Natur eKenya, The EANHS, Action for Biodiversity Conservation

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Newsletter

MAY, 1999

THERE IS STRENGTH IN
NUMBERS - INTRODUCE YOUR
SOCIETY TO FRIENDSI

ACTIVITIES

THE EANHS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY 10 MAY

5.30 p.m. at the Louis Leakey M. Hall
National Museums of Kenya

Also featuring a video: Living
dangerously - The Warthog and the
Teabag'. The adventures of a female
wart hog on the Hessels' farm between
Mount Kenya and the Aberdare.
Narrated by Richard Briers.

Wednesday Morning Birdwalks:

Bird watching walks at sites in and
around Nairobi. Meet at the National
Museum car park every Wednesday at
8:45 am. Return about 12:30 p.m.
Those who are not members of
Nature Kenya or Kenya Museum
Society can get temporary
membership at Kshs 100 per
birdwa/k. Payable on arrival at the
car park.

The Big Sit Ini
Sunday 16 May

Unlike the usual bird 'walk' or Pot Luck
this should be an attractive change and challenge.

A Big Sit is a team effort in which the
objective is to identify as many birds species
that can be seen or heard within 12 hours.

The difference lies in the limitation of the area from which you will be
allowed to observe.

Participants must follow the following rules:

1. Area. Birds recorded may be either seen or heard but all counting
must be conducted within a circle with a diameter of no more than 17
ft/ 5.2 m whose centre is a single designated point.

2. Time. a. All counting must be within a single 12-hour period, b. A
time-out must be designated when not all team members are in the
defined circle, c. Teams do not have to birdwatch for the full 12 hours
but specify what time you began and ended.

3. Teams. A team may be composed of two or more members.

4. Conduct. Each team member must make every reasonable effort to
identify personally and to help other team members to identify every
species counted by the team.

5. The Results. Send your results including the species, the site and
team members to the Nature Kenya office to arrive by the end of
May. Any species needing a rarities description must be supported
accordingly. Checklists are available from the office.

Suggestions for suitable sites are welcome. A mixture of wetland, forest
and open ground is a good combination. A good all-around view will increase
your chances. Look up on birds that may be in your chosen area.

Participants will meet at the National Museum car park on Sunday 16 May
at 7:00 a.m. for registration, so come with your suggestions and form a
team.

Remember to pack your lunch, fill your thermos and good luck. The team
with the most species will be crowned Big Sit Champions.

Our grateful acknowledgement goes to the Boo Mathews/ Bedfordshire
Bird Club who gave us the idea and will also be birdwatching on a Big Sit on
the same day, in England.

SUBCOMMITTEES

FRIENDS OF THE NAIROBI
ARBORETUM:

Forest Sump on Saturday 8 May
Games by selected schools in the
Arboretum. Prizes to be won by the
most eco-aware students.

Arboretum guided Tree Walks on the
last Monday of every month i.e. 31
May from 9:30 a.m. Meet at the new
FONA offices beside the Girl Guides
HQ.

World Environment Day June 5

Ecological festival to mark this day at
the Arboretum. Organised by FONA,
Uvumbuzi Club and UNEP.

SUCCULENTA:

Saturday 29 to Tuesday 1 June
Trip to Cottar's Kimana Camp

An opportunity to visit Loitokitok and
perhaps the Chuyulu Hills.
Accommodation is available for 5
doubles at Ksh 1500/- per person per
night and Ksh 500/- per person per
night for those bringing their own
sleeping bags, tents and nets. Bring
your own food and drinks.

Contact Maria Dodds on tel: 882828 or
Dee Roberts on 891338 to book
accommodation and liaise on food and
transport details.

Succulenta Annual General Meeting

Saturday 26 June at the Roberts'
House, Langata, 2:30 p.m.

ARABUKO SOKOKE (COAST)

FOREST WALKS-Wednesday 26 May.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Gede Forest
Station.

BIRD WALKS-Saturday 1 May.
Starting at 6:30 a.m. from the Gede
Forest Station. Organised by Arabuko
Sokoke Forest Guides Association.

EXCURSIONS

OFF THE BEATEN
TRACK

^ CAMPING IN NGURUMAN
Saturday 29 May to Tuesday 1 June

Organised with John Kirk

Tentative programme of main activities

Sat 29 Depart at 9:00 a.m. to
Olkirimatian - about 120 kms. Set up
camp at site adjacent to the Uaso
Nyiro river. Afternoon birdwalk along
the river or tracking with MaaSai
guides. After dinner a night game
drive.

Sun 30 Climb up to the Nguruman
Escarpment, an ascent of about 3 hrs.
This is an all day activity and hard
work but you are rewarded with
breathtaking scenery and a swim in the
river on the top. John warns parents
that this may be an extreme venture
for children.

Local birdwatching an alternative.
After dinner, entertainment by our
Maasai hosts.

Mon 1 Drive to see Lake Natron, a
distance of about 50 kms, perhaps
visiting northern swamp and hot
springs near Magadi.

Tue 2 Break camp to leave by 10 a.m.

Cost per person:

3800/- if you need a tent to be

provided for you or

3300/- if you have your own tent.

This cost includes food, camping fees
and guides.

Same rate applies to children.

Minivan cost per person:

2000 /-

Minimum 10 persons
Maximum 24 persons including children
Booking deadline: Monday 10 May.
Payment must be made on booking or
else it is not confirmed and booking
will be given to next paying member.
Members participate at their own
risk and Nature Kenya takes no
responsibility for loss or injury.

tanch entrance fee to be paid direct
on arrival - anticipated at 200/- per
jerson per day. Check with the
office closer to the date on fees
charged for the vehicle.

NOTES:

Lunch on the 29 th is not included -
bring a packed lunch. Meals will
consist of a big breakfast and dinner
and a very light lunch (if you think you
need more for lunch bring your own
snacks).

Carry:

• 4,1 litre water bottles which can
be carried during the day. Drinking
water will be available for refilling
but it will help if you can bring as
much of your own as you can.

• Knife, fork, spoons, cup, plate, mug

• Sleeping bag

• Spot light, if possible, for the
night game drive.

Fuel is available in Magadi Town.

Remember camp conditions will be
basic. Bring whatever you feel will be
necessary for yourself i.e. mattress,
basin, camp chair.

Take precautions against malaria.

Departure: 9:00 a.m. promptly from
the National Museum car park,
ARRIVE AT 8:30 A.M. FOR
BRIEFING.

MAY DIARY
Wed 5 Birdwalk

Sat 8 Forest Gump at Arboretum

Wed 12 & 19 Birdwalk

Sun 16 Bit Bird Sit In

Wed 26 Arabuko Sokoke walk &
Nairobi Birdwalk

Sat 29-2 June Trips to Kimana and
Nguruman

Mon 31 Tree Walk

October 2-3 WORLD BIRDWATCH

AAR SUPPORTS THE
EAST AFRICA NATURAL
HISTORY SOCIETY

♦

2

MUSEUMS AND MUSEUM SITES

O I o r g e s a i I i e

Loma Abungu, Coordinator,

Regional Centre of Archaeology

This Acheulian culture site is located
about 90 kilometres south-west of
Nairobi on the road to Magadi. The
drive is beautiful and panoramic leading
up to the shoulder of the Ngong Hills
and descending onto the floor of the
Rift Valley. The site of Olorgesailie,
donated to the Kenyan Government by
the Maasai community, covers an area
of 52 acres. First discovered by Mary
Leakey in 1942, this site was
excavated continuously between 1942
and 1947. The area continues to be
under investigation to this date, with a
team from the Smithsonian
Institution, USA, making annual
surveys and excavations. Olorgesailie is
the largest of the National Museums’
prehistoric sites, and is characterised
by in situ displays of prehistoric
materials, including numerous hand
axes and fossilised skeletons of
extinct species of elephant and a
hippopotamus.

The small but excellent site museum
at Olorgesailie was recently renovated,
and holds exhibits on human evolution,
stone tools, and site formation. A
raised boardwalk has been built around
an impressive in situ display of stone
tools and animal fossils, all dating from
1.2 million years ago. Also at the site is
a large picnic shade and four camping
cottages, which can be booked through
NMK headquarters in Nairobi.

NEWSLETTER TITLE

Thank you for all your entries.

We now close the competition and
begin the search for that winning
name!

OFFICE HOURS:Monday to Friday
9:00am to 3:00pm
ADDRESS: Box 44486, NAIROBI
E -MAIL: eanhs@africaonline.co.ke
TEL:(02) 74 99 57/ 74 60 90
FAX:(02) 74 10 49

BIRD HOTLINE 749957

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania
LEAD-COLOURED FLYCATCHER
BIRD OF THE MONTH

Uncommon in riverine and acacia woods,
seen by Fleur Ng'weno, Willis Okech,
Shailesh Patel and Jeremy High MARICH
PASS FIELD STUDIES CENTRE/ MAR
Tufted Duck, Willis Okech. LERAI CAMP/

Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Red-Fronted
Barbet, Wed. Morning Birdwalk,
PROPOSED BIODIVERSITY PARK/ MAR
Levaillant's Cuckoo, Bateleur. Chris Hill A
Helen Barbera, NAIROBI N. PARK/ FEB
60 - 80 Lesser Kestrels, Chris Hill,
OL'MOROGI RANCH (NAIVASHA) /MAR
Black-billed Weaver, Bernard Chege,
SUBUKIA FOREST (NAKURU)/ MAR
Over 100 Grey Crowned Cranes in ploughed
field, Narinder Heyer, ZIWA/ Apr

White-Crested Turaco, Black Cuckoo,
African Scops Owl, Broad-billed Roller,
Olivaceous Warbler, Black-headed
Gonolek, birdwatchers on trip to MARICH
PASS/ MAR

Since AUGUST'98 on NANDI ROAD,
KAREN, John Dawson reports
the 100th species seen in (or
from!) his garden. Includes a
pale phase Booted Eagle and a
flock of about 10 Lesser
Kestrel, Green Sandpiper and
Red-throated Pipit, Lesser
Honeyguide, White-starred
Robin, Dark-capped Yellow
Warbler, Sulphur-breasted
Bush-shrike, Thick-billed
Seedeater, and Brown-backed
Woodpecker. The 100th species?

A Little Sparrowhawk!

Please send unusual
sightings to 'Kenya Birds'
where if accepted they are
published with full
reference.

SOCIETY NOTICES

PALMS OF THE AMAZON:

A Botanical Tour
Leader: Dr. Andrew Henderson

Explore the main Amazon river
downstream from Manaus.

Along the river, and in nearby forests,
are a variety of species of
Astrocaryum, Attalea, Bactris,
Oesmoncus, Euterpe, Geonoma,
Hyospathe, Iriartella, Mauritia. Also
animals including howler monkeys,
dolphins, caiman, piranha and sloths.

Planned for August l-12 th 1999. Write
to Institute of Systematic Botany, The
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
10458, USA.

BUSH CRAFT: Weather and Clouds
from The Wilderness Guardian

Cumulonimbus: the signpost for
turbulent bumpy air. Thunder,
lightning, snow high up, hail and
heavy rain lower.

Altocumulus: if in front of cumulus
clouds, thundery weather coining.
Stratocumulus: follows the day’s
cumulus clouds. A clear night ahead
over land.

Cirrus: feathery cirrus means fine
weather. Mare’s tail and a halo
around the sun means storms and
rain soon.

Stratus and nimbostratus: drizzle and
persistant rain.

Cumulus, fair weather.

Cirrostratusr. rainy weather likely,
especially if altostratus appears.
Cirrocumulus. rainy weather is
probable, esp. if they turn to
cirrostratus.

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