nature ^5ik SEU W^s RECEIVE! I ^ Membership 2000 U4>C> members RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO NATURE KENYA It is that time of year when all subscription renewals are due and we encourage you to continue your support of Nature Kenya. Nature Kenya is about botany, birds, bugs, and their conservation but it is also about people - the people who support its aims, the people who play a part, the people who are its members. These members are people who share the same concerns for our environment and believe that Nature Kenya gives hope for the future. The number of people who support the society as members is growing and now number one thousand one hundred and forty. Our self appointed 'millenium challenge' is two thousand members by the end of the year 2000. This is important not of itself but because these members give the organisation a stronger voice and profile in conservation and enhance our educational capacity, allowing us to reach our common goal for biodiversity conservation, decade after decade. What goals have we been achieving over the last year ? ♦ Nature Kenya has been influential in the reviewing of the Environmental and Forestry Bills. ♦ Nature Kenya organised a workshop on the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement(AEWA) with participation from government, NGOs and private sector, to raise awareness of this useful international agreement. The Proceedings are available from the office, « Nature Kenya now works directly with eight Site Support Groups around the country as the Important Bird Areas programme gains momentum, building grassroots support for conservation. The IBA staff facilitated two grants from donors to Site Support Groups. ♦ A busier schedule of field outings, birdwalks and other outdoor activities such as the Waterbird Counts and World Birdwatch play a major role in education and environmental awareness and involve thousands of people. « Through the efforts of Friends of Nairobi Arboretum the MasterPlan that will tranform and modernise the Nairobi Arboretum has been approved by the Forest Department and its Ministry. These are a few of the activities of a very busy year and we could not have done this without you. I extend to you the appreciation of the Executive Committee and staff for your support. We are excited and ready for this new millenium and the many possibilities and challenges that the passage of time will bring. However, how well we take to these new possibilities, meet these challenges, overcome the hurdles depends on you - so please don't wait, renew your subscription! Catherine Ngarachu - Office Manager 4 Newsletter Editor Kenya's Number One Birdwatcher Receives RSPB Award In October our Honorary Secretary, Fleur Ng'weno, was honoured by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Britain. The RSPB awarded her a lifetime achievement medal for her “outstanding contribution to bird and wildlife conservation in Kenya". Like Nature Kenya, the RSPB is a partner of BirdLife International, and has given important support to our Society. Fleur began the Wednesday Morning Birdwalk for East Africa Natural History Society members back in 1971. Since then, she has been the most regular leader of the Wednesday walks and mid-month Sunday outings, missing only a few when she is out of town. At an average of 50 a year, that is over 1,400 bird-watching trips! These weekly and monthly outings have served to nurture nascent interest in the observation of nature, and introduced generations of Kenyans and visitors to the diverse birdlife and landscapes of our capital city. Fleur is currently chairman of the Bird Committee of the East Africa Natural History Society. Photo shows Julian Pettifer, President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK, presenting Fleur with the medal at the RSPB ASM. Seasons 6reetings to alf our 2t)em6ers & a Wonderful New Millenium New Year NATURE KENYA SIFT SUBSCRIPTION Take out a Nature Kenya subscription for someone of your choice as a Christmas gift (use a separate form). We will send to them: a membership card for the year 2000 with our colour brochure and this newsletter, and a Christmas card with your message (please provide message). Note: The office will be closed from Thursday 23 December through to Tuesday A January 00 NATURE KENYA, P. O. Box 444B6, Nairobi. Tel: 749957 / 746090 Fax: 741049 E-mail: eanhs@africaonline.co.ke Evening Talks f Videos The Life and Migration of Sockeye Salmon Sockeye salmon have nourished people since they could fish. Born in the freshwater streams of Canada, Alaska and Russia, spending up to three years in the vastness of the north Pacific Ocean, they then return back to the waters of their birth, turning brillant crimson, spawning and dying before their eggs are even hatched. This not to be missed talk with slides will be given by Rupert Watson who has written and published a book on 'Salmon, Trout <£ Charr of the World' Mon 14 February '00 in the NMK Natural Sciences Seminar Room, 5.30 p.m. Regular Monthly Activities WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDWALK5 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 can get temporary membership at Kshs ,100 per birdwalk, payable on arrival at the car park. Birdwalks continue during the holidays. On Society field trips, Nature Kenya does not accept any responsibility whatsoever in respect of negligence of any of its staff, volunteers or members organising the outing or for any for loss, injury, death or damage to property. POT LUCK OUTINGS Bird-watching outings held on every third Sunday of the month, i.e. 19 December 4 16 January. Bring a picnic lunch, binoculars, field guides, etc. and meet at 9:00 am at the National Museum car park. Those attending decide on the venue - hence “Pot Luck". TREE WALK Arboretum guided Tree Walks on the last Monday of every month i.e. 31 January from 9:30 a.m. Meet at the FONA offices beside the Girl Guides HQ. ARABUKO SOKOKE (COAST) FOREST WALKS - 26 January. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Gede Forest Station. BIRD WALKS - Saturday 4 December. Starting at 6:30 a.m. from the Gede Forest Station. Organised by Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association. Membership Excursions KENYA BIRDS FOR ALL MEMBERS There are many benefits to being a Nature Kenya member, such as the many opportunities for field trips, free entry to National Museums of Kenya and great discounts on publications. Another benefit is the EANH5 Bulletin. This publication is distributed free to members and although not always produced in time it is an important forum for members. Consisting of notes and articles from members, the Bulletin needs your input to keep going. Dudu A Bird watch at Olorgesailie Saturday 11 December ihe dudus we will be watching on this day are termites (Isoptera). This part of the excursion will be led by Julius Muli from the Entomology Department of the Museum who has been working on termites for many years. To participate you should do the following: - You must call the office to book. (Let us know if you are happy to give a ride to other participants, ) - Bring the cost of 100/- per person - to pay on arrival on Saturday 11 December. - Bring a picnic lunch, binoculars, field guides, etc. and meet at 7:00 am at the National Museum car park. - Bring also your membership card. ANNUAL WATERBIRD COUNTS Now, in conjunction with the Bird Committee, Nature Kenya will also offer ail members another publication: Kenya Birds. Kenya Birds deals especially with birds and bird-watching in Kenya and consists of one volume of two parts per year. If you have already paid for the next volume of Kenya Birds you may instruct the office to do one of the following: To send the volume to someone of your choice (please provide address) OR to use the dues towards a subscription or purchase of your choice. BECOME A SPONSOR MEMBER Even as inflation bites into income and Nature Kenya grows in leaps and bounds membership fees have not risen for several years. This is in part due to some institutional support to develop membership activities that your Society has received. In real terms, 'sponsor' membership comes closer to covering the full costs of membership services. Please renew at this level if you can! The provisional schedule for the January waterbird counts for 2000 is listed below. Experienced birders and those who can offer transport are invited to join the counts. Wed 5 Limuru and Manguo Fri 7 A Sat 8 Lake Bogoria Sat 8 A Sun 9 Lake Nakuru Wed 12 Dandora Sewage Works Wed 19 Nairobi National Park 4 Langata Wetlands Fri 21, Sat 22 A Sun 23 Lakes Elementaita, Oloiden, Sonachi 4 Naivasha Wed 26 Kenyatta University Ponds Fri 28, Sat 29 A Sun 30 Lakes Victoria A Magadi, Kenya Coast For more information contact Oliver Nasirwa or Alfred Owina, Ornithology Dept., National Museums of Kenya, tel: 742161/2/3/4 EXT. 263 SPONSOR KENYA BIRDS As a member, you will now receive Kenya Birds. However, if you can sponsor this publication it will help to us to also send it to schools and students. 7 World Birdwatch '99 Kenya Summary by Jean Sithalja-Mwlcigi Research Scientist and Records Officer. Ornithology Dept, National Museums of Kenya Thousands of Kenyans went birdwatching on October 2-3,1999. This was part of the World Birdwatch coordinated by BirdLife International. So far, the total for Kenya stands at 718 bird species (.Appendix four) seen over the weekend. These were recorded from eighty-two different localities countrywide (Appendix one), including twenty-six Important Bird Atzqs (IBAs). Seven out of the nine Kenyan Endemic species were recorded (Appendix two). We have received over 200 National Birdmap Checklists from hundreds of participants. These include school parties, IBA site support groups, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya members, tour guides, and other enthusiastic birders including the British High Commissioner! The Mombasa area along the Kenyan coast had the most watchers, with six hundred schoolchildren turning up for the event! Kenya's threatened birds are classified as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable. Three of the four critically endangered (and endemic) species — the Taita Thrush Turdus (olivaceus) hetleri, Taita Apalis Apalis (thoracica) fuscigularis, and Taita White-eye Zoosterops (poliogaster) silvanus — were recorded from the Ngangao forest fragment of the Taita Hills. The Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata, an African migrant and one of Kenya's two endangered bird species, was seen at the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Eight out of Kenya's eighteen vulnerable species were recorded. These are the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea (a flock of 20 birds at Mbita Point, Sindo); the Sokoke Pipit Anthus sokokensis (seen by the Arabuko- Sokoke team in the forest); Sharpe's Longclaw Macronyx sharpei (observed by the Friends of Kinangop team at the Kinangop plateau); Papyrus Yellow Warbler Chloropeta gracilirostris (seen by Nicodemus Nalianya's team at the shores of Lake Victoria); Aberdare Cisticola Cisticola aberdare (observed by Leon Bennun at "Trees” in North Kinangop); Turner's Eremomela Eremomela turneri (seen in Kakamega forest); Amani Sunbird Anthreptes pallidigaster and Clarke's Weaver Ploceus golandi (both observed by the Arabuko-Sokoke team in the forest). Birds that migrate from other areas included : two Malagasy migrants (MM), including one that occurs locally (mm) and forty-six African migrants (am). These included eleven species which have no resident or non-migratory individuals (AM). Seventy-four Palaearctic migrants from Europe and Asia were seen (PM), twelve of which are resident, non-migratory individuals (pm) (see Appendix three). Abbreviations Scarcity B fewer than 50 records in Kenya X mostly threatened, rare or infrequently recorded species. Threat C Critically Endangered E Endangered V Vulnerable Migratory status AM Afrotropical migrant MM Malagasy migrant PM Palaearctic migrant Where letters are in lower case — am. mm or pm— migrants of that category occur alongside resident or non-migratory individuals Number at left on Appendix four = checklist number in the Checklist of the Birds of Kenya, Third Editon, 1996 Mtito Andei, Mtito Andei. 89C, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Shimoni, 114C, Mwatate, Wundanyi, 101C. Mweiga, Nyeri, 62S, Nairobi National Park, Nairobi, 758, * Naivasha Yatch Club, Naivasha, 62C, * Nasolot NR, West Pokot. 37A, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, 758, Ngangao Forest, Taita, 101 A, * North Kinangop. North Kinangop, 62D, * Nyahera Hills, Kisumu, 60B, Nyahururu, Laikipia, 50C. Ol Pajeta Ranch, Laikipia, 628, Olekemonge Gorge, Magadi, 75C, Ololua Forest, Kajiado, 75B, Olorgesailie, Kajiado, 75C, Pemba Channel, Shimoni, 114C, Riara Ridge , Nairobi, 75B, Rukinga Ranch, Taita, 101D. Ruma National Park, Homa Bay. 60C, * Sable Valley, Kwale, 114A, Samburu National Park, Samburu, 51B, * Sekenani, Maasai Mara, 74C, * Sergoit Hill, Eldoret, 49A, Shaba GR, Samburu, 51B, * Shimba Hills, Shimoni, 114A, * Shimoni, Shimoni, 114C, Sigor, Trans Nzoia, 37C, Sio Port, Busia, 60B, * Sweet Waters Tented Camp, Laikipia, 62B, Taita Hills. Taita, 101A <4C, * Teret, Njoro, 61B, Tigoni, Limuru, 75B, Timau, Nanyuki, 51C, Trees, Murungaru, 62D, Umani Springs Camp. Kibwezi, 88B, Wasini Island, Wasini, 114C, Weiwei , Trans Nzoia, 37C, Windsor Golf 4 Country Club, Nairobi, 75B, Yala Swamp, Siaya, 48C, * Appendix Two List of Endemic Bird Species seen - WBW *99 Sharpe s Longclaw Macronyx sharpei Taita Thrush Turdus ( olivaceous ) helleri Aberdare Cisticola Cisticola aberdare Taita Apalis Apalis (thoracica) fuscigularis Turner's Eremomela Eremomela turneri Taita White-eye Zosterops (poliogaster) silvanus Clarke’s Weaver Ploceus golandi Appendix One Localities, World Birdwatch *99 Locality. Town, QSD. IBA(*) Aberdare National Park, Mweiga, 62B, * Amboseli National Park, Amboseli, 88C, * Arabuko-Sokoke, Ki lift, 102B. • Arboretum, Nairobi, 75B, Bahati Forest, Nakuru, 62A, Chepkoilel Campus, Eldoret, 49C, Cherengani Hills, West Pokot, 37C/D, * Dunga Beach, Kisumu, 60B, * Ferguson Gulf, Lake Turkana, 13B/D. * Gatamaiyu Forest, Kijabe, 62D, * Gede Nature Reserve, Gede, 103A, * Ilkek, Gilgil, 62C, Kaibibich, West Pokot, 37C, Kakamega Forest, Shinyalu, 48 D, * Kibwezi, 88B, Kigio Farm, Ilkek, 62A, Kijabe, 62b, Kimende, Kijabe, 62D, Kinangop Plateau, North Kinangop, 62D. * Kirima, North Kinangop, 62D, Kodiaga, Kisumu, 60S, Lake Baringo, Baringo, 50A, * Lake Magadi, Magadi, 75C, * Lake Nakuru National Park, Nakuru, 62A, * Lake 01 Bolossat, Nyahururu, 62A, Lake Oloidien, Naivasha, 62C, Lake Sare, Usenga, 60A, Lake Solai, Nakuru, 62A, Limuru, Limuru, 75B, Lolamarim Farm. Nanyuki, 51C, Lokichoggio, Turkana, 2C, Maasai Mara GR, Narok, 74A, C, * Makadara Forest, Shimoni, 114C, Malewa River Lodge. Ilkek, 62A, Marich Pass. West Pokot, 37A, Mau Forest, Njoro, 61B, * Mbale, Wundanyi, 101A, Mbita Point, Homa Bay, 60A, Moi University, Eldoret, 49C, Mount Kenya, Nyeri. 63A. * Mpala Ranch, Nanyuki, 50D, Msau, Wundanyi, 101A, Appendix Three Breakdown of different Categories Endemics 7 Category B 8 Category X 88 AM MM mm PM pm 11 34 69 12 3 Appendix Four World Birdwatch 1999 - Kenya List 1 Ostrich 2 Somali Ostrich 5 Little Grebe 20 Great White Pelican 21 Pink-backed Pelican 26 Great Cormorant 27 Long-tailed Cormorant 28 African Darter X 33 Little Bittern X. 34 Dwarf Bittern X 36 Black-crowned Night Heron am, 37 Cattle Egret am 38 Little Egret 39 Dimorphic Egret 40 Western Reef Heron X 41 Black Heron X 42 Common Squacco Heron 43 Madagascar Squacco Heron X. 44 Rufous-bellied Heron X 45 Green-backed Heron 46 yellow-billed Egret 47 Great Egret 48 Grey Heron am. 49 Purple Heron 50 Goliath Heron 51 Black-headed Heron 52 Hamerkop 53 White Stork PM 54 Black Stork X. 55 Abdim's Stork AM 56 Woolly-necked Stork 57 Saddle-billed Stork 58 Marabou Stork X 59 African Open-billed Stork 60 Yellow-billed Stork 61 Sacred Ibis 62 Hadada Ibis 65 Glossy Ibis am. 67 African Spoonbill 68 Greater Flamingo am. 69 Lesser Flamingo am 70 Fulvous Whistling Duck 71 White-faced Whistling Duck 72 White-backed Duck X 73 Spur-winged Goose 74 Egyptian Goose 76 Knob-billed Duck am 77 African Pygmy Goose X 79 African Black Duck 80 Cape Teal 85 Yellow-billed Duck am 87 Red-billed Teal 88 Hottentot Teal 90 Southern Pochard am 95 Secretary Bird 96 Osprey 97 African Cuckoo Hawk X 99 Bat Hawk X 100 Black-shouldered Kite 101 African 5wallow-tailed Kite X 102 Black Kite am. 104 Egyptian Vulture 105 Hooded Vulture 106 African White-backed Vulture 107 Ruppell's Griffon Vulture 108 Lappet-faced Vulture 109 White-headed Vulture 111 Black-chested Snake Eagle 112 Brown Snake Eagle 113 Southern Banded Snake Eagle X 114 Banded Snake Eagle 115 Bateleur 117 African Harrier-Hawk 119 Montagu's Harrier PM 120 African Marsh Harrier X 121 Eurasian Marsh Harrier PM 122 Gabar Goshawk 123 Dark Chanting Goshawk 124 Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk 125 African Goshawk 127 Shikra 130 Little Sparrowhawk X 134 Great Sparrowhawk 137 Lizard Buzzard 139 Mountain Buzzard 140 Long-legged Buzzard 8. P 142 Augur Buzzard 143 African Fish Eagle 144 Palm-nut Vulture 145 Lesser Spotted Eagle X. F 147 Tawny Eagle 149 Imperial Eagle B. P 150 Wahlberg's Eagle am 151 Verreaux’s Eagle X 152 African Hawk Eagle pm pm PM 153 Booted Eagle X. PM 357 Tambourine Dove 154 Ayres' Hawk Eagle 358 Blue-spotted Wood Dove 155 Long-crested Eagle 359 Emerald-spotted Wood Dove 157 African Crowned Eagle 361 Namaqua Dove 158 Martial Eagle 364 Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon 159 Pygmy Falcon 365 Olive Pigeon 160 Lanner Falcon 366 Speckled Pigeon 162 Peregrine Falcon pm 368 Feral Pigeon 166 African Hobby 369 Lemon Dove 167 Red-necked Falcon X 370 Red-eyed Dove 174 Fox Kestrel X 371 African Mourning Dove 175 Grey Kestrel 373 Ring-necked Dove 177 Common Kestrel pm 376 Dusky Turtle Dove 178 Common Quail X, pm 377 Laughing Dove 179 Blue Quail 8, AM 378 Grey Parrot X 180 Harlequin Quail am 380 Red-fronted Parrot 183 Coqui Francolin 381 Brown Parrot 186 Red-winged Francolin X 382 Brown-headed Parrot 188 Shelley's Francolin 383 African Orange-bellied Parrot 190 Crested Francolin 387.1 Feral Lovebird 195 Scaly Francolin 390 Great Blue Turaco 196 Jackson's Francolin 391 Ross’s Turaco 199 Yellow-necked Spurfowl 395 Schalow's Turaco 201 Red-necked Spurfowl 397 Fischer's Turaco 202 Crested Guineafowl 398 Hartlaub s Turaco 203 Vulturine Guineafowl 400 Bare-faced Go-away-bird 204 Helmeted Guineafowl 401 White-bellied Go-away-bird 206 Common Button-quail 403 Eastern Grey Plantain-eater 222 Black Crake 404 Black-and-white Cuckoo am 223 Allen's Gallinule X 405 Levaillant's Cuckoo X 224 Purple Swamphen 406 Great Spotted Cuckoo X, 225 Common Moorhen 409 Red-chested Cuckoo 227 Red-knobbed Coot am 410 Eurasian Cuckoo x, 230 Grey Crowned Crane 411 African Cuckoo x. 235 Kori Bustard 417 African Emerald Cuckoo 237 Buff-crested Bustard 419 Klaas's Cuckoo 238 White-bellied Bustard 420 Diederik Cuckoo 239 Black-bellied Bustard 421 Yellowbill 241 African Jacana 422 White-browed Coucal 242 Lesser Jacana X 424 Black Coucal X 243 Greater Painted Snipe 426 Blue-headed Coucal 244 Crab-plover AM 428 African Grass Owl X 245 Eurasian Oystercatcher X, PM 429 Barn Owl 246 Pied Avocet am 430 Sokoke Scops Owl X 247 Black-winged Stilt am 432 African 5cops Owl 250 Water Thick-knee 434 White-faced Scops Owl X 251 Spotted Thick-knee 435 Cape Eagle-Owl 254 Heuglin’s Courser 436 Spotted Eagle-Owl 258 Temminck's Courser 439 Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl 259 Collared Pratincole am 441 Pearl-spotted Owlet 263 Ringed Plover PM 443 Afrcian Barred Owlet 265 Kittlitz’s Plover 444 African Wood Owl 266 Three-banded Plover 447 Marsh Owl 268 Chestnut-banded Plover 448 Fiery-necked Nightjar 270 White-fronted Plover 449 Montane Nightjar 271 Lesser Sandplover PM 450 Donaldson-Smith Nightjar 272 Greater Sandplover PM 453 Star-spotted Nightjar X 273 Caspian Plover PM 455 African White-tailed NightjarX 275 Grey Plover PM 456 Dusky Nightjar X 277 Long-toed Plover 459 Gabon Nightjar X 278 Blacksmith Plover 460 Slender-tailed Nightjar 279 Spur-winged Plover 466 Bohm’s Spinetail 280 Black-headed Plover 467 Mottle-throated Spinetail 283 Black-winged Plover 468 Scarce Swift X 284 Crowned Plover 469 African Palm Swift 287 Little Stint PM 470 Eurasian Swift PM 293 Curlew Sandpiper PM 471 African Black Swift X 294 Sanderling PM 473 Nyanza Swift 296 Broad-billed Sandpiper X. PM 475 Mottled Swift 298 Ruff PM 476 Alpine Swift 300 Common Snipe PM 477 White-rumped Swift 301 African Snipe am 478 Horus Swift X 304 Black-tailed Godwit X. PM 479 Little Swift 305 Bar-tailed Godwit X. PM 480 Speckled Mousebird 306 Whimbrel PM 481 White-headed Mousebird X 307 Curlew X. PM 482 Blue-naped Mousebird 309 Redshank X. PM 484 Narina's Trogon 310 Marsh Sandpiper PM 485 Bar-tailed Trogon 311 Greenshank PM 486 Grey-headed Kingfisher 312 Green Sandpiper PM 487 Brown-hooded Kingfisher 313 Wood Sandpiper PM 488 Woodland Kingfisher 314 Common Sandpiper PM 489 Mangrove Kingfisher 315 Terek Sandpiper PM 491 Striped Kingfisher 316 Ruddy Turnstone PM 493 Half-collared Kingfisher B 322 Sooty Gull AM 495 Malachite Kingfisher 323 Heuglin's Gull X. PM 497 African Pygmy Kingfisher am 324 Lesser Black-backed Gull PM 499 Giant Kingfisher 326 Grey-headed Gull 500 Pied Kingfisher 330 Gull-billed Tern PM 501 Eurasian Bee-eater PM 331 Caspian Tern PM 503 Madagascar Bee-eater am 332 Greater Crested Tern 504 Carmine Bee-eater AM 333 Lesser Crested Tern AM 505 White-throated Bee-eater am 336 Common Tern PM 509 Blue-headed Bee-eater X 341 Saunders’ Tern 511 White-fronted Bee-eater 343 Whiskered Tern pm 512 Little Bee-eater 344 White-winged Tern PM 514 Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater 346 Brown Noddy X 516 Somali Bee-eater 349 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse 518 Abyssinian Roller X 350 Black-faced Sandgrouse 519 Lilac-breasted Roller am 354 African Green Pigeon 521 Rufous-crowned Roller 4 522 524 525 527 529 530 532 533 538 539 540 541 542 543 545 547 549 550 553 554 556 559 560 563 564 565 568 570 571 572 575 576 578 580 582 583 585 586 587 589 592 596 597 599 601 604 605 606 607 608 613 616 619 625 628 630 631 633 635 640 644 647 650 651 652 654 655 657 660 661 662 663 664 665 667 668 669 670 672 673 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 684 686 689 691 692 693 694 696 697 698 700 701 702 Broad-billed Roller am, mm 703 Hoopoe am. pm 704 White-headed Wood-hoopoe 705 Green Wood-hoopoe 707 Violet Wood-hoopoe X 708 Common Scimitarbill 712 Abyssinian Scimitarbill 713 Southern Ground Hornbill 714 Red-billed Hornbill 715 Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill 720 Von Der Decken's Hornbill 725 Jackson’s Hornbill 726 Hemprich’s Hornbill X 728 Crowned Hornbill 729 African Grey Hornbill 730 Trumpeter Hornbill 735 Silvery-cheeked Hornbill 737 Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill 738 Grey-throated Barbet 739 White-eared Barbet 740 Green Barbet 741 Eastern Green Tinkerbird X 744 Moustached Green Tinkerbirc 746 Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird 756 Red-fronted Tinkerbird 763 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird 769 Red-fronted Barbet 770 5potted-f lanked Barbet 771 Black-throated Barbet 772 White-headed Barbet 774 Black-collared Barbet 780 Brown-breasted Barbet 782 Double-toothed Barbet 784 Yellow-billed Barbet 785 Red-and-yellow Barbet 786 d'Arnaud’s Barbet 787 Scaly-throated Honeyguide 788 Greater Honeyguide 791 Lesser Honeyguide 793 Least Honeyguide X 794 Pallid Honeyguide X 795 Eastern Honeybird 796 Wahlberg's Honeybird 800 Red-throated Wryneck X 801 Nubian Woodpecker 803 Mombasa Woodpecker 804 Little Spotted Woodpecker 805 Fine-banded Woodpecker 806 Buff-spotted Woodpecker 807 Brown-eared Woodpecker 808 Bearded Woodpecker 811 Grey Woodpecker 814 African Broadbill X 816 Northern White-tailed Bush Lark 817 Rufous-naped Lark 818 Red-winged Bush Lark 820 Flappet Lark 822 Fawn-coloured Lark 825 Pink-breasted Lark 829 Red-capped Lark 831 Crested Lark 833 Fischer's Sparrow-Lark 836 Banded Martin 840 Plain Martin 842 Sand Martin PM 843 Grey-rumped Swallow 844 Blue Swallow X. AM 845 Wire-tailed Swallow 846 Barn Swallow PM 849 Ethiopian Swallow 850 Angola Swallow 855 Red-rumped Swallow 859 Mosque Swallow 861 Rufous-chested Swallow 862 Lesser Striped Swallow 868 Rock Martin 870 Common House Martin X. PM 872 White-headed Saw-wing 873 Black Saw-wing 874 African Pied Wagtail 876 Grey Wagtail PM 877 Mountain Wagtail 880 Cape Wagtail 882 Yellow Wagtail PM 883 Golden Pipit AM 884 Tawny Pipit B. PM 890 Grassland Pipit 891 Plain-backed Pipit 892 Malindi Pipit X 893 Tree Pipit PM 894 Striped Pipit B 896 Sokoke Pipit X 898 Sharpe's Longclaw 899 Yellow-throated Longclaw 903 Pangani Longclaw 904 Rosy-breasted Longclaw 906 Cameroon Sombre Greenbui 907 Ansorge's Greenbui 909 Jttle Greenbui 910 Yellow-whiskered Greenbui 911 Slender-billed Greenbui Shelley s Greenbui Mountain Greenbui Stripe-cheeked Greenbui Zanzibar Sombre Greenbui Fischer's Greenbui Cabanis' Greenbui Northern Brownbul Terrestrial Brownbul X Tiny Greenbui Joyful Greenbui Yellow-bellied Greenbui Yellow-throated Leaflove Common Bulbul Red-tailed Bristlebill Eastern Nicator African Hill Babbler Black-lored Babbler Arrow-marked Babbler Brown Babbler Scaly Babbler Northern Pied Babbler Rufous Chatterer White-starred Forest Robin East Coast Akalat X Cape Robin-Chat Red-capped Robin-Chat am Ruppell's Robin-Chat White-browed Robin-Chat Snowy-headed Robin-Chat Red-tailed Ant Thrush Spotted Morning Thrush Nightingale PM Sprosser PM White-browed Scrub Robin Brown-backed Scrub Robin X Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin Rufous Bush Chat PM Common Redstart X. PM Common Stonechat Whinchat PM Northern Wheatear PM Isabelline Wheatear PM Abyssinian Black Wheatear Capped Wheatear Red-tailed Chat Brown-tailed Rock Chat Alpine Chat Northern Anteater Chat Sooty Chat White-shouldered Cliff Chat Little Rock Thrush X Olive Thrush Taita Thrush X African Thrush Bare-eyed Thrush Spotted Ground Thrush X, PM Orange Ground Thrush Spotted Flycatcher PM Dusky Flycatcher Swamp Flycatcher Ashy Flycatcher am White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Northern Black Flycatcher Southern Black Flycatcher African Grey Flycatcher Pale Flycatcher Silverbird Semi-collared Flycatcher X. PM Lead-coloured Flycatcher 5edge Warbler PM African Reed Warbler am Greater Swamp Warbler Lesser Swamp Warbler Common Whitefhroat PM Blackcap PM Chiffchaff B. PM Willow Warbler PM Uganda Woodland Warbler Brown Woodland Warbler Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler Little Rush Warbler White-winged Warbler Evergreen Forest Warbler Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Papyrus Yellow Warbler B Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Mountain Yellow Warbler Singing Cisticola Red-faced Cisticola Trilling Cisticola Hunter's Cisticola Chubb's Cisticola Tiny Cisticola Long-tailed (Tabora) Cisticola Winding Cisticola Carruthers' Cisticola Stout Cisticola Aberdare Cisticola Croaking Cisticola 912 Rattling Cisticola 917 Ashy Cisticola 918 Siffling Cisticola 919 Zitting Cisticola 920 Desert Cisticola 922 Pectoral-patch Cisticola 923 Wing-snapping Cisticola 924 Tawny-flanked Prinia 925 Pale Prinia 926 Banded Prinia 930 Grey Wren Warbler 931 Pale Wren Warbler 933 Grey-backed Camaroptera 936 Yellow-breasted Apalis 940 Chestnut-throated Apalis 945 Grey Apalis 947 Black-headed Apalis 948 Black-throated Apalis 950 Black-collared Apalis 952 Bar-throated Apalis 952.1 Taita Apalis X 957 Grey-capped Warbler 962 Northern Crombec 963 Red-faced Crombec 967 White-browed Crombec 970 Yellow-bellied Eremomela 975 Turner's Eremomela 976 Ruff-bellled Warbler 977 Brown Parisoma 981 Abyssinian White-eye 982 Montane White-eye 982.1 Taita White-eye X 983 Yellow White-eye 988 Dusky Tit 990 White-bellied Tit 991 Red-throated Tit 993 Mouse-colored Penduline Tit 994 African Penduline Tit 996 Spotted Creeper X 997 Little Yellow Flycatcher 1000 African Blue Flycatcher 1002 White-tailed Crested Flycatcher X 1004 Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher 1007 African Paradise Flycatcher am 1008 Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher 1011 Forest Batis 1013 Chin-spot Batis 1014 Pale Batis 1016 Pygmy Batis 1017 Black-headed Batis 1019 Common Wattle-eye 1020 Black-throated Wattle-eye 1025 White-crested Helmet-Shrike 1027 Retz's Helmet-Shrike 1028 Chestnut-fronted Helmet-Shrike 1029 Northern White-crowned Shrike 1036 Lesser Grey Shrike PM 1038 Mackinnon's Shrike 1039 Grey-backed Fiscal 1040 Long-tailed Fiscal 1041 Taita Fiscal 1043 Common Fiscal 1046 Brubru 1047 Black-crowned Tchagra 1048 Brown-crowned Tchagra 1049 Three-streaked Tchagra 1050 Marsh Tchagra 1052 Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike 1056 Four-coloured Bush-Shrike 1059 Grey-headed Bush-Shrike 1061 Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike 1064 Tropical Boubou 1065 Black-headed Gonolek 1066 Papyrus Gonolek 1070 Slate-coloured Boubou 1071 Northern Puffback 1072 Black-backed Puffback 1075 Pink-footed Puffback 1076 Black Cuckoo-shrike am 1077 Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike 1079 Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike 1080 Grey Cuckoo-shrike 1082 Common Drongo 1084 Square-tailed Drongo 1085 Eurasian Golden Oriole PM 1086 African Golden Oriole AM 1087 Black-headed Oriole 1088 Montane Oriole 1089 Western Black-headed Oriole 1090 Green-headed Oriole 1093 House Crow 1095 Pied Crow 1096 White-naped Raven 1097 Fan-tailed Raven 1098 Cape Rook 1100 Stuhlmann s Starling 1103 Red-winged Starling 1105 Slender-billed Starling 1106 Bristle-crowned Starling 1108 Black-bellied Starling 5 1111 1112 1115 1116 1118 1119 1121 1123 1124 1126 1128 1129 1130 1132 1135 1137 1140 1143 1144 1146 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1159 1161 1165 1166 1170 1171 1173 1174 1176 1177 1179 1180 1181 1182 1184 1185 1187 1189 1190 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1200 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1213 1214 1216 1217 1219 1222 1224 1226 1228 1229 1230 1232 1233 1235 1236 1239 1240 1247 1248 1249 1251 1253 1254 1255 1256 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1265 1269 1275 1279 1286 1287 1293 1294 1299 1301 Greater Blue-eared Starling Lesser Blue-eared Starling Ruppeil's Long-tailed Starling Hildebrandt's Starling Superb Starling Golden-breasted Starling Violet-backed Starling Sharpe's Starling X Fischer's Starling Magpie Starling X Wattled Starling am Red-billed Oxpecker Yellow-billed Oxpecker Plain-backed Sunbird Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Amani Sunbird Collared Sunbird Olive Sunbird Mouse-coloured Sunbird Green-headed Sunbird Green-throated Sunbird Amethyst Sunbird Scarlet-chested Sunbird Hunter's Sunbird Variable Sunbird Northern Double-collared Sunbird Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Marico Sunbird Purple-banded Sunbird Red-chested Sunbird Black-bellied Sunbird Beautiful Sunbird Shining Sunbird X Copper Sunbird Tacazze Sunbird Bronze Sunbird Golden-winged Sunbird am Malachite Sunbird Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird House Sparrow Rufous Sparrow Grey-headed Sparrow Chestnut Sparrow Yellow-spotted Petronia White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Red-billed 8uffa!o-Weaver White-billed Buffalo-Weaver Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow-Weaver White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Grey-capped Social Weaver Black-capped Social Weaver Speckle-fronted Weaver Grosbeak Weaver Compact Weaver X Baglafecht Weaver Slender-billed Weaver Little Weaver Black-necked Weaver Spectacled Weaver Black-billed Weaver African Golden Weaver Holub’s Golden Weaver Golden Palm Weaver Taveta Golden Weaver Northern Brown-throated Weaver Yellow-backed Weaver Jackson's Golden-backed Weaver Vitelline Masked Weaver Lesser Masked Weaver Northern Masked Weaver Speke’s Weaver Black-headed Weaver Vieillot's Black Weaver Clarke’s Weaver X Chestnut Weaver am Dark-backed Weaver Brown-capped Weaver Red-headed Weaver Red-billed Quelea am Cardinal Quelea Yellow-crowned Bishop Black Bishop Black-winged Red Bishop Zanzibar Red Bishop Southern Red Bishop Yellow Bishop Fan-tailed Widowbird Yellow-mantled Widowbird White-winged Widowbird Red-collared Widowbird Long-tailed Widowbird Grey-headed Negrofinch Green-winged Pytilia Abyssinian Crimson-wing Peter's Twinspot Green-backed Twinspot Red-billed Firefinch African Firefinch Yellow-bellied Waxbill Crimson-rumped Waxbill 1302 Black-rumped Waxbill X 1303 Common Waxbill 1304 Black-crowned Waxbill 1306 Black-faced Waxbill 1307 Black-cheeked Waxbill 1309 Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu ,1310 Blue-capped Cordon-bleu 1311 Purple Grenadier 1312 Zebra Waxbill 1314 Quail-Finch 1316 African Silver-bill 1317 Grey-headed Silver-bill 1318 Bronze Mannikin 1319 Black-and-white Mannikin 1322 Cut-throat Finch 1323 Village Indigobird 1328 Pin-tailed Whydah 1330 Paradise Whydah 1332 Yellow-crowned Canary 1333 African Citril 1334 Papyrus Canary 1335 Yellow-fronted Canary 1336 White-bellied Canary 1337 Brimstone Canary 1343 Streaky Seedeater 1344 Thick-billed Seedeater 1346 Yellow-rumped Seedeater 1349 Oriole-Finch 1352 Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting 1354 Golden-breasted Bunting 1355 Somali Golden-breasted Bunting WBW Coast Reports From Kelvin Mazera Bamburi Nature Trail World Birdwatch turned into a very big event, probably the biggest bird event ever seen in Mombasa! Hundreds of students from primary and secondary schools and colleges took part with the special appearance of students from as far away as Gede. I was very tired by the end of the day but everyone was very excited. In the afternoon I joined Michael Ngoa and KEMFRI staff and we accompanied Mama Ngina Girls School Bird Club to English Point where we saw many migratory shorebirds, including an Oystercatcher. From Marlene Reid We never imagined that there would be such a huge interest and we were delighted to be able to spread the message of bird and habitat conservation to so many. Four young men, Kelvin Mazera, Paul Msila, Jairus Koki and James Mutua, are to be congratulated for their superb organisation of the Saturday morning programme at the Nature Trail. With approximately twelve pairs of binoculars you may imagine this was not exactly easy. Fortunately most youngsters have good eyes! There is obviously a very real interest and most students wished they had other opportunities to birdwatch. The Wildlife Clubs of Kenya should consider encouraging schools to form their own bird clubs under guidance of WCK who could arrange for young ornithologists to visit schools and organise localised bird walks. Friends of Fort Jesus (FJJ)kindly sponsored the Mama Ngina Girls entry to the Nature Trail for this event. While all this was going on I trogged round Nguuni and environs with various people. Saturday morning saw Lorna Depew and myself in the field and in the afternoon FFJ birdwatchers joined the fray. Sunday James, Kelvin and Jairus joined me. Birding the whole day we had a really brilliant time. We ended at one of my favourite ponds and just as we started to crack the Whitecaps (not a bird), an Ellen's Gallinule popped out of the reeds! As we have only seen it there about twice in the last ten years - quite a finish to the day, especially as the list started with an Indian House Crow. A really special weekend. Donors Update Our appreciation to Block Hotels and Mpala Ranch for accommodation & the Editorial committee of Horizons for space. November Bird Hotline -Headed Mousebird/ Samburu - Aug Philip Heehte Semi-collared Flycatcher - Oct National Museum grounds/ Titus Imboma Long-billed Pipit Bed-throated Tit Nairobi National Park - Oct Fffl-idah Noor/ Jennifer Oduori/ Japheth Mwok Shoilesh Pate! Locust Finch Naivasha - Nov Malachite Sunbird Wryneck Lsmuru - Nov : : : / : ; : Long-(egged Buiaard : Westland, Nairobi - Nov 'Peter Burke sc- ■■ - -■ Bat Hawk Shell BP Sports Club, Karura Forest - Nov Dudley Lucas 6 Society Notices Naturalist's Corner EANHS Bulletin ''°* jro * 29 Nurnbwe m _ April 4 Auguel 1W8 The EANHS Bulletin (Volume 29 Numbers 14 2) is now printed and should come to you with this newsletter. The Bulletin editor thanks everyone who kindly sent in material for the Bulletin. However, if another issue is to go out soon we need a lot more papers, book reviews, interesting observations (where are the articles on urban wildlife?!), trips, and reports on what our committees are doing. Please send them to the editor at Box 10018 Bamburi, Mombasa or to the Nature Kenya office, or e-mail them to LADepew9africaoniine.co.ke ICIPE CALENDARS FOR SALE Insects are the most abundant multicellular life form on earth, with an estimated 10 million species at the least. 12 of these species are pictured in this beautiful desk calendar in full colour. Available from the office from December ©160/- MUHUHU DEBATE HOW CAN WE SAVE THE CARVING INDUSTRY? Come along and listen to a forest economist, a forester, a woodcarver, and contribute to the discussion, i here will also be an exhibit on Kamba carvings. Thursday 13 January 2000, 5:30 p.m. at the Louis Leakey M. Hall Organised by the East African Wild Life Society Flower oi Caiodendrum oapense (botanical name). Cape Chestnut (common name). Muraraehi(kikuyu name) Drawing trum Trees ol Konya by Tim Noud and Ann Birnie FLOWERING TREES OF THE SEASON by Fleur Ng'weno The southern hemisphere spring and the tropical short rains encourage the flowering of many trees in December. For the past two months, highland towns have been decorated in purple and gold: purple blossoms of Jacaranda and golden blossoms of Tipuana tipu. Soth trees are originally from South America and widely planted as street trees in subtropical regions and tropical highlands. Nandi Flame trees were crowned with large cuplike red blossoms. A few, mostly in Nairobi, are orange-yellow instead of red. In most areas, the flowers have now fallen, replaced by long boatlike seedpods. Nandi Flame trees are indigenous to the forests of western Kenya and tropical Africa. They are now planted all over the world, usually under the name of African Tulip Tree. Now the dry upland forests, as well as city suburbs, are splashed with the pink of Cape Chestnut. The name Cape Chestnut is a bit of cultural imperialism - an African tree with fruits- that look like the European chestnut, and first collected by botanists in South Africa. The seeds are not edible for people, but a favourite food of squirrels. A close look at a Cape Chestnut blossom reveals pink petals and violet-spotted staminodes. In December, coastal towns come ablaze with the red flowers of spreading Flamboyant or Mjohoro trees. Originally from Madagascar, Flamboyant grows best in the lowlands. And as the hot dry season sets in, bougainvillaea flower in profusion. Bougainvillaea are climbers from Brazil, which can be trained and pruned to be living fences, ground covers and even small trees. For more information we recommend: Trees of Kenya by Tim Noad and Ann Birnie, especially useful for identifying the trees along the streets and roadsides and SPECIAL EVENTS OVER CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR IN ARABUKO - SOKOKE FOREST For more information contact Tansy.Bliss@Bigfoot.com or try 0122 32462 or 32102 Sat 18 Dec 3 C0 • 11.00 a.m Launch of Friends of Arabuko Sokokc Forest <1 First viewing from the Tree Platform No charge Tue 21 Dec 5.00 a m. - 12 noon Forest Drive and Picnic Bring own refreshments, 100/- per person Wed 22 Dec 5 00 - 8:30p.m. African Broadbill 4 Sakokc Scops Owi Search Bring own torch 100/- per person Fn 24 Dec 5.30 - 10:30 a.m. Early morning walk 100/- per person Mon 27 Dec 6-00 a m. - 12 noon Long distance walk of approximately 14 kms along the elephant track Bring own breakfast, snacks an a plenty of water 100/- per person Wed 29 Dec 3:30 - 11:00 a.m. Birds 4 Butterf lies walk 100/- per person Fn 31 Dec 6:30 - 10:30 a.m Early morning birdwaik 100/- per person Sun 2/ Man 3 Jan p: 30 o.m - 3:00 a.m. Evening walk and overnight camping Bring own food and camping gear. Water and toilet facilities will be provided at site. 200/- per person Bush Craft If you pride yourself in being a little bit of a safari fundi, then let us know about it. by sharing some of your genius with us! Send your ideas on bush survival techniques, to the Nature Net editor, the best of which will feature in this section. December Dairy Wed 1 <4 8 Birdwaik Sat 11 Dudu 4 Birdwaik at Olorgesailie Wed 15 Birdwaik Sun 19 PotLuck Bird Outing Wed 22 4 29 Birdwaik January Dairy Wed 5 Limuru and Manauo count Fri 7 4 Sat 8 Lake Bogoria count Sat 8 4 Sun 9 Lake Nakuru count Wed 12 Dandora Sewage Works count Sun 16 PotLuck Bird Outing Wed 19 Nairobi National Park 4 Langata Wetlands count Fri 21. Sat 22 4 Sun 23 Lakes Elementaita, Oloiden, Sonachi 4 Naivasha count Wed 26 Kenyatta University Ponds count 4 Arabuko Sokoke forest walk Fri 28, Sat 29 4 Sun 30 Lakes Victoria 4 Magadi, Kenya Coast Count Mon 31 Tree Walk 7