East Africa Natural History Society 94th Annual General Meeting & Members Evening Get-together Thu 13 May '04, 4:00 p.m. Louis Leakey Hail, Museum, Nairobi mruzAusv corner An Unusal Wednesday Morning Bird-walk Faridah Noor The Wednesday bird-walk of February 18, 2004, would provide a most unusual drama. Fleur Ng'weno, the leader of the walk organized by Nature Kenya, suggested we visit the area adjacent to the Carnivore Restaurant and Nairobi National Park so we could also check out the wild flowers that would have emerged due to the unseasonal rains that Nairobi had been experiencing. The hillside is generally dry, but the rocky terrain allows the formation of temporary pools during the rains - supporting all kinds of plants and animals. In an hour and a half, we had already recorded more than 47 bird species, several of them migrants. We observed with delight the beauty of the wild flowers, while Fleur enlightened us with the botanical names and characteristics of the plants. In a temporary rock pool we came upon 'fairy shrimps' - crustaceans that emerge from dormancy during the rains. These crustaceans live, breed and lay their eggs in a brief season. The eggs lie dormant during the dry season, till the next rainfall. We noted various colourful dragonflies. Continued on page 4 This really is your opportunity to get closer to Nature Kenya. Meet other members, representives from committees and projects, field and office staff, Executive Committee members, volunteers: they are all there, ready to help you with your queries, to tell you more about Nature Kenya and its work. Programme 4:00 p.m. Tea/Coffee (You are welcome to contribute to the tea table - thank you!) 4:30 p.m. Convene in Hall Agenda ... Minutes of the 93rd AGM ... Matters arising from the minutes ... Chairman's Report ... Honorary Treasurer's Report ... Appointment of Honorary Auditor ... Launch of Museum Bird List ... Committees and Projects Presentations ... Any other business of which due notice in the form of the Resolution to be proposed has been given to the Honorary Secretary, signed by not less than 2 members, not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting ... Election of office bearers and Trustees Evening Get-together 6:00 p.m. Barbeque & cash bar Proposed Subscription Rates Full 1000 Single Sponor 3000* Family 1500 Student 500 Full time & Undergraduates Pensioners 500 Long-standing members Institutional 1000* Libraries, schools, dubs Corporate 9000 Corporate Plus 20000 Companies, businesses, institutions * No change from previous rate ' - T, ' . . - ■ I ' WM Notice is here given for proposals for inclusion, repeal, and addition in the EANHS Constitution; and for new subscription rates For Constitution (draft text): Trustees (a) All land, buildings and other immovable property and all investment as securities that shall be acquired by the Society shall be vested in the names of not less than three Trustees who shall be members of the Society and shall be appointed at a General Meeting for a period of one year. The Trustees will be drawn from among the office-bearers and members of the Executive Committee elected at each Annual General Meeting (AGM). On retirement, such Trustees shall be eligible for re-election. A General Meeting shall have the power to remove any of the Trustees and all vacancies occurring by removal, resignation or death shall be filled at the same or next General Meeting. (b) The Trustees shall pay all income received from property vested in the Trustees to the Treasurer. Any expenditure in respect of such property, which in the opinion of the Trustees, is necessary or desirable shall be reported by the Trustees to the Executive Committee, which shall authorize the expenditure of such moneys as it thinks fit. Section V Subscriptions Repeal ‘2) Any Member who joins after 30 June in any year shall pay only half the subscription for that year and shall thereafter be entitled to all relevant privileges and publications.' Section III Headquarters Add 'Nature Kenya is the East Africa Natural History Society in Kenya. Nature Uganda is the East Africa Natural History Society in Uganda. NATURE KENYA, P. O. Box 44486, 00100 GPO Nairobi Tel: 3749957 / 3746090 Fax: 3741049 E-mail: office@naturekenya.org e-vmuoi sicr By Ian MacKay and Fleur Ng'weno N£W$ VP PAT£! Forest Policy 2004 The draft Forest Policy 2004 is now in its final stages of revision. Its broad objective is to increase the forest and tree cover in the country. The new Forest Policy will guide the development of farm forestry, dry-land forestry, private sector and community involvement and management and reforms in the management of forest resources. Watch future issues of Nature net for more details! Trees for Sale! 40,000 seedlings are ready for planting: Grevillea robusta (Mikima) Eucalyptus sa/igna (Blue Gum) Cassuarina (Whistling pine) Cuppressus lusitanica (Cypress) Potted @ 10/- each Bare rooted @ 5/- each Available from Kereita Forest Station Contact Julius Kimani 0722 220868 or Peter Manji 0722 291679 email keenvo@yahoo.com Indigenous tree seedlings (mainly Prunus africana ) also available IN T7t£ MAIN There are some intriguing news items sent by email. Here is one - Flying for the Environment in Africa A well known conservationist from the World Conservation Society, will be doing a 600 hour, low level aerial transect across Africa transversing every major eco-reglon on the continent to identify places that are still ecologically intact. Bate/eurs, a non profit organisation that flies for the environment, will provide support, Bateleurs is requesting your support in this by recommending places you consider to be the wildest place in different eco-regions. They are also going to need a whole lot of local assistance. For more information visit their website www.bateleurs.org where you can also complete a questionnaire or e-mail pete@ecoassist.co.za Moon, May 04 May 4th - Full Moon - Lunar Eclipse! The sun and earth and our moon are aligned on May 4 th - resulting in a lunar eclipse. The shadow of the earth will slowly sweep across the surface of the moon. The eclipse starts at 9:50 p.m. and lasts for about an hour. In southern Africa it will be a total eclipse, however it will not be total here. May 11 Last Quarter: May 19 New Moon: May 27 First Quarter May Stars The constellation of Hydra, the Water Snake, reaches far across the sky, just south of overhead. Hydra contains the longest string of stars in any constellation. About halfway along Hydra, a group of stars form a cup shape. This constellation is called Crater. Next to it are four stars in the constellation Corvus, the Crow. Crux, the Southern Cross, is low in the southern sky. There are two very bright stars to the left (east) of the Southern Cross. They are part of the constellation Centaurus, the Centaur. Rigil Kentaurus (also known as Alpha Centauri) in Centaurus is our nearest stellar neighbour, at about 4.3 light years away. The head of the constellation Scorpius is rising in the east. The bright reddish giant star Antares, the eye of Scorpius, is just south of the moon on the 6th. Planets, May 04 The planets Venus, Mars and Saturn are close together in the northwest, over the sunset. On May 9 ,h they line up in a near perfect row. Venus is at its brightest on May 2 nd . On the 22 nd , it is near the horizon and close to the moon in the evening twilight. Mars is midway between Venus and Saturn on May 9 ,h . At the end of the month, Mars and Saturn are very close together in the constellation of Gemini. Saturn is the brighter, larger object and has a more orange colored glow. Jupiter is also shining brightly, in isolation in the eastern sky, almost overhead. It is very large and easy to find. The satellites of Jupiter are fun to watch though binoculars! (The magnification factor is far less important than simply using binoculars with large lenses. The larger the lenses the more light can be gathered. Of course lens power helps, but if the magnification is too high the image will just be hard to keep Steady). Hydra, Corvus and Crater A story from ancient Greece The Greek God Apollo once sent a raven to fetch him a cup of water from a fountain some distance away. The raven flew at once to the fountain, but seeing a luscious fig tree just putting forth its fruit, he could not resist the temptation to wait for the fruit to ripen. So he stayed, waiting comfortably among the shady leaves of the fig tree until the fruit was fully ripe and he had scoffed it all. He then prepared to return to Apollo - with the cup full of water - but suffering from a guilty consience and realizing his very late arrival would not go unnoticed he returned with a water snake in his claws, which he had seized beside the fountain. He explained to his master that the creature had attacked him and was therefore the cause of his delay. Being wise and all-seeing, Apollo naturally knew this for the lie it was. In his anger he placed all three of them, the raven, the snake, and also the cup full of water, among the stars, carefully arranged so the serpent keeps guard over the cup of water and the poor raven, try as he might, can never get near enough to rescue his thirst. And that is why, of all the birds, the raven does not carry water to his fledgings. kzoivi^ak activities SUNDAY BIRDWATCH Members meet at the National Museum^ Nairobi car park at 9:00 a m. the third Sunday of every month. I.e.16 May. The members decide where to go. Bring lunch TREE WALK Guided Tree Walks in the Arboretum on the second Saturday and last Monday, i.e. 8 4 31 May from 9 = 30 a.m. Meet at the Arboretum gate. Those who are not members of FONA or Nature Kenya pay Ksh 100/- fee on arrival at the gate. WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDWALKS Bird watching walks at sites in and around Nairobi. Meet at the National Museum car park every Wednesday at 8 45 a m. Return about 12:30 p m Those who are not members can get temporary membership at Ksh 100 per birdwalk, payable on arrival at the car park. ARABUKO-SOKOKE(COAST) The Saturday birdwatch with the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association is on the first Saturday of each month i.e. 1 May, at 6:30 a.m. from the Visitor Centre. Gede. Cost' 100/- per person. KWS fees may now apply (100/- Citizens, 500/- Residents) FFJ Bird Walk (Coast) : riends of Fort Jesus birdwalks are held rhe third Saturday of each ™nth,re.l5 May Please call Marlene Reid on (041) 49 648 to confirm Ngong Road Forest Walks (Nairobi) The Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary Trust Nature walks are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month i.e. 1 4 15 May, at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the stairs leading to the Restaurant at the Racecourse Lake Victoria Sunset Birders (Kisumu) The Lake Victoria Sunset Birders are a Nature Kenya Site Support Group and organise bird walks at sites in and around Kisumu every Friday of the month. For further details call 035 42952 or email wck@vicweb.net P£C-LAMT! ON Nature Kenya does not accept any responsibility whatsoever in respect of negligence of any of its staff, volunteers or members organising the outings/trips or for any loss, injury, death or damage to property. PcJitoK) Catherine Ngarachu v'' Irrigation frequency may be reduced by 50% Limits losses of water and nutrient due to leaching Reduces evaporation from the soil v'' Improves the physical properties of compact soils through aeration v'' Enhances plant growth. Water and nutrients are continuously available in the root zone for optimal absorption by plants. S Protects the environment against drought and groundwater pollution Degrades naturally in soils Used in forestry, tree crops, lawns, gardens, horticulture and floriculture. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING. & Orgamx Limited TV:t Par Yf tr\ Ev.yuftitHil P. O. Box 14494 Nairobi, 00800 Kenya TeJ: *-254 20 3741482 Fax: *254 20 3742605 e-mail; info®organix.co.ke www.orgontx.co.ke Mammal Sighting 3749957 Striped Ground Squirrel, two running across the track, Karura Forest edge near Shell-BP Sports Club 3 March 2004 Bird Records * 3 Eurasian Nightjars and few Grey-rumped Swallows at Ruiru Sports Club seen by Wed’ mor. Bird Walk 24/03/04. * ’Nairobi Pipit’ and Bar-throated Apalis on the Chyulu Hills seen by Brian Finch, Quentin and Patricia Luke 26-28/03/04. * Eurasian Nightjars at Splash grounds seen by Wed' mor. Bird Walk 31/03/04. * dark morph Eurasian Honey Buzzard, 60 Forbe's-Watsons Swifts, Collared Palm Thrushes, Brown Noddy around Shimoni seen by Brian Finch, Richard and Ann Bishop, Simon Vale and John Hornbuckle 3-4/04/04. * 1000 Madagascar Pratincoles, one Rufous Bush Chat, Bare-eyed Thrush at Sabaki River mouth seen by Brian Finch, Richard and Ann Bishop, Simon Vale and John Hornbuckle 6/04/04. CL- ASSIflEJ-PS CAMPFIRE IN THE BUSH Hiking and camping in Kajiado 15th - 16th May 2004 Cost 2,700 pp (res) 3,500 pp (non-res) (includes transport and meals) For more details contact Bertha at Under Open Sky Adventures 0733-783319 or 020-2734079 (Tue-Thurs, 10am to 3pm) Jambo Apartments, Argwings Kodhek Road Flat No. B3 Email: othach@yahoo.co.uk Reach over 1000 members by advertising in Nature Net Rates for Classifieds: • Up to 25 words 250/- • Up to 50 words 500/- Ads • 1/4 page @ 1750/- • 1/2 page @ 3000/- with image +500/- 3 OifZASSKDOTS Together for birds and people BirdLife International Conservation Achievement Award 2004 A.warded to (David Ngala At thi' World Conservation Conference arui Global Partnership Mooting by BirdLife International Council 9 March 2G0-1 Chair of Council Naturalist’s Corner, from page 1 During our walk we also observed workers digging across the fence inside the national park. No ranger was in sight! The men were 10 meters front the fence in the tall grass. In jest I mentioned that we should watch for drama in case the lions got them. Half an hour later as we walked uphill we saw two lions in the park. They were moving from Hyena Dam in our direction. Then they turned and seemed to head in the direction of the workers. We could see the lions clearly as we all had binoculars and the grassland of the park was at a lower elevation than we were, allowing a panoramic view. We also guessed that the workers, who were on the same level as the lions, would not have seen the approaching cats, as the grass probably obscured their view. We decided to send two volunteers to run down the hill and warn the men. It seemed like an eternity before they were close enough to call out to the workers. As we watched, one man sitting on the dirt track seemed to react to the call and ran to join his friends who were digging. We were concerned that these men get to safety, so no harm would come to them or the lions. While we waited, a Maasai herdsman climbed onto the fence to call the men, but still they didn't move. Finally, as the David Ngala receives Award at the BirdLife World Conservation Conference Ngala is an outstanding personality in the conservation of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. He grew up near it, worked in it as a driver for the Forest Department, studied its birds, and worked tirelessly for its preservation. Among his many contributions is the establishment of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association and the Forest-Adjacent Dwellers Association (FADA), a local support group. lions neared and came into their view, they scrambled fast through the fence and out of the park. On seeing the men escape to the other side of the park fence, the lions turned around and headed back towards Hyena dam. We didn't have any cameras with us, but I have a photoff ront page) of hungry lions in Nairobi National Park taken at this time last year. Wednesday's pair looked much healthier than those, but we hope they haven't been fattening themselves on itinerant workers labouring unguarded on the other side of the fence! Nature Kenya Membership form Yes! i Renew Start my Nature Kenya membership MAILING ADDRESS (BLOCK LETTERS) Surname First Name Address Ms/Mr/Title (O) Tel (H) Mobile . Email (OPTIONAL - but useful to us in planning) Occupation Age Bracket (tick) under 21( ) 21-35( ) 36-50( Country of Origin Would you like us to share your contacts Yes/ NO over 50( ) For Official Use Only Sub No. Mode Due Date Recpt. No. Recpt Date Ksh Per Year 800 Enter Amount 3000 1000 300 300 1000 MEMBERSHIP TYPE Full Sponsor Family Pensioners Students (Full time & undergraduate) Institutional (Libraries, schools, clubs) Corporate (check with the office) ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Kenya Birds (please tick if you would like to receive this Bird magazine) Free of charge 1000 500 1500 400 Journal of FA. Natural History Scopus (Ornithological Journal) World Birdwatch (the BirdLife International magazine) Succulenta East Africa Friends of Nairobi Arboretum Single - 400/-, Student - 250/-, School or Club - 800/- DONATIONS Help us to do even more! 5000/ 8000/ Other Total t__| If you live reside outside of Kenya please refer to www.naturekenya.org