% Natur eKenya The East Africa Natural History Society Corporate SUPPORTERS Nature Kenya particularly wishes to thank the following Corporate members for their invaluable support: * Conservation Corporation Africa * Origins Safaris * Lets Go Travel * Safaricom * Bridgeworks Africa Corporate membership is a key strategy for Nature Kenya in meeting the ever increasing costs of operation. Please help us by introducing Nature Kenya to a company you know. Email Neema Mbeyu Thank you! (Corporate membership is available at 10,000/- and 20 , 000 /-) ****************************** Prefab support We also wish to thank the National Industrial Credit Bank (NIC) for their donation towards the Nature Shop IN HOUSE Construction and Renovations at National Museum, Nairobi Museum CLOSED for 18 months • Nature Kenya offices will be relocated to other premises. • The location of the car park where our outing and trips meet before departure is also likely to change. Information about the new location of the office and library and other updates on Museum developments will be in the newsletter as available. IN THE FIELD V BirdUfe world bfri festivo The BirdLife Partnership celebrates birdwatching in October with the World Birdwatch weekend and other festive activities. In Kenya the next World Birdwatch will be held in 2006. However, do send your bird records for your birding in October or enter them at www.worldbirds.org/kenya Nature Fair/ World Birdwatch volunteer coordinator needed please email office@naturekenya.org august at a glimpse Sat 6 ASF Birdwalks & NRF walk _ Sat 6 Vouth eco fun day_ Eco-fun day Nairobi Arboretum Sat 6 August 05 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Activities include tree planting, clean up and interactive games To participate register with Ksh 100/- at the Nature Kenya front office by 3 August 05. Snacks will be provided. Sat 13 Tree Walk Sun ?1 Sunday Birdwalk Sun 28 Succulenta day to Iibisil ~Sgt 27- Sun~2~8 Field trip to L. Naivasha Mon 29 Tree Walk Birdwalks every Wednesday Morning Bird ringing every Ed j tor j a | J eam Thursday (^thermg Ngarachu £vc-nin^.S(dc4 Fleur Ng'weno NafvKall?+'< Comor Dino Martins Succulenta Day trip to Iibisil Sun 28 August 05 Meet in Langata at 8.30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. start. For directions, lifts and food, please check with Sue Allan (890375) or Julia Slen (891065). Bring your picnic lunch, drinks, hats, and walking shoes. Lake Naivasha Sat 27 - Sun 28 August 05 Sat 27 - Meet at the Museum car park at 2:15 p.m. for a departure at 2:30 p.m. for overnight camping at Fisherman's Camp site. You can bring your own meals or purchase all meals from Fisherman's Camp restaurant. Sat 28 - 6:00 a.m. wake up call for boat ride; on return breakfast and break camp before drive to Crater Lake for walk round the crater's rim. Plan to purchase lunch from Fisherman's or in town before return drive to Nairobi. Transport is by car pool and we welcome and appreciate your offer of rides to the carpool Cost 950/- pep person - this includes the Fisherman's camp fee and boat ride and Crater Lake’s Sanctuary entry and parking fee. NO MEALS or equipment are included. Minimum of 7 persons required Book with the Nature Kenya office by 23 August 05 NATURE KENYA, P, O. Box 44486, 00100 GPO Nairobi Tel: 3749957 / 3746090 Fax: 3741049 E-mail: office@naturekenya.org CLASSIFIEDS action (you need to take!) _™E FORESTS bill 2®05 AMD WHY IT'S W?™ T "E PAPER JTS PRINTED flw The Forest Bill 2005 was presented to Parliament on Tuesday 19 July 05 and is under discussion. This Bill proposes a Kenya Forest Service to replace the current Department. There would be a Director of Forests, a governing Board, and Forest Conservation Committees in different parts of the country. The Bill reflects current management priorites, and includes opportunities for participation in forest management by communities, the private sector, and other government and non¬ government bodies. So What Can You Do? You can write to your MP and tell him or her that you support the Forests Bill 2005 and you would like them to support the Bill for you and your family. To make this simple for you the National Alliance for the Forest Bill and the Kenya Forests Working Group (which includes Nature Kenya) have organised the coupon that is photocopied and enclosed with this newsletter. It appeared in the Daily Nation, Thursday 14 July, 05. Please fill in the coupon and send it to them. KFWG will make sure it gets to your MP. Isecheno Bandas KAKAMEGA FOREST For booking contact Let's Go Travel Tel 4447151 / 4441030 Email: inf o@le tsgosaf ari. com Increase Biodiversity Within Your Garden Grow Indigenous Plants and Trees Over 100 species of plants and trees are available at the Athi Nursery, A list with names and prices can be supplied Contact Celia Hardy 0722 523023 Email: celia@rosesgalore.co.ke Or Barry Cameron 0722 749596 Email: barry@rosesgalore.co.ke CLEARING ACCESS ROADS AT ARABUKO SOKOKE FOREST After planting tussock grass at the Nature Kenya Kinangop Reserve, Youth group members proceeded to Arabuko Sokoke Forest at the coast to clear forest access roads. This activity involved slashing plants that were either growing on or hanging over the roads. Reach over lOOO members by advertising in Nature Net Rates for Classifieds: • Up to 25 words 250/- • Up to 50 words 500/- Ads @ 1750/- • with image +500/- Arabuko Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining fragment of the forests that once covered much of the East African coast. It is rich with rare and endemic wildlife. These coupled with its trees and plants make the forest an excellent tourist option. Nature Kenya extends its appreciation to YC members for their dedication and hardwork. FOR SALE Unique Sokoke cats beautifully marked with wildcat, not tabby, markings. Sokokes are a registered feline international breed and win championships in Europe,excellent pets, full of character. Owners love them. 5000/- each from Jeannie Knocker Box 77 Watamu. Tel 042-32465 email: corn@africaonline.co.ke www. sokoke. dk / keny a .htm Your Only Companion to Travel, Entertainment and Restaurants in East Africa THE CARD THAT TAKES YOU PLACES Accepted at over 120 Establishments in East Africa. Discounts range from 10-30%. For more information on how to get your copies and privilege card call: Tel: 020 3754748 Mobile: 0734 333269 • 0720 95974 E-mail: goplaces@swiftkenya.com Website: www.goplaces-ent.com 2 I Ian Mackay (• Wk natural history y /. > mfyrr* i/ -* :* \ I ’ 7 "* • .In / •• . /»** -\ Moon, August 2005 5th new moon; 8th Neptune nearest Earth: 9th Venus is just south of the moon; 10th Jupiter is just north of the moon ; 13th first quarter moon; 19th - full moon; 25th Mars S degrees south of the moor,. 26th last quarter moon; 31st Uranus nearest to Earth , 31st Saturn Is to the south of the moon in the morning sky Stars The constellation Scorpius, the scorpion, is as high as it gets. On July 13 the moon is above the scorpion s head, and on the 14th the moon is near the big red star Antares, Follow a line of stars as the scorpion s curving tail to the two stars that represent the stinger The brightest stars on August evenings include orange Arcturus high in the northwest and white Vega in the northeast. In the south there are two very bright stars, halfway up from the horizon. 7hey are Alpha Centauri (also called Rjgii Kentaums) and Beta Centauri in the constellation of the .Centaur {According to the myths of ancient Greece a centaur was half-mar. half- horse.) Alpha Centauri, the brightest of the two, is actually a complex of three stars. Astronomers think that these stars may have their own planetary systems. These are our sun s nearest neighbours , Planets, August 2005 The bright planets Venus and Jupiter are both in the evening sky above the sunset. Each evening Venus is a little higher and Jupiter is a little lower. (Remember that the planets orbit the sun and reflect its light. Seen from earth, they seem to wander among the stars.) Towards the end of August Venus and Jupiter appear very close together. Jupiter is not as bright as Venus and will remain the higher one until next month, Saturn will be in the morning sky at the end of August. Bird Hotline 3749957 African Black buck, Arboretum / Jun Moses Kinuthia, Stanley Baya Black Heron Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, Mombasa / June Charlotte, Emily and Karim Striped Crake Nairobi NP./ Jut Rupert Watson TRAINING Bat Conservation International Student Scholarship Programme Bat Conservation International (BCI) announces availability of student research scholarships. 10-15 grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 will be made in 2006. Grants will be awarded to research that is directly related to bat conservation and that documents roosting and feeding habitat requirements of bats, their ecological and economic roles, or their conservation needs. Students enrolled in colleges or universities worldwide are eligible to apply. PROJECTS MUST BE RELEVANT TO BAT CONSERVATION! Application deadline for 2006 scholarships is 15 December 2005 Information and forms are available at www. batcon .org/schol/schol. html For questions, please contact Andy Moore, Scholarship Coordinator, Bat Conservation International at MAGAZINES & BOOKS Nature East Africa Volume 35 Issue 1, 2005 focusing on some of the conservation work of Nature Kenya is now out and is enclosed with this newsletter World Birdwatch Volume 27 Issue 2, 2005 is the magazine of the BirdLife Partnership (Nature Kenya is the BirdLife Partner in Kenya) and is available by a subscription @ 1,500/- per year One Planet, Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment a publication that provides visual evidence of environmental change using satellite images, graphics and text For World Environment Day (on June 3, 2005) the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in cooperation with NASA, United States Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Maryland launched One Planet, Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment. The focus is on the status and trends over several decades, both in physical and human geography. The Atlas presents visual evidence of global environmental changes resulting from natural processes and human-induced activities. The Atlas demonstrates how our growing number of people and their consumption patterns are shrinking our natural resource base. The challenge is how do we satisfy human needs without compromising the health of ecosystems? One Planet, Many People is an additional wake-up call to this need. Access the Atlas on line at www.na.unep.net Or order your hard copy from www.earthprint.com UNEP 2005 332pages Hardback Price: US$ 150 + US$ 30 Delivery 3 Up & about P ZCLAKATION 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. 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. Lake Victoria Sunset Birders (Kisumu) The Lake Victoria Sunset Birders are a Nature Kenya Site 5upport Group and organise bird walks at sites in and around Kisumu every Friday of the month. For further details call 057 42952 or 0734 994938 or email lakevictoriasunsetbirders@yahoo.co.uk Mt Kenya Biodiversity Conservation Group (MKBCG) The MKBCG is a Nature Kenya Site Support Sroup and organise bird walks to sites around Naro Moru every last Saturday of the month i.e. 27August 05. For more information contact 0722 364904, 0733 937115 or 062 62071 Email: mt_kebio@yahoo.co.uk TREE WALKS Guided tree walks in the Arboretum on the second Saturday and last Monday, i.e.13 4 29 August 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. SUNDAY BIRDWATCH Members meet at the National Museum, Nairobi car park at 9:00 a.m. the third Sunday of every month, i.e. 21 August. The members decide where to go. Brinq lunch bird ringing Meet at the Museums' Nairobi Botanic Garden, at 7:00 a.m. every Thursday. Ngong Road Forest Walks (Nairobi) Organised by the Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary Trust, nature walks are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month i.e 6 4 20 August, at 9:00 a.m Meet at the stairs leading to the Restaurant at the Racecourse. Call Anthony Chalo to confirm on 575207 or 0733 712406. ARABUKO-SOKOKE(COAST) The Saturday birdwatch with the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association is on the f'rst Saturday of each month i.e. 6 August, at 6:30 a.m. from the Visitor Centre, Sede. Cost 100/- per person. KWS fees now apply (100/- Citizens, 500/- Residents) FFJ Bird Walk (Coast) Friends of Fort Jesus birdwalks are held the third Saturday of each month, i.e. 20 August. Please call Marlene Reid on (041) 491 648 to confirm Plan your weekend or other break to stay at the Kinangop Guest House Perched on the Kinangop Plateau with incredible views across the Rift Valley, the farm combines tussock-grass pasture, indigenous forest, and attractive gardens. The guesthouse is comfortable and fully furnished. Visitors can enjoy hikes and walks on the farm or go further afield with local guides. For more information, brochure and non¬ member rates please contact Nature Kenya. Guest House rates: Day visit 350/- MEMBER nos Overnight Weekend 1 to 2 pax 4000/- 6500/- 3 pax 4,900/- 7,400/- 4 pax 5,800/- 8,300/- 20% off at the Driftwood Beachclub On presentation of your membership card, you can get 20% discount (if paying by cash or cheque) at the Driftwood Beachclub. This is a charming beachfront property with great food and service. Contact Driftwood Beachclub or tel 042 20155 Natur eKenya YG S! Start Renew my Nature Kenya membership MAILING ADDRESS (BLOCK LETTERS) Surname _ FI rst Name ___Ms/Mr/Title Address | Tel 1H1____(P). I Mobile___ I Email | (OPTIONAL - but useful to us in planning) I Occupation Age Bracket (tick) under 21( ) 21-35( ) 36-50( ) over 50( ) Country of Origin Would you like us to share your contacts Yes/ NO | --- — For Official Use Only Sub No. Recpt. No. | Mode Due Date Recpt Date 4 ..._ _ -, MEMBERSHIP TYPE Ksh Full Sponsor Family Pensioners Students (Full time & undergraduate) Institutional (Libraries, schools, clubs) Corporate Corporate Plus ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Kenya Birds (tick to receive this free Bird magazine) Journal of E. A. 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/- !_| African Bird Club (Student 500/-) 800 DONATE & Help us to do even more! 5000/Other Total If you live reside outside of Kenya please refer to www.naturekenya.org Per Year 1000 3000 1400 400 400 1000 10000 20000 Enter Amount 1000 500 1500 400 J