Volume 31, no. 1 & 2 • 2001 issn 0374-7387 II The East Africa Natural History Society Executive Committees Nature Kenya Chapman Vica-Chairman Hon Soctolaty Hon Treasurer Mon Journal Editor Mon Librarian Mambott C o-o plan a no f >-oM>cto Management Sub- committee Journal Editorial Sub- committee Joint t ibrary Sub- committee Bird Committee of I ho EANHS Chairman Secretary Tioaturot Edltora Hinging Oigannet Insect Committee Mammal Committee Succuienia Ea*l Africa voutn Committee Plant Committee Project ChatrperwmM Convenor* Biodiversity Par* Project Friend* ol Nairobi Arboretum Friend* ot City Park Important Bird Area* Mabltat Reatoretlon Initiative of East Africa officials 2001 Nature Uganda officials 2001 Leon Bennun Theresa A too Fleur Ng wane Chn» Hill Lorn* A D«toe«* Deborah Nightingale liene Njumbi Olive* Naslrwa Barbara Gemmiil Sieve Turner Judith Hudnoi Paul Maliftu Shrill Hajam Leon Bonnun Chri* Mill Fleur Ng rveno Lome Dec** (Editor! Tom Butyn*ki Deborah Nighbnoale Asha 0»ano Tom Bulyntvi Deborah Nighl.ngale Olivet Naslnva Ronena Cotta Correa Bond lie Bruiin Leon Bennun Colin Jachaon Graeme Backhumt Judith Rudnai Koett Mnat Bernard Agwanda Nick Oguge Wane Doddt Arattacia Meaura DanOmotn Sao Matndo Mulhama Matindc Mon Chairman Hon Vice-Chairman Mon Socratary Hon Treasurer PutWicity Secretary Executive Committee Sub-committee convennrt Bl'dLife Uganda Uganda Welland* Wording Group Plant* Wot king Group Merp* Working Group Management Suhcommlllon fciecuh.o Officor Ooputy Enecutive Olficor Ailmimtlintlon Olfun Conservation Ollicar Project Officer African Specie* Wording Group Coordinator Ad lean Specie* Working Group Protect Administrator Mu»nmn«a Fiold Contervallon Olficer Fleur Ng weno Ann Blrme Winiam Wamtugu Catherine Ngarachu Solomon Meangi Joteph Uulangeh I pule! Perpetua Boalrica Ndula Panto Ka*oma Robert Kityo Deborah Baranga Paul Ma'aOi Herbert Tuthabe Christine Oianxoa Norah Mitesanga Dares Pomeroy Aie> Muhoen T Ohm GE.Iu M Behangana D Baranga H Tuthabe R K.tyo N Mufekanga Achilla* Byaruhanga Paulina Naniongo P Mugagga Ambrose Uugisha J Nimpamya E Sanaa G Akule V Alinda PANtiS &iVe!" VcAw# 3( WiAfitaw I & 2 1 Life All Around Us a new’ series about the Invertebrates, die Earth's most bicxliverse creannx's. dun live near, on -and in -us Fleur Ng weno Box 42271. 00100 GPO. Nairobi fleur@africaonline.co.ke Nematodes in soil, in sea, in plants, and in you Nematodes are everywhere perhaps even in your intestines! They are in the plants outside, and in tin; insects that eat them They are in the soil, and the mud ol lakes and seas, by the millions and millions Nematodes, sometimes called Nemata. are a major group of invertebrates — animals without backbones. There are thousands of species, or kinds, ol nematodes. Many of them are not well known. Nematodes are small. Most ol them are too small to see without a magnifying glass or microscope. Some are several centimetres long, but so narrow that they are difficult to see A lew nematodes grow to several metres in length. Nematodes arc worms. The bask nematode shape is long arid cylindrical. The body comes to a point at each end. At the head end the nematode has a mouth and some st>eeial sense organs. The nematode's digestive system runs down the middle of its long, i ylindrical body Different nematodes have different types ol mouths, depending on their way of life. Nematodes’ outer covering is called the cuticle. It is usually lough, ami may he smooth or covered with bumps and bristles. Most nematodes moult their cuticle four times as they grow from eggs to adults With each moult they go through a stage of development. Adult nematodes are usually separate males and females. Nematodes affect us in different ways. Nematodes break down dung and organic matter into particles that plants can use. Some live in insects that eat plants, and thus help to control insect pests. Others feed on crop plants and cause much damage. Some nematodes are parasites in people and animals. They are unpleasant, and a few have severe effects. 2 BANHS Voo-v, Jt 117 KOI Ncmiiiixlcs live in .i very wide range of habitats. from hot springs to icy sea-., from mountain tops to ocean floors When they are active, nematodes need moisture, hut some k mtls can survive long periods o! drought. Many nematodes live in small, isolated habitats. They live among the mosses and lichens on tree trunks. They live in the water that collects in the rolled-up young leaves of certain plants Some may even live on our eyelashes, feeding on bits of dust and micro-organisms, Nematodes' habits vary great Iv Most nematodes live in the soil or in the mud of rivers, lakes and seas. They feed on tiny micro-organisms, on dead organic matter, or on the hacUMia and lungi in the dead organic matter. Nematodes that feed on decaying matter, or food made In yeasts, just suck in fluids. Those feeding on tiuv plants and animals have “lips' to surround their food. There are nematodes that feed on the roots of larger plants, and become important plant pests. These worms usually have a piercing mouthpart called a stylet. The hollow stylet works like an injection needle. The nematode uses the stylet to pierce t lie- plant cell anil suck out its juices Carnivorous nematodes may be active predators, attacking and eating other small invertebrates. Some predatory nematodes use a stylet to attack their tiny prey. They pierce the prey, inject a substance to digest the tissues, and >uck out the juices. Olliers have solid stylets, powerful pincers, or liny teeth, to stab, bite or shred their prey There are nematodes that have become parasites in most animals, vertebrate and invertebrate. Parasitic nematodes feed in several different ways. Acknowledgements; Alex Mac kav. Dr Davis and Dr Rees kindly prov ided information, and Maryunne Kainau wrote some of the original text. Illustrations from A'i/0//*o/f magazine. July 19KK. by Nani Croze and Katrinek.i Croze. An earlier version of this series of articles first appeared in A 'a in how magazine. References: Brusca. R C & G.J Brusca. 1990 hnvrlchraics Sinauer Associates, Ini Huchshaum. R. 19 is. Animals tillbom HacL'Ixmes Penguin Books Pni ions articles in this series: Corals and Jellyfish: Builders and Stingers, IL IV/ /.S' Bulletin JO < 1 ): 20- 29. Platworms. simple animals that wriggle inside us. EANHS Bulletin 50 • 2): l-S, FANNS VWum* Jt. Mumbf I 4 J 2001 3 Free-Living Nematodes Most nematodes are free-living, that is. not parasitic. They live in mud from mountain lakes to ocean bottoms and in all types of soils. They are among the most common creatures of the sea floor Eelworms and other plant feeders Many nematodes feed on plants. Some live outside the plant, pierce the plant wall and suc k out its juices. Other nematodes enter the plant itself There are some small enough to crawl through the stomata, or respiration pores, of leaves. Inside the plant they feed on the plant juices. The plant may wilt, or may form a lump called a gall. Eelworms are nematodes that do a lot of damage to the roots of plants such as potatoes. They find the plant roots in the soil by sensing chemicals produced by the roots. .**«- ... Some people say that leaving /jf m a r i g o I d a«l t plants among \f\ potato plants ( reduces the ^ii number of root nematodes. mtnwtaiks Nematodes and fungi A number of nematodes interact with fungi There are nematodes called vinegar eels, that live in the sediment of natural malt vinegar. The vinegar eels eat the food made by yeasts in the vinegar Certain nematodes use the hollow stylet in their mouth to inject bacteria into a fungus. The bacteria feed on the fungus, grow and multiply. The nematode rhen feeds on the bacteria. Nematodes even use fungi as a means of transport! The eggs of a nematixle that is a parasite in cattle pass from the host in the dung. A type of fungus grows on the dung. The young nematodes feed in the dung, then climb onto the fungi When the fungus releases its spores, the young worms are carried away with the spores. The nematodes land on plants some distance away, where they are swallowed by cattle to continue the cycle. Fungi, however, may fight back There are fungi that trap nematodes in their thread- like mycelium. Then the fungus eats the nematodes. .Scientists are trying to learn > whether these fungi can control nematodes that lanuge plant rcxHS. EAH NS i If. KOI Parasitic Nematodes Parasites on insects A number of insects have nematode parasites. The nematodes usually live only part of their life cycle in the host insect. In some nematodes, it is the young worm that is the parasite; in others, it is the adult Others live for a time in different hosts. Some nematodes live in both animals and plants. A nematode may feed inside a plant, then enter an insect when the insect eats the plant. The nematode lays its eggs in the insect, which takes the young worms to another plant. Another type of nematode develops inside an insect, then enters a plant to mate and rcpnxiuce Nematodes that live inside inserts usually weaken or even kill the insect host People are now using these worms to control insect pests, instead of poisonous pesticides. A farmer buys a million nematodes in a package, and spreads them over his crops. This is a biological way of controlling insects. Parasites in people Some large nematodes are parasites in people. Plnworm.s (also called threadworms), are small, thin and white in colour, anti live in the intestines. Female pin worms deposit their young on the host s bottom or bedclothes. Pin worm infection is very common in small children. It does little harm, and is treated by medicines and washing hands Whipworms .ire about -i cm long, part of the body short and thick and part long and thin. They live in the intestines, sucking blood from the intestine wall. Whipworm infection usually mild, but can lead to bleeding and anaemia. Large Asians roundworms arc 15 to 40 cm long, whitish or pinkish in colour. They live in the intestines and feed on the food we eat. Most infections with roundworms arc not serious, but in a few cases there arc m> many worms that they block the intestine or the nose The eggs nf roundworms and whipworms are passed with the faeces to the ground, where they may get onto vegetables or m the water supply. Using latrines, washing hands, and washing fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw controls the spread of the worms. There are medicines to treat infection. Hookworms are about one cm long and reddish pink in colour. A hookworm uses the hooks in its mouth to attach to a person's intestine, and feeds on the blood of its host. The worms mate in the host's intestine, and the eggs pass out through the faeces. The young hookworms are free-living in the soil, they need warm, moist conditions to survive. If a person EANHS VOkxm 31 NunD* » 4 ?. KOI 5 walks barefoot on clamp soil, the young worms may enter through the skin Hookworms may damage body organs as they travel through the blood stream, or consume enough blood to cause anaemia. To prevent hookworm, use latrines and do not walk barefoot in dirty places. Treat the infection with medicines, and eat plenty of protein food. Trichina worms .ire parasites of meat-eating animals. The young worm forms a resting stage called a cyst. People or animals become infected if they eat meat with cysts, which are too small to see with the unaided eye. The young worms then hatch, burrow into the body and cause severe symptoms. Control is very simple — ck pork thoroughlv (especially meat front wild pigs). The Guinea worm is one of the largest nematodes. Guinea worms have two hosts and a free-living stage First, a tiny copcpod in the water swallows the young worms. Then, people who drink the water swallow the small copepods infected with the worms. The worms live in the person's body cavity, grow, and mate. The female migrates to the person’s arm or foot, while the eggs develop into young inside her body. The female worm produces a blister on the host's skin, which bursts, leaving a hole When the person puts the f«x»t or arm in the water, the female worm hangs out and releases young worms into the water. Filtering water before drinking it can break the cycle. Guinea worm is rare in Fast Africa, and there is an active- control programme Filaria worms or filarids are parasites in the lymph system. Lymph is a fluid inside our bodies, anti contains certain cells that fight diseases. Filaria worms may be up to 10 cm long, but so thin that they are difficult to see. They are spread from one person to another by biting insects such as mosquitoes, whic h are the tittcmuxlhuc hosts. 'Hie young worms, called microfilaria, trav el from the lymph system to the blood system, where a mosquito sucks them with the blood. Inside the mosquito they go through a stage of their life cycle, then move to the insect's piercing mouth pa ns. When the insect bites another person, the microfilaria move to .1 new host, and travel to the lymph system to grow and mate. Some species of filaria worms may lx:come so numerous in the lymph that they block the lymph passages. The lymph fluid then collects in one place, and the body tissues enlarge This is the disease called filariasis or elephantiasis A pan of the body, usually the legs, swells enormously. Filariasis is not common in Kenya, but occurs in some parts of the coast. The disease is controlled by controlling the insect hosts or using mosquito nets. 6 EAN>*S VOktfm It. H/v**- 14 ?. KOI Vulture Monitoring in Kenya Munir Virani Box 45111. 00100 Nairobi munir. viranl@btgfoot com In the Indian subcontinent, populations of at least three species of Gyps vultures have crashed by as much as 95% since 199T The cause of this large-scale vulture mortality remains unknown, but a disease specific to Gyps vultures is highly suspected. I'he great majority of deaths (nearly 75%) are caused by renal failure manifested as visceral gout (the deposition of uric acid crystals in the internal organs.) Indian Gyps vultures have been globally listed as critically endangered species. The distribution of Gyps vultures is continuous from the Indian subcontinent, across the Middle Fast, right to the southern tip ot Africa. The Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus, which winters in the Great Indian Desert, has also been recorded in Kenya. Thus, should the cause of the gout-associated vulture mortalities in the Indian subcontinent be a transmissible disease, populations of Gyps vultures in Africa are highly at risk Vultures play a vital role in the ecology of tin East African savanna plains They consume nearly 70% of large animals that die and would otherwise become a health hazard to both wildlife and people. In East Africa, vultures are already threatened by poisoning of carcasses, human persecution, lolling of nest trees and the reduction of plains game populations, resulting in a food < Its line EANHS tkmtm. ttAim. If rMM t * ?. 9001 ' The possibility of a disease affecting vulture populations in East Africa is real, and cannot be ignored. A crash in East Africa's vulture populations similar to that in Asia would have dire ecological consequences. Responding to the Asian Vulture Crisis. The Peregrine Fund Kenya Project, in collaboration with the Museum’s Department of Ornithology and Nature Kenya, held a very successful workshop on 10 May 2001 to outline a vulture conservation strategy. Key elements that emerged from the workshop were the need to continue monitoring vulture populations in Kenya (so that a crash can be detected ) and to establish baseline hematological values to monitor vulture health. In March 2002. The Peregrine Fund biologists Simon Thomsen and Munir Virani conducted extensive aerial surveys at three key Rtippell's Griffon Vulture sites — Mount Ololokwe and two massifs at Shaba National Reserve They also trapped and released one Riippell's and one African White-hacked Vulture to obtain blood samples for chemistry and serum profiles. Results are currently being analyzed. Further aerial surveys and trapping have been planned for July 2002. For more information about The Peregrine Fund's projects on vultures please check out their website w w w.pergerinefund o r g conserv vulture results.html Vulture Status in Uganda A workshop on the status and health of vultures wxs also held in Kampala. Uganda in April 2001. The 31 attendees included biologists, veterinarians, academics, aviculturists, administrators, a journalists and a lawyer, and representatives of the newly-revived 1 'gaud a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) and Nature Uganda. Workshop contents included monitoring populations, the use of minimally invasive methods of study for live birds, correct sampling procedures, and formulating protocols and codes of practice for work with vultures For further information contact Dr Christine Drunzou Department of Wild Life & Animal Resources Management ( WARM ) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Makerere University PO Box 7062 Kampala. Uganda Email. muk_wannGyahoo.com Professor John K Coope r And Margaret E Cooper Wildlife Health Services PO BOX 1 >3. Wellingborough Northants. NN8 2ZA. UK Email: N r» AC. I it cc >m pu serve .1 < >m 8 FMHS Hunt**’ 13 300 Poisonous Aloes L.E. Newton Dept of Botany, Kenyatta U. Box 43844. Nairobi lnewton@avu.org A. ruspolkitui Many people, even outside the fraternity of succulent plant enthusiasts, have heart! of Aloe wm (sometimes referred to by the incorrect synonym A barbaric ns is). This species (probably better regarded as an ancient cultivar) is well known as a medicinal plant, anil there are numerous cosmetic and health products on the market that contain A cera extracts. Many other species of H/ocalso appear in lists of plants having medicinal value ( e g Watt & Breycr-Brandwljk. 1962; Drummond etai, 1975; Kokwaro, 1993). in some cases forming the basis of a lucrative industry (Newton & Vaughan, 1996). The leaf exudates of aloes are especially useful for treating skin problems, such as radiation burns. What is not so well known, perhaps, is that there are also some pois« >nous species of Alov. In January 2001. on an expedition to Mandera District (North-Eastern Province. Kenya) witli Gilfrid Powys and Charlie W heeler, I collected specimens of an aloe plant that was said by the Itnul people to be used for killing hyaenas We were told that if the leaf extract is addeil to some meat that is left lying around at night, hyaenas will die soon after eating the meat. The plant is A rusftoHana, which Is a fairly w idespread species in Kenya and also occurs in Ethiopia and Somalia Lavranos (1995) cited a comment from a collector in Somalia that this species is used for poisoning hyaena Scbsebe and Gilbert ( 1997) stated that the leaves of A msfx/Uana smell strongly of mice A similar smell is characteristic of A. haltyi, which is also known as "the rat aloe” because of the smell (Reynolds. 1966; Carter. 1994). It has been found that in these two Kenyan species, anil also in several other species in southern Africa. Madagascar and Arabia, this mouse or rat smell results from the presence of the toxic hemlock alkaloid g- conlceine (Dring etal., 198 ); Nash ct at .. 1992; Reynolds. 1997) Another Kenyan species with a similar smell is A data, presumably also containing g-coniceine. One Madagascan species has another poison, coniine (Dring el al.. 1984). EAHHS Hu tern VtAime If. Numb* I 4 2 TflOf 9 There are published reports of human deaths resulting from the use «»f aloe leaves (Verdcoun & Trump, 1969: Drummond cl ai. 1975). Interestingly. Kokwaro 1 1993) stated that .4 baUyi is used as a purgative. In Kenya, and probably elsewhere, several get-rich-quick merchants are paying local people in rural areas to collect aloe leaf exudates for (illegal) export, to Ik- used in the cosmetics and health products industry. These local collectors, who are paid very little but are glad of any income, may collect indiscriminately from any aloes that they find in the bush. In my travels I have seen the remains of Aloe ngongcnsls. A scabrijblia, A. secundlflora and A. turhanensis. butchered during harvesting of leaves. This is an alarming trend, not only for the threat posed to Aloe populations, but also because it is possible for exudates from some poisonous species to Ik- Included in the exported product. I have no) seen defoliated Aloe nispolUnui plants in tlic wild. and perhaps they are avoided because of the absence of the conspicuous yellow exudate that is characteristic of most other species. I lowever. it is a widespread species and there is the danger that it might lx.- used. References Carter. S. (1994). Aloaceae. In K. M Polhill ted.). Flora of Tropical Fast Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam Dring.J V. R J Nash, M F. Roberts & T. Reynolds (1984). Hemlock alkaloid* in Aloes Occurrence and distribution o! g- conkeine. Mun la Medic a 1984: 365- 458. Drummond. R.B.. M. Gelfand tk S Mavi i 1975). Medicinal and other use* of succulents by the Rhodesian African Fxcelsa 5: 51-56. Kokwaro. J. O. ( 19931 Medicinal Mauls of Fast Africa Fain 2. Kenya Literature Burcau. Nairobi. Lavranos. J. (1995). Aloaceae In M Thulin (ed >. Flora of Somalia 4 35- 12. Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew Nash. R.J..J. Beaumont, N.C Veltch. T. Reynolds, J. Benner. CN G Hughes, J A Dring, R.N Bennett & J E. Dollar U9921 Phcnylethylaminc and piperidine alkaloids in Aloe species. llama Medica 58: 84-87 Newton, 1) J. & II. Vaughan ( 1996) South .Africa s A he fence Mam. Farts and Derivalii o Industry TRAIT! C Hast/Southern Africa. Johannesburg. Reynolds. G W ( 1966) The Aloes of Tropical Africa and Madagascar. Ak*s Book Fund. Mbabane Reynolds, T (1997) Comparative chromatographic patterns of leaf exudate components from Aloe Section Pachydendrrm I law Itoianlcal Journal if tire Unman Society 1 25 45- 70. Sehsebe Dcmissew & M G. Gilbert (1997). Aloaceae In: 8 Edwards. Scbscbe Dcmisscw & I Hcdberg pc area, one might lx‘ templed to think there was an Italian-French influence somewhere as members of the bulbul clan there keep calling Alfredo-Frederiquc." Could he I xr a house painter, as just a little down the road in Bulawayo’s Burnside area another guy shouts “put paint by degree 7 Or a rather concerned fellow repeating that it s quite dangerous * In Lusaka you are greeted with a somewhat impatient “lx* quick, the telephone, lx: quick, quick, quick. the telephone" whereas tin the Kenyan coast the SwahUl influence becomes evident when someone complains "hi cha pili" — clid he see more than one menacing cat? Here in the C.llgil area we seem to have another more impatient version " you be quick, don t you hear!" Whether you listen to the < ape bulbul /’ capemisot the red- eyed bulbul P. nigricans, the Fast African yellow vented form of the common bulbul P itarbaius or its North African white vented cousin (also P. htirbtuns). the language is unmistakably the same, although the dialects differ. Editor's note In Ghana. West M'rica. the common bulbul (P Utrhatus ) calls “Quick, doctor! Quick!* What do common bulbuls say tt hctvy « >u lit tY EANHj VWn* it. Hurrt** J 4 2. XOI REVIEW: by Sally Crook /?* • II ) cfwrts are a. tiikibh in some shafts in Momixtset and //*,-/> . tkfrom Nature Katyn 11 For the Waterproof Identification Sheets to accompany the book A GUIDE TO THE SEASHORES OF EASTERN AFRICA AND THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS (Ed. M.D. Richmond. SIDA 1997) The six identification charts for plants and animals in the sea or near the shoreline of eastern Af rica are condensed versions of the colour plates in the Guide. Their range. from mangroves to seaweeds, and from invertebrates to marine mammals, is wider than often found on ID charts capable of being taken into the field (that is. into the sea). Most others concentrate on the varieties of fish species, with few chans on plants, or corals and other invertebrates, and I have seen no waterproof charts lor bird and mammal identification These are a useful innovation and save textbooks from getting wet whilst splashing on foot through mangroves or observing whales from a boat in a lively sea. The sheet illustrations are smaller than in the Guide, and sen e best as a reminder of the plants and creatures observed until information can be read-up in the Guide at home. However, an indication of the size of creatures would have been useful as the small chromis and damsel fish are shown almost as large as porcupine fish, and the sea slugs us large as the giant clams < wrongly labelled on the sheet). The sheets have something the Guide does not Tli.it is the common English names of seaweeds, and corals and some other invertebrates. Finding from the plant ID sheet that the globular green seaweed. Vent rial ria ivntricosa. is also known as Sailor’s eyeball acts as a great memory Inioster. 12 EANHB \A.'Axv*}i Hufrt*’ T A ? MOT 2001 CHAIRMANS REPORT 91th Annual General Meeting of the East Africa Natural History Society Leon Bennun leon.bennun@birdlife.org.uk Ladies and gentlemen Gerard Manley Hopkins is not a poet to everyone’s taste, but I have always been struck by his force of expression, as well as his profound identification with nature. It was he who wrote that '...the mind, nund has mountains, cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. ‘ I don't suppose he had Nature Kenya in mind — after all, our venerable Society did not yet exist in 1H8S! Bui I did think of this poem during nur strategic plan review in December 200 1 Not because of its title < it is i ailed No worst, then.* is none' — and even strategic plan reviews are not that bad), but because at times working w it h Nature Kenya, and I suppose in conservation generally, is like climbing a very large and very steep mountain. Every step ahead seems an enormous effort, and a bit ol loose scree can even send you slipping backwards. There never seems to be enough oxygen to breathe comfortably. Sometimes the only way up is to craw I along the brink of an abyss, where the slightest misjudgement could send you hurtling to destruction. You pause to latch your breath and look back, and are astonished by how far you have already come — the landmarks you left behind now diminished to N|x.vks in the distance. Then you look up and feel a sinking sense of dismay at how far you Mill have to climb. All this by way of saying that it has again been a year of progress, but reversals too. and there remains a lot still to do. My task in this report is FANhS fk+Mi VTWM 3t. HunW »*?.*»' 13 much easier than usual, since for the first time at an ACM all our committees and major projects will he talking about themselves. Therefore I don't need to tell you about the Plant Committee's outings, rhe Insect Committee's live exhibit We still have a long way to the top of the mountain, but as I look at our members here this evening I feel encouraged that we can continue to climb. Thank you. SlpSifftrt GKtpmtwnTXiirrfmfi Kidspnwih*tntBt»ia1liUiniir*t.*tBwrr (KFJPiqffket ftt/iKiufit Sot wnuntoMi plans. IIARI s forthcoming launch, FONAs resurfacing of the Arboretum walk, the Youth Committees intensive international workshopping, and the impressive achievements of the I HA Site Support Groups. let me touch instead on a few more general issues At the strategic plan review we awarded ourselves good marks for progress over the last two years. However, there are areas where we have not been moving nearly as fast as we had hoped, the paramount gaps being in fundraising, membership and publications. (Seepages 14 - 16 1 1 would like to thank all those who have helped the Society over the last year — our tremendously committed and hard- working staff, dedicated volunteers, memheni <>l the Executive and Management Sub- committees, and varied supporters and donors, especially GEF/UNDP and the RSPB. 14 kANHS Vokjam 31. Nun#* 1 A 12001 Mttav Ki'HynlxBtxiiiaJtvhidfKmyiHim 'I i •iv# Gntifnotdpn *«* dietin': dvjnnrJ at *»*r< niKcrnti bl200l Funding, Planning li was disappoint ing when a major proposal io ihe I!K Naiionul Lottery Charities Board, of which wc had high hopes, was turned down (essentially because they felt it had to«i much emphasis on biodiversity and loo little on human development ». Corporate fundraising was a dead loss in 2000. to put it bluntly, and the corporate membership scheme that we debated at the ‘Kith ACM has failed to materialise. Membership rose to around 1,250 by the end of Decemlier 2000: not bad, but a long way still off our target of 2.000 members. Tilings were not helped by the departure of our much valued Executive Officer. Shrill Kajani, in May 2000. Her successor, Philip Adolwa, was just starting to settle down when he also decided to leave. Other staff, and members of the Management Sub committee, had to step in to fill the administrative vacuum— a major distraction from more strategic work. The workplan for 2001 puts much emphasis on fundraising, marketing and business planning in general. Several other proposals have now gone in to potential funders, and more are in the pipeline, using some of the ideas earlier proposed to N'l.CB We intend to have a business plan and a marketing strategy in place by the end of the year. The staff structure has been reorganised to allow stall to carry out such work more effectively. One major setback to our work on several fronts was the loss of our (»EF project Landrover in November 2000. Very fortunately no-onc was injured when the vehicle rolled near Sagarui tow n and was extensively damaged. The Landrover itself has been written - off by oui insurers and w e are in the process ol obtaining a replacement This ts likely to take some time and there w ill inevitably lx.- some disruption of programmes as a icsii It 15 EANHS 8uMn. H»»W I». Numf— • * Other members' activities continued very successfully this last year, with a lull progtfupmc of short and long outings, plant, insect and tree walks, and evening lectures and videos. Much to my regret. I rarely have a chance to participate in these myself, but there seems to have been something to suit almost everyone, and the feedback has generally Ixren highly positive. One of the recommendations of the Youth Workshop last year was to set up a Youth Committee, and this has been done Exactly w hat constitutes a youth has tactfully been side-stepped in their terms ol reference. The important thing, though, is that an active group is meeting and coming up with good ideas as to how we can belter involve, and tap the potential of. our more youthful members. A membership recruitment programme targeting universities and colleges, including an illustrated talk on Nature Kenya, has been developed and Ix-gnn in October 2000. Kenyatta, Moi and Egerton Universities have all been visited, as well as ICII’I and 1 MT This has generated good publicity for Nature Kenya, and some new members too — the anticipation is that more will follow VT*uf>. Jf. f i J fOOl 16 Publications & Website We have not done so well with publications. An issue of Kenya Birds anti an issue of the new-styie Bulletin lx»th appeared, but there should have been two. Publications aren't easy. Once they cease to manifest regularly they tend to go into a downward, self- reinforcing spiral. which is tough to reverse Nevertheless we are doing our best to put things back on track, and appreciate the patience of the members in the meanwhile. The Journal, on the other hand, has made great progress in the past year. A bumper volume 87 appeared, dedicated to papers on the Eastern An- mountains: this ts a superb piece of work and will no doubt be a standard reference for years to come. VoL K8 arrived soon alter I would like to thank the many people who worked so hard to make the Journal a success. But I need to give special thanks to our editor. Lorna Dcpcw and to Benny Bytebier, joint editor, who have really pulled out all the stops to make sure that these volumes appeared. Benny has now left for Nellenl>ost h University to continue work ou Iris Ik* loved orchids; we shall miss him greatly but I am pleased in say that he has agreed to continue as Fditor-in-Chiel of the Journal This is very gtxxl news, and made possible by the wonders of modern communication— now that most business is conducted by e-mail, physical location is much less important than it used to be. We also have a fine new website — www naturekenya.org. The site's existence is thanks to the efforts of web designer Jake Kidde-Hansen. who generously volunteered a great deal of time to put it together, and continues to help us update it. The website provides a window on Nature Kenya for organisations that might wish to support us Its se< tire page is also proving useful ha those outside Kenya who wish to join, make donations or buy publications We would appreciate suggestions from members as to In nv we could improve the |Xtge and make it even more useful EANHSbutotn WUfr»Jf tlJ JOOf 17 Advocacy Across the Ixirder. Nature Uganda is making tremendous progress and doing work that everyone in the Society can he proud of ! should briefly mention their hosting of the Tenth Pan-African Ornithological Congress, in Kampala in September 2000. a major challenge that the Nature I iganda staff and volunteers rose to superbly. This was widely agreed to Ik- the best PAOC ever anti has dramatically increased the organisation's profile both inside and outside Uganda. Nature Kenya itself continues to make a considerable advocacy input to many national processes and issues, too many to list here today. There Is no doubt that we are now widely recognised and respected as an organisation that makes objective, constructive and technically solid contributions. It was particularly gratifying to note Kenya's accession to AHWA (the A trican -Eurasian Water bird Agreement ) earlier this year, a process initiated and pushed along by your Society, At the Kenya Government's imitation we also loruied pan ot the small naiional delegation lo llu i omenlion mi lliologit.il Dim isii> sMibsi.h.iix 1 m l\ on s. it'iililit let Iiiii. al ami I .-, htiologu al \dv n e < In n «- 1 known as SIIM'I \ n« *1 •|in»« the acronym to end all acronyms, but close). This followed on from our successful panicipation In COP 5 of CRD, and is another indication of the seriousness with which Nature Kenya's input is taken. While this recognition is encouraging, it remains essentially at the technical level Unfortunately, high-level decision-making still often brushes aside environmental concerns, as evidenced by the Government's recent step to de- gazette a substantial portion of Kenya’s forest estate. Through the Kenya Forests Working Group and our own site-support groups, we have been very active in the campaign to have this startling move reversed. Unfortunately there still seems little promise of this happening, and the environmental consequences are likely to impact on all of us. As Francis Bacon pointed out nearly 400 years ago, “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed”. It is frustrating that those who are presently determining our future refuse to open their eyes to this reality In the long term, of course, tills simply underlines the importance ul the work that your Nociciv in «l« ting lo spread awareness • •I ihe extraordinary value . omplf vii\ and beauty ol namial s\ stems CAUKS Autafln mm* Jf. NunO« r 4 * WO 18 ITEMS FOR SALE EANHS Publications Available at Nature Kenya offices or order using the payment form at our website www.naturekenya.org Some publications also available at the Natural History Book Service, Mailorder Bookstore, 2 -3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, UK nhbs@nhbs.co.uk www.nhbs.com Checklists Price 100 A each Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Nairobi including Nairobi National Park Check-list of the Birds of Kenya Checklist of the Birds of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Check-list of the Mammals of East Africa Nairobi Arboretum Guidebook Price 350/- The Arboretum guidebook describes its history, landscape and biodiversity and how people are using it. EAHHS ButtmOn Vnt^mu 31. Numtnr 1 A ? J001 19 Important Bird Areas in Kenya by L.A. Bennun and P. Njoroge Price 1000/- also available at nhbs Journal of East African Natural History AJournal of Biodiversity Eastern Arc Mountains issue Price 2500/- also available at nhbs Scopus Volumes 21 & 22 Price 500/- each Subscribe for Volume 23 and purchase your back issues! Upland Kenya Wild Flowers by A.D.Q. Agnew and S. Agnew Price 1500/- also available at nhbs Kenya Birds coming soon! Car sticker Price 100/- %Natur g Kenya T E«»t Afrlc* Natural History Society Long-crested Eagle Lapel Pin Price 100/- 20 fAMKS Bu«Mr< Vok>mo it Nwb* I & 7 KWf Nature Kenya Supporting Sponsor members Alan Dixson Alison Wilkinson Andrew Duncan Anthony Archer Benny Bytebior Christopher Evorard Christopher Thouless Esmond Martin Gale Paul George McKmght J H E. Leakey Jane Barnley James Brooks Joan Root John Fox Jonathan Moss Lowrenco Yumbya Leo Niskanen Leonard K Wood Leonard Okeya Lucilo Ford Mark Mallalieu Mary K Mmol Mika Odido Moffat Mwangi Muchane Gichuru Neil Wilisher Norman Searle Onesmas Kahindi Pauline Johnson Peter Hime Philip Hechle Quentin McConnell Rafiki Africa Richard Leakey Soeto Ruparol Shnti Bmdra Sulyn Talbot Sunny Bmdra Susan Giddings Susan Devorell TB Muckle Terry Stevenson Thomas Tomich Tom Butynski Trevor Sankey Truman Young Washington Ayiemba 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 (Mau Narok Molo Grasslands IBA) Club 300 Foundation for Bird Protection (Mukurwe-inr Valley IBA) People s Trust for Endangered Species (Lake Naivasha IBA) Whitley Awards Foundalion (Biodiversity Parks Project) UNDP COMPACT Programme (Ml Kenya IBA) Wild Life Conservalion Society (Kikuyu Escarpment IBA) UNEP/ DEWA (Kikuyu Escarpment IBA) BP Conservation Programme (Kikuyu Escarpment IBA) Ill The EANHS Bulletin is a printed magazine 'ssued twice yearly, which exists for the publication of short notes, articles, letters, and reviews on biodiversity. 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- maii messages are also welcome. P'ease send to the Nature Kenya office at the following address: Nature Kenya P O. Box 44486 GPO 00100 Nairobi KENYA 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, Fleur Ng weno, at the Nature Kenya address or by e-mail fleur@africaonline co.ke. 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) 3749957 / 3746090 or fax: 254 (2) 3741049 or office@naturekenya.org Other Society Publications Front cover: Important Bird Areas Site Support Groups from local communities, mobilize for conservation 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 at the address above. Scopus is an ornithological journal published by the Bird Committee f the EANHS. All correspondence t^ould be sent to the Nature Kenya office at the address above. Think all aloes are soothing ' Think again, page Printed by Fototorm EANHS Bulletin Volume 31, no. 1 & 2 • 2001 Contents Life All Around Us by Fleur Ng weno 1 Nematodes, in soil, in sea. in plants, and in you Vulture Monitoring in Kenya by Munir Virani 6 Poisonous Aloes by L.E Newton ° Short Communications Bulbul Talk by Astrid von Kalckstein 10 Review For the Waterproof Identification Sheets to accompany A GUIDE TO THE SEASHORES OF EASTERN AFRICA AND THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS by Sally Crook 1 1 2001 CHAIRMAN S REPORT 91th Annual General Meeting of the East Africa Natural History Society 12 ITEMS FOR SALE 18 Editor Lorna Depew Layout and design Catherine Ngarachu Nature A «vn'«7 v Bird Life