just outside I lell's Gate N.P I would be interested to know of any other localities You may not want to waste your shillings sending letters to me in England! Dee has very kindly agreed to act as intermediary, at PO Box 2556. Machakos. Kenya. Reference Stuart. C. & T. Stuart. 1994 A field f,n:Jr to th, track t and • irhi of SoHtbtrn and Fait African wildlife . Southern Book Publishers (Pty) Ltd., Cape Town. Editor's note: In Upland Kenya Wild Flouen, by A.D.Q Agnew and S. Agnew (1991. EANHS), Myrmecviicyot menonui is noted (page 91) as ‘Endemic, growing on the edges of bare areas around harvester ant nests in grassland, common around lscnya on the Kajiado Road. 1 600- 1 900m. Central Rift Valley. Kajiado' Meet the staff, continued Elizabeth Maloba Adminiiiririon & Dll llnpnicM Af anafpr Maloba coordinates administration activities and is a point of .nntait lor committees and projects. F I i z a b c t h Nvombura From Office Auntant Lir looks alter Irani office operation including the taking of subscriptions and sales, maintaining sum k, and as is as a point of communication for other sraff Fanshnlinc Jebet Office Auistant Fan is responsible for maintaining the office, despatch, photocopying, and assisting in the preparation lor committee meetings luimiikt/iiifiiyJ) EANHS 0uMH VtKum* JO. Numtm i C*cvnt*r JOW 19 GRASSES AND SEDGES IN KENYA Towards the production of new keys to the grasses (Poaccoe) and sedges (Cypcraccac) of Central Kenya, we have come «mu «imr interesting inter- and intra- national range extensions. Specimens are deposited at the Nairobi (EAH) Herbarium Nomenclature follows Clayton ct al ( 1982) and Haines S; Lye (1983) and all determinations have been clucked bv comparison with named material in rhr Kew herbarium (Kv llluftranon Elemliuni margmulata fromTAr SeJfU jnJ Rmha afE*H Afrira POACH A E 1‘jibnt Kinnritian 9-1) is from Machakos. a considerable range extension. Hhyt.uhnc lat/fal/.i W IVC.layron Type seen: Greenway & Kanuri 2^ > (Clayron \ Renvoi *e, 1982) This species is known from I ganda and Tanzania. After the excellent rains uf May 1997 one tussock of the plant was found (by ADQA) Jt Galana Ranch. Coast Province in a wet sump on black cotton soil. The habitat was alongside a cut line and track, and so was possibly disturbed CYPKRACEAE Kb) mhotpnt.i hr oun n Roem &: Schult « K rugoia ( Vali I ) Gale) Mt Kenya National Park. Chogona track. Lake Rumuiku edges. 201 I m . coll Woollcr. D Swain & S Matbai 23.01.1 99~. no LMC2I 1 The lake is surrounded by wet montane forest, but the species is presrnr in the wet fen. sometimes jt over 30 '> cover The genus Kb) nibi>>f>o'.i is known from Kenya (oast, bur not inland, and rhis species is unrecorded from Kenya in Haines & Lye 1 98 3 20 EANMS fluii.J - Wvi-m, »(1 KW'} Dwcomtmr 3000 Sdena rate m m, i Poir. A large bushy tufted sedge I m tall with ribbed leaves along a triangular stein, and with conspicuously deturrenr leaf basts, this plant was Sterile when collcrtcd at Kndedrma Busia District, by ADQA and Jane Hutto (KHTRI). 25.5.1997 It grew at the edge of streamtide thicket. Known from Uganda and the Coast Province this appears to be the first record Irom inland Kenya ADQ Agnew «jda tffl’nui ltynlleth.fsnet.co.uk. Tin- Herbarium. Institute ol biology. I nivcrsiry of Wales Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA T K Mathiew Woollcr wuollcrf* 1 gl.Ciw-.edu. Carnegie lost. Geophysical Lab.. 52' I Broad Branch Rd. N'W. Washington DC 20015. USA References ( lnyrun. W l) a SA Renvauc, I9S2. Gram i near (Part ') in The Flora of Tnpitu/ lun I Afrita (FTP A), edited by RM Polhill (1972-1 999). Crown Agents. London. Ilainrs, RW anti KA Lye, l9Hs. Tht SiJg ,* aaJ Rttktt of B.i'i Africa - A flora of the families JunciKcac jnd C'yperaccar in F.asi Africa with a particular reference to Uganda l ast Africa Natural History Sotiery. Nairobi, pp 401 Meet the staff, contin ued Lawrence Maina \.ll/ilt Ken la Pr V „: Officer Lawrence is responsible lor c (lord i luting Ilf A activities in Africa. hi particular coordinating and organising TbA field courses, arranging travel and field logistics, as well as rht day rn day running of the THA Nairobi oilier and us alumni programme. Lillian organise IONA events * 1 . 'SO •* " »« I Arhorrtuin stall and prepares and mounts tin Arboretum tree labels Lillian Igsvcta Friend' if S.ilrnfti A r b p r ft /, ui I in / mum *»i la I Officer oettinkilrlw^i tANHS A4M»- V/romr 30 Numttr i OMwnMf WO 21 PLANTS FROM MT. KENYA, CHOGORIA TRACK ■nm wo: is m •*«***» » * «* ®« * t An extensive collection of plants ha* been built up during icvcr.il visits to the wetlands or the Chogoria Track during research into the vegetation history of Mi Kenya. The evidence tor past t lunar it change is important 10 help our appreciation of likely changes in our own times, and clues are to In found in past lake sediment* which span the last hundred thousand years on the mountain These clues consist ot fossil pollen and plant fragment* which have to be identified, first by comparison with species grossing locally, thus the collections. Published hiogcographv of Kenya is mainly found in Agnew Agticw (199-1). known us VKW'f. This note (appendix! list* species collected by Swain .v Wooller which have not been recorded lor the I IK (Highlands Mr Kenya) area in I KW H Of course no lists are exhaustive, and the*c records concenrrate on wetland plants. .Much rci ent work ha* been done on rhe Chogoria Track forests bur woody plants arc not listed in ibis note Most ol these species are common and the record simply fill* in a gap. but L./ art her £/j tt/ranJra "as previously recorded only in Kitalc region and the spc« iment here double our Kenya specimens Other specie* arc seldom collected because water plants arc often ignored These include 0 rth.i ulvifttlta and rhr rsvo bladdcrworts. Utrii alarm aattra/n and / rtflrxa David Swain Stephen Maihai Palaeobotanv. National Museums of Kenya . Box 45166. Nairobi Andress Agnew Biology Invr.. I diversity ol Wales Aberystwyth. SY25 U)A. I K e-mail: qdafc' marhynllctli.lsuci .co.uk Reference Agnew. ADQ and Shirley Agnew. 1994 Upland K W'tU H/vuin-A flora of iht btr bailout flnutr/a g plant* and firm. Second completely revised Edition PAM IS. Nairobi pp 1 • 175 plates. The lake* under examination are Sacred l.akc, Nktinga. Kummku. Rtirundu. 22 £4*H5 Ok*#* JO « O**Te**XJO0 Appendix: New and Interesting Records of Plants from Mt Kenya. Chogori a Track The name* are followed by altitude. locality. dare «*t collection and lollecnon number Nomenclature follows Agnew a; Agnrw <1994) Aemlla utirhiia 1820m Nlcunga 22.01 ‘>0 25,96 li/rshnum auitra/t 1 820m Nkungo 02.09.95 M2 Comwelma lalife/ta 1820m Nkungu 22.01 96 2 ' 96 Crauottplid/nm punJi/olium 1820m Nkunga 01.09.95 2/95 C.roralarid /at/tNofhara 1820m Nkunga 30.08.95 6 30 Cmums ac*U.tt*i 2000m Mcru Rd N 28.01.96 -1/96 Gyqarkn aujcamptoiJet 2180m Rumuiku 19.01. 96 ' 90 llpil0 Hibium i .inv,ifi/nMi 2 1 80m Rumuiku 2“ 01 9r. 58. 96 Hibiuni «/;./! rjntbui |820m Nkunga 22 01.96 28 96 Hyt/roeaty/e r,iuumu/oii/ti 1820m Nkunga 20.01 96 16 96 l-inr(mbfrf>hi rc/randm 2180m Rumuiku 19.01 96 ~ 96 Ltuiai glabrata 1820m Nkunga 30.08.95 19/50 l.uJuiyia .tbxuituia 1820m Nkunga 01 09 95 16 I X) mjih.it. I uouehali 2360m SacreJ Lake 26.01.96 1 6/96 Oltha *lti folia 2360m Sacred Lake 26.01.96 1 1 96 I’hy/ltinihut huthmii 2180m Rumuiku os 09 95 10 8 /»•/)*«»#« >alnifnlium 2560m Sacred Lake 26.01.96 37/96 Rum* uumbanitsn 1820m Nkunga 03. 09.95 > ' Sol.it/utti imaitum 1820m Nkunga 30.08.95 I 30 Solatium rrmchti 1820m Nkunga 30.08 95 I ' »0 inumftna tmutntnu 2180m Rumuiku 2~ 01.96 50 96 1'iriculana suitraln 1820m Nkunga 02.09 95 5 2 Ihrnulana re/ltxa 2360m Sacred l.akt 26 ol 96 -i-» 96 Vrruoni./ boh til 1 820m Kkungu 05.09.95 1 3 EAHMS HuMfn VWur. » Nk«M>Z Docmv*r XKa 23 Meet the staff, continued Paul Matiku F.xttulivt Director Mat iku has overall responsibility lor the management ol staff. effective and efficient implementation of Nature Kenya project* and programme*, advocating Nature Kenya's policies ro other agencies and ensuring that Nature Kenya's strategic plan is implemented and objectives arc attained Solomon Ngari (, on i err a 1 1 ou Prugramut Manager Solon's work involves establishing local supporr tor site based conservation, evaluating and developing project proposals and liaising with Government and N(>Os at local level. Vincent Osvuor A */ "/ 1 n 1 1 1 ra 1 1 u n Officer Vmccnr handles the billing of projects, maintains office equipment, handles all travel arrangements and assists with banking William Tolo Olang’ Dnitr Willy is responsible for driving and maintaining the vehicles. 24 tANHS SutoAn W*mtw 30 Nu mf*c 7 7000 lr has been another extremely busy year for your Society. Indeed, there has hern so much activity that it has been very difficult 10 find the rime to pause and take stock This could potentially be dangerous. As Conrad once put it. action consoles, being i he enemy of thought and the friend ot flattering illusions So how tar have we made progress this year, and how far allowed ourselves to be seduced by merely being busy' I would like to tty to answer this ill reference to our Strategic Plan tor 1999 to 2002 — a plan where we are now nearing the half-way matk Our strategy aims to ensure that Nature Kenya is established as a strong, independent, significant contributor to the conservation of important biodiversity in Kenya. To this end. we have designated a set ol activities that should help us achieve seven major results 26 - 31 )- 2000 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 90th Annual General Meeting of the East Africa Natural I Iistory Society What of the wider picture? Our international links io TBA and Eart liw.it eh remain vigorous. The 'other half of the HAM IS. Nature ligjtnli nhn continues to go from strength to strength. Their seven stab are now well settled into new hcudcjuurrrrs on Tulnrl Road, and busy preparing to host the Tenth Paii- African Ornithological Congress in Srprember 2000 With over three hundred members and a strong programme ol activities and conservation work, they are a branch to be proud of With Nature Uganda, we link to a network of BirdUfe Partners and Representatives across Africa and t he world. Three meetings in the lust twelve months — the Council ol the African Partnership meetings in Burkina Faso and in Tunisia, and the Global Partnership meeting in Malaysia in October 1999 - have provided great opportunities lor learning from what others are doing EAHHS ft—" Vou»m X Hjmf* 2. 2000 25 This is j tremendous benefit that involvement with the Birdl.tfe Partnership brings our Society, and not by any means narrowly limited to birds We base been able to show others what we arc doing, too: lor instance, site conservation officers from Ethiopia (Ethiopian Wildlife anti Natural History Society), Tanzania (Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania) and Nature Uganda visited our Important bird Areas Site Support Groups in 1999. and in February 2000 we were able tu facilitate a workshop on IBA priorities in Erhinpia The contributions made by some of our members and staff are being recognised by the outside world, too. We were delighted that Fleur Ng’weno, our Honorary Secretary, was awardcJ the prestigious Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Conservation Medal in 1999. More recently, Paul Matiku. our Network and Advocacy Manager. was presented with the F.asr African Environmental Network Conservation Award Congratulations to them both I have left out many, many details — and I apologise to all those whose work has not been mentioned — but you will sec that your Society has indeed accomplished a great deal over the last year. We believe we arc making haste slowly — trying to build a base lor our work that will be sustainable into the future Thanks to your support ami involvement as members, progress is bring made However, there is no cause for complacency. Daunting challenges remain, and there is ever more pressing conservation work to be done. Despite our emphasis on sustainability, we arc in many ways racing against time — and. as the great Dr Johnson put it. he that runs against Time has an antagonist not subject to casualties. If we are to succeed, it can only be through an effort that involves the moral and rangible support of all our members Together, we are starting to make a difference: by staying involved, and persuading others to become involved too, you can make sure that we continue to do so 26 EAMtS But**' VMur* X Hun**" .’ XOO 7iiKJ*rtnmmni*tv.\ttM* -\H*n tiim Our membership does not, yet. quite approximate to rhe ‘general public*, but the activities under this results are those that members are probably most aware of. There certainly seems ro be progress here World Environment Day last June was celebrated with great success by six ol our Important birds Areas (IHA> Sit. Support Groups, with substantial media i overage (especially on radio) A series of radio programmes on IbA conservation was also broadcast by KB* FONA's Wind in the Trees was held successfully oner again World Birdwacch in October 1999 involved more than three hundred birders and an even larger number ol schoolchildren. Membership was up to dose to l.JOII members by the end ol I nor including several hundred registered With Nature I'ganda The situation with our publications i* improving though not completely satisfactory Nevertheless thr R/tlhtiu has been appearing more regularly, a double issue ol Kr9)a Hirt/' was published last year ami another is nearly ready to go to press, and thr J >urtu! is /. Gift ieml public's itruleisunuliiiR of bit xlhxnsity inipnmtl' well on track to recovering lost ground. The I stcurivr has considered and approved recommendations Imm the Editors concerning the format anil . onirnt ol publications, and we expert further advances in rhe coming year The Bird Committer will be underwriting distribution ol Kt»jJ DirJt ro all members while thi HhIIiii v will shrink to the same format. Excellent papers arc streaming ill for the _/i>*»*f.r/ and a mayor special issue on thr Eastern Arc mountains is about to go to press Special thanks tor that issue go to our Honorary Editor, Lorn* Dcprw. Our regular public evrtits — flic Wednesday morning hirdwalks. pot- link nut mgs. tree walks and lectures — as well as inrerest -group activities (such 4S Succ ulema s monthly grt-tngethersi and the field outings are all going strong Kueli in the variety of events on otter (including adventurous excursions to place v tin b as Lake Turkana) and the level ol participation, ibis has been a very gooJ year indeed However, we arc still lagging behind with activating regional memberv groupv and with meeting our target nt 2000 members by the end ol 2000 EANHS Butmn. Vf *ma ». *Wr«»r ?. Omcmmtm' 200 0 27 2. 'Biodiversity priori ties identified and documented' A mapir wcp forward »j» ihr publication — ar last — ol the Important Bird Arrtt directory tor Kenya, which wit launched with tome Unfare at the end of April 2000. Several hundred tnpiet ate being distributed lo krv institution*. and there arc indications that ii it having an itnpai t It w« pleasing r« hear, lor instance, that the Kamtar r.onvenrnin secretariat ha* already u»ed it to entourage the Kenya Government to designate additional Ramsar site* Setting up <• momroring system lor the IBA* is on important part ol our strategy, and muih headway w« made toward* this at a workshop w« In Id in November 1 999. involving a wide rang* of interested parties tor what are lashionably called 'stakeholders'* This meeting agreed on monitoring guidelines and protocol* lor actually doing the work mi different habitat* In May 1999. we truinrd numbers of the friends of Kinangop Plateau in surveying and monitoring grasslands: lorrst protocols art hring tried out in Arabuko Sokokc b* the guides’ association, under Colin Jackson's supervision, and the annual waicrbird counts continue, at a record nuitilirr ol site* this year.Snople guidelines lor how to send in general information on no, rtnKihnutOKlBlufe& IHAs have also been finalised, and an bring circulated to members In thr meantime, much information hat hrrn gal lie red lor both the paper and i ompuirr 111 A databases, and members ■ rc encouraged rn make use ol this resource A challenge now is to identify important sites lor thus, organisms that don't have leathers The IBA network will already take care of many of these Ibui i here are bound to be gaps Committees for mammals, insects and plants arc in the stages of revitalisation consolidation and conception, respectively. The hope of course is that rhesr new Committee* will soon become us well established as the one lor birds, and bring together aclivr group* ol enthusiast* who can deal with other lava fAJVHSfiuO**. JO / Ovtemtor 2000 28 3 . ‘Nan/re Kenya's views ami position on biodiversity priorities recognised and respected by decision-makers and the general public' I have mentioned the general public; l»ow about thr decision-maker*' Out philosophy could be summed up as gull* (uiul tufiJrm: dripping water hollows out a stone Those involved in Society advocacy mav not much appreciate being likened to drips, bill that’* thr way it works by putting forward our case steadily, objectively and. most ol all, persistently, eventually wr make an impact This effect is dillicult to measure, but wr have undoubtedly gained a lot of ground ilns year Nature Kenya has made substantial input to ihr L n v i ron men t Co-ordination and Management Ait. which became law earlier this year, to the forthcoming Forests Bill, and to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan In July l ‘>99 wr held a major seminar and workshop to inform Krnvans about i hr Alrican-F.urasian Waterbird Agreement lAEWA>. This treated considerable awareness ahnur watrr birds. wetlands and the Convention on Migratory Species that provides thr framework for ALWA Thr meeting was no doubt a major stimulus tor Kenya's accession, which has hern agreed by Cabinet. Wr also had thr unusual chance of sending delegations to two other big international meetings, the Conferences of Parties lor Convention on Internal innal Trade in Endangered Spesies and ilie Convention on Biological Diversity, both held in Nairobi hi 2000 Thrsr proved a valuable learning experience as wrll as an excrllrnt chanre to develop both loial and intrrnational contact*. At CBD the joint Nature Kenya Birdl.de International srand wav very attracusely laiJ out and visited by a large number of delegates W‘c also produced • set ol tree Nature Krnya hirdl.de postcards on threatened birds that wrrr given Irec to all delegates, and v«r> well received; and wr helped to organise a sue. cssful side-event on i hr I BA programme Thr Important Bird Areas National Liaison < ommurer remains a key body • or networking and advocacy concerning IB A conservation Attendance at NLC mrrting* has been excellent over ihr past year, and we arc delighted with ihr arrive involvement of many frprcst-nt.il ives. All this advocacy work is very time consuming, and w» are luck) to have u number ol members who have rhe interest an. I 'hr know-how to involve themselves. It is. though, paying substantia! dividends in raising and improving our profilr and crrdihility. and ensuring ihar our views are at f ually tukrn inrn account. These dividends should im tease Mill further in future FANHS Bomm Voturrw 30 NumOei i OaewnBa* tOV) 29 4. 'Specifying and initiating action for the protection of key species, sites and habitats' Here, for the moment, we are working primarily with the Important Bird Area* Site Support (irnupv Thu work wa* made substantially easier oner the I.androver had arrived through the CiBl t NDP IBA Proiect in February 2000. It u impossible to list. even in outline, all that hat happened at sites over the pair year. However, highlight* include rhr tin rettful completion of r lie RSPB-fundcd Kmangop Grasslands IBA protect. Thu built tuhttannal capacity within the Friend* of Kmangop Plateau group, whiih u now independently running it* own uflict and itt own conservation and educational campaign* A tenet of public meeting* organised by FKP greatly improved undemanding ol the conservation problems on the plateau, and membership it growing fast A Final output ol the project ita *trikiog putter about Sharpe't l.ongflaw, the flagship grassland species — these tan hr purchased from the other In Kakamega Forrst. meanwhile, two cooperating SSG* ate about to start implementing •n rco-tnuritm and education protect, funded by GEF UNDP Small Grant*, lor which Nature Kenya will provide backsropping along with the National Museums of Kenya The Ki|abc Hnvironmrnt Volunteers (KLNVO), an SSC. fur i In Kikuyu Escarpment Forest, has also |ust been awarded a prestigious BP Conservation Award to undertake a detailed asscstmcnt of the level and sustainability ol people * use «>f the Kcnta Forest onservation. as well at education I he garden was planrrd entirely by Succulciita volunteers, working with rhr Botanic Garden team at the National Museum* of Kenya - another excellent example of conservation co- operation. I understand that It is thriving. Looking to the future, I am especially pleated to tell you about MARI This is a recently constituted group whose lull namt is the Hahirat Restoration Initiator tor Eattrrn Africa lr is made up of u wide range of people with expertise in restoration ecology, and now a Committee of the Society. Habitat restoration is a motor issue at many IBA* and other »icc*. and we look forward to HARI starting to get it* teeth into some projects on the ground 30 EANhfS Bulletin. Volume 30. Number 2, December 2000 3 . ‘Nature Kenya membership increased and broadened' r ' .jy» 15L >«J / - % ft i Attautiitii t< hi i vtitorat tt.vfi ' inl<{fiu • 6 . 'Funding increased from diversified sources ' Increased — yes. though we still need to do much better, and are puzzled why many people seem to have forgotten to renew their subs in 2000. (Forgetfulness, rather than reluctance, seems to be the issue — we will have to send more effective reminders in future.) Our membership package is probably better value than ever before, so there is no good reason why we can’t meet our rarger of 20(H) members by the end ut the year — it we ALL go our. full Steam ahead, to recruit! I have said it before and no doubt 1 will say o again, but it would be a tremendous help if everyone would fry just to recruit another member before the end of (hr year Please! Our membership includes a great diversity of people, and in particular many more young people (not |tist students) than in the past — bur we are snll concerned to Find our how best ro artract and retain younger members A youth workshop held ar Egerton University earlier in the year produced some interesting recommendations and wc shall be looking at how best to put these into etlcct There is real concern that wc are so busy Trying to do other things that fund- raising is nor being given enough attention. A Development Stib- inmmittcc has been constituted and produced many useful ideas — bur no one seems to have time to pur rhem properly into action We urgently need to identify more skilled people among the membership who can volunteer a little time. It there is anyone our there who would be interested — please get in touch! We have been trying, nonetheless. Togcrher with the RSPB, we have put together a substantial and I think well thought out proposal to the I K National Lottery Charities Fund. If supported, this would allow us to expand and strengthen our network of 1 B A Sire Support Groups, and greatly improve our education programme The proposal took a great deal of time and effort ro prepare and is a very hefty document (though it works out at only about one pact per thousand pounds of support requested, which seems reasonable). We will know in mid-2000 whether or not we have been successful. EANHS Bulletin, Volume 30. Number 2 December 2000 31 7 . ‘ Effectiveness and efficiency of Nature Kenya management and a d m i n is t rati o n enh a need' The Management Sub-committee has spent a great deal of time this year working through detailed procedures and decisions concerning the management oJ personnel, vehicles, equipment, finances and fieldwork, /tint aha. I would like to rhank the cither MSc members, especially Fleur Ng’weno, Benny Bycebicr and Tom Butynski. Their input of time and wise advice has been of great benefit to the Society. Our sraff continue ro work with enormous dedication, many going far beyond the call of duty ro make sure that rasks are completed anil deadlines met on time. We art lucky rn have such committed individuals working lor us, and I am sure that you will join me in thanking them tor their efforts. The same thanks should go to r fie many volunteers whom we rely on to keep Nature Kenya is nor just ticking over bur moving forward: these range from Executive Committee members to the many (often youthful) naturalises who help our in various ways in the office. Despite the great growth in stalt numbers, our volunteer erliit remains alive and well - which is an excellent thing, since our operations would grind ro a tomplere hair without rhem We welcomed two new sraff rhis year Daniel Akatch, who has the key task ot looking after our accnunrs, and Lawrence Mama, who will be assisting in the Tropual Biology Association programme. Sadly, we also said goodbye, to our Executive Officer Shriri Rajani, who is leaving for personal reasons. As anyone who has met her will realise. Shrill's contribution to the Society over the last rwo-and-a-half years has been immense. Whatever progress we have made in that time owes a great deal to lur efforts, and her departure will inevitably leave a major gap. She will be much missed, and I am sure I speak on behalf of you all when I say how greatly we appreciate her efforts. 32 EANHS Bulletin. Volume 30. Number 2. December 2 Oil Nature Kenya Supporting Sponsor members Alan Dixson Alison Wilkinson Andrew Duncan Benny Bytebier Christopher Everard Christopher Thouless Esmond Martin George McKmght J. H. E. Leakey Jane Barnley Jayant Ruparel Joan Root John Fox Jonathan Moss Leo Niskanen Leonard K. Wood Leonard Okeya Mark Mallalieu Mary K. Minot Moffat Mwangi Muchane Gichuru Neil Willsher Norman Searle Onesmas Kahindi Philip Hechle Quentin McConnell Rafiki Africa Richard Leakey Seeta Ruparel Sulyn Talbot Sunny Bindra Susan Giddings T.B. Muckle Terry Stevenson Tom Butynski Truman Young Major Donors Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Global Environment Facility/ UNDP GEF/UNDP Small Grants (Kakamega Forest IBA) European Union (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest IBA) Swedish International Development Agency African Bird Club (Kakamega Forest IBA) Club 300 Foundation for Bird Protection (Mukurwe-ini Valley IBA) People's Trust for Endangered Species (Lake Naivasha IBA) Whitley Awards Foundation (Biodiversity Parks Project) The EANHS Bulletin is a printed magazine issued twice yearly, which exists for the rapid publication of short notes, articles, letters, and reviews. Contributions may be in clear handwriting, printed or on disk. Photographs and line drawings are most welcome. E-mail attached files or short texts in e- mail messages are also welcome. Please send to the Nature Kenya office at the following address: Nature Kenya P. O. Box 44486 00100 Nairobi GPO KENYA or office@naturekenya.org Other Society Publications The Journal of East Africa Natural History is published twice yearly, in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya. Contributions must follow the style directed in the Notice to Contributors found in the back of every issue of the JEANH and should be sent to the Nature Kenya office a' Ihe address above. Scopus is the publication of the Bird Committee of the EANHS. All correspondence should be sent to the Nature Kenya office at the address above. iii Kenya Birds is also a publication of the Bird Committee, in conjunction with the Ornithology Department of the National Museums of Kenya. Published twice yearly it contains popular and informative articles on birds and birding in Kenya. Correspondence should be sent to the Editor. Dr Leon Bennun at the Nature Kenya address or by e-mail leon@africaonline.co.ke. Other publications include: Upland Kenya Wild Flowers and Important Bird Areas of Kenya These can be purchased, in Kenya, from the Nature Kenya office or internationally from the Natural History Book Service, 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, United Kingdom, e-mail nhbs@nhbs.co.uk For more information about our publications you can go to our web site www.naturekenya.org or you can reach the office on phone 254 (2) 749957 / 746090 or fax: 254 (2) 741049 Front cover: Members on a trip to Marich Pass Printed by Fotoform EANHS Bulletin Volume 30, no. 2 • December 2000 Contents Life All Around Us by Fleur Ng'weno FLATWORMS, Platyhelminthes simple animals that wriggle inside us 6. 20. 23 Meet the NATURE KENYA staff 7 L.Turkana by Jane Bwye Members field trip to KOOBI FORA Short Communications An exceptional roost of CATTLE EGRETS in 11 Kampala by William Banage & Derek Pomeroy Urban Wildlife Nairobi Garden Natural History Observations, 12 The Records of ARTURO FORESTI Edited by L. E. Newton HARVESTING TERMITES AND ANTS 16 by Jo Darlington t New and Interesting Records GRASSES AND SEDGES IN KENYA 19 by ADQ Agnew & Mathiew Wooller PLANTS FROM MT. KENYA. CHOGORIA TRACK 2 1 by Andrew Agnew, Stephen Mathai & David Swain 2000 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 90th Annual General 24 Meeting of the East Africa Natural History Society Editor Lorna Depew Layout and design Catherine Ngarachu