If ■NY- 5 Ea^ie- Odyteey the struggles of the United Kingdom’s largest breeding bird of prey, the White-tailed Eagle he Eagle Odyssey' has become the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' greatest film success in its long history of wildlife film-making. The Eagle Odyssey won the awqrd for Best Script at Wildscreen 2004, the largest and most prestigious wildlife film festival. More recently still, the film went on to scoop the Grand Prix Best Film award at the world's mriU06 inya AGM premier ornithological fi.. each year at Menigoute in I more awards at the ValveP Wildlife Film Festival in Belg popular film and Best Story). Flan to bring and register friend or relative as a member! Nature Kenya will celebrate WMBD on ttjpr ” the Wednesday Morning Birdwalk of tgf gt 5 April ‘05. A visit to Nairobi National Park is planned ■ bring smart card eWorld Migratory Bird Day and entrance fee. IWI Also check with the Site Support Group nearest you for WMBD activities iy The African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) is launching the first World Migratory Bird Day on the weekend of 8/9 April 2006. It will be launched with a special event called "WINGS” taking place in Kenya, hosted by future CMS Ambassador Ms Kuki Gallmann in Laikipia. jg^APRIL AT A GLIMPSE Tr ee Walk _ Thu 13 Talk on Aquac ulture ~ Fr i ia , <;„n 1 7 TriMo~Nguru man_ S un 16 Sunday Birdwalk _ Mon 24 T ree Walk __ Tue 25 EANHS AGM Birdwalks every Wednesday Morning Bird ringing every Thursday Morning Editorial Team Aquaculture in Kenya Talk by Mbugua Mwangi 13 Aprti/‘06, 10:00 a/.vw. at the Invertebrate Zoology Training Lab, National Museums Organised by the Samaki Working Group Editor Catherine Ngarachu Ifve-hitu^ Ski oc, Fleur Ng’weno Nafaral'iST\ Corner Dino Martins Annual General Meeting of the East Africa Natural History Society Tuesday 25 April 06 at 4:00 p.m. at the Louis Leakey Hall, National Museums, Nairobi Agenda • Minutes of the 95th AGM • Matters arising • Chairman’s Report • Hon. Treasurer’s Report • Appointment of Auditor • Committees & Projects Report • Nature Uganda Report • Any other business • Election of Executive Committee and Trustees followed by award winning film Eagle Odyssey with kind permission from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) & Bar-be-que Stay a while longer and enjoy the bar-be-que & the cash bar Flan to bring and register a friend or relative as a member! and to buy books, honey and other items that will be available NATURE KENYA, P. O. Box 44486, 00100 GPO Nairobi Tel: 3749957 / 3746090 Fax: 3741049 E-mail: office@naturekenya.org AVIAN FLU action natural history As we go to press, no outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ had been reported in Kenya. Neither had the virus been recorded in wild birds in Africa. However, the threat is still very real and precautions should be taken. H5N1 avian influenza is a disease of chickens and other domestic poultry, with a high mortality rate. It also affects wild birds and even people. MORE updates/ Rock Art (TARA). This guide and others - ‘The Rock Art and other attractions of Suba District ’ and 'Rock Art of East Africa ’are available from the Nature Kenya office @ 150/- each. We wish to congratulate the National Task Force on Avian Flu on their recent media announcements giving comprehensive information to the public. To report unusual deaths of wild or domestic birds, National Task Force hotlines as advertised are 0722 726682 or 0726 600499 or 0722 331548 or 020 631639 or 020 2728292 Kakapel National Monument opens to the public The National Museums of Kenya opened Kenya's first rock art Monument in January ‘06. Kakapel is a large granite outcrop in westerp Kenya in the Chelelemuk Hills overlooking Kakapel village. To reach Kakapel, which is only a few kilometres from the Uganda border, take the Malaba road from Bungoma and drive west for 20km to a turnoff on the right (north) side of the road. Take this turnoff and drive north for 7km on an all-weather murram road. The route is well signposted. Sagana Fish Farms friz 12 May ‘06 Bring a packed lunch and meet at the Nairobi Museum car park at 8:00 a.m. Book at Nature Kenya with 100/- (Organised by Samaki Working Group) Walking at Kigio Wildlife Conservancy Sat 13 May ‘06 At this expansive area near Naivasha, walking is recommended and the guides will assist you identify animal tracks and some of the 150 different birds recorded at Kigio. Meet at the Nairobi Museum car park at 7:30 a.m. Bring with you a picnic lunch and drinking water. Book at Nature Kenya with 500/- per person. Transport is by car pool. Pay your subscriptions by Direct Debit/ Nature Kenya is now able to accept Direct Debit payments. A Direct Debit is an instruction from a customer (you) to their bank, authorising an organisation (i.e. Nature Kenya) to collect an amount from their account, at regular specified intervals (i.e. annually). It is a convenient method of making a regular payment saving you time and effort. To receive a Direct Debit authorizing form, please write to Nature Kenya or send a note to office@naturekenya.org natural history publications available at the Nature Kenya membership and sales office Hot off the press! A Checklist of the Birds of Kakamega Forest @ 200/- (to members) Field Guide to Acacias of East Africa by Najma Dharani @ 2200 /- A comprehensive field guide to all 62 of the acacia tree species occurring in East Africa. Each species account features a distribution map, a detailed description of all parts of the tree, its uses, and its application in traditional medicine. Species entries are accompanied by full-colour photographs of the whole tree, its bark, flowers, pods, thorns and leaves. Seasonal charts showing when the tree is in flower, and when leaves and pods appear are also included. Important Bird Areas of Tanzania by Neil and Elizabeth Baker @ 2200 /- Describes 80 sites in Tanzania that meet the criteria for Important Bird Areas (IBAs). An important source of information for environmental planners and —- .v-a.. m d n’n policy makers, and for birdwatchers wanting to locate Tanzania's special birds. The Pollination of East African Succulent Plants by Leonard E. Newton @ 150/- This booklet explains the life cycles of plants and their interactions with fauna in the ecosystem. It includes practical hints on how to carry out artificial pollination. T-shirts & Polo shirts by the Trust for African Rock Art @ 850/- & 950/- TARA is dedicated to the Conservation of Africa's prehistoric rock art, both paintings and engravings. Visit their website www.africanrockart.org for information on their activities EVENING SKY Ian Mackay & Fleur Ng'weno Moon, April 2006 5 April First Quarter; 13 April Full Moon; 21 April Last Quarter; 27 April New Moon. Planets Two planets, Mars and Saturn, are high in the evening sky. Use the moon as a guide to find them. Mars is south of the moon on April 3 rd , and Saturn is near the moon on April 7, 2006. Since planets only reflect the light of the sun, they do not sparkle like the stars. The planets Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are in the morning sky before dawn, you can't miss brilliant Venus in the east above the sunrise. Bright, golden Jupiter is high in the west, north of the moon on April 15. Tiny Mercury is more difficult to find, low in the eastern sky before dawn. From April 21 to 25, Mercury is in the constellation of Cetus, the whale, and south of the moon on the 26 T \ Stars The bright stars Sirius and Canopus, and the constellation of Orion, are dipping towards the west. Leo the lion is high overhead. Look for a sickle-shaped group of stars forming the head and neck of the resting lion. The lion's back extends towards the east. Below Leo, in the northeast, is a group of stars called the Plough, or the Big Dipper, or the Great Bear. Four stars form the corners of a box shape. A line of three bright stars extends from the box towards the east. A bright orange light shines low in the northeast: the star Arcturus. Across the sky, low in the south, the beautiful constellation of the Southern Cross is rising. Three bright stars and a fainter one form the tips of a cross like a Christian cross. On April evenings the cross is tilted to one side, pointing as always to the south. Behind the Southern Cross is the Milky Way. Bird Hotline 3749957 Spotted Crake, Barred Warbler Splash, Nairobi/ Mar '06 Wednesday Morning Birdwalk RElWERATOR INC. OUBWKJOUCTSAf* COMTFMITTIMG TO PROFIT CLASSIFIEDS Reach over 1000 members by advertising in Nature Net Rates for Classifieds: • Up to 25 words 250/- • Up to 50 words 500/- Ads • <® 1750/- • with image +500/- PLANT INDIGENOUS TREES AND SHRUBS ATTRACT WILDLIFE FANTASTIC SELECTION OF OVER 90 SPECIES TREES AND SHRUBS, 1-2M IN LARGE POLYPOTS. “LANDSCAPE”TREES & YELLOW NANDI FLAMES NOW AVAILABLE CONTACT FOR DIRECTIONS, ADVICE & TREE LIST: CROPWATCH LTD TREE NURSERY JOANNA TRENCH 0733 603839 reforest@africaonline.co.ke BRIAN WILLIAMS 0733 923990 bvwilllams@swiftkenya.com CAROLE HEMMINGS 0733 747865 carole@access350.co.ke Job Opportunity ASSETS Eco-Bursary Fundraiser The Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Eco-tourism Scheme (ASSETS) is a community Eco-scholarship fund that helps children around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek Purpose To promote and raise funds for ASSETS primarily from Eco-tourism but also from other sources Essential • Skilled and experienced in proposal writing, management and administration • Has a comprehensive range of computer skills especially being very familiar with spread sheets, databases • Willing to take Increase Biodiversity Within Your Garden Grow Indigenous Plants and Trees Over 100 species of plants and trees(& Roses) are available at the Athi Nursery. A list with names and prices can be supplied Contact Celia Hardy 0722 523023 celia@rosesgalore.co.ke Or Barry Cameron 0722 749596 barry@rosesgalore.co.ke Your Only Companion to Travel, Entertainment and Restaurants in East Africa Tel: 020 3754748 Mobile.- 0734 333269 • 0720 959749 E-mail: gopiacesditw.inkenya.com THE CARD THAT TAKES YOU PLACES... Accepted at over 120 Establishment* In East Africa. Discount* range from 10-30%. responsibility, to be capable of initiating work and be versatile in approach to a varied and often demanding work load • Fluent in English and preferably Swahili as well. • Understands the cross- cultural context in which the work will be conducted (i.e. understanding of both African and Western cultures and expectations) • Enjoys and has a good sense for hospitality •Good communication skills Contacts Send application and CV to A Rocha, Box 383, Watamu 80202 or email stanley.baya@arocha.org by 15 April ‘06 For more Chris Madden cartoons buy his book "The Beast that ate the Earth" from his website www.chrismadden.org 3 Up & about P^UAKATION 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. tree walks Guided tree walks in the Arboretum on the second Saturday and last Monday, i.e. 8 and 24 April'06 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. 16 April ‘06. The members decide where to go. Bring lunch bird ringing Meet0 „he*« U s«'Nc,r.b i B...»cS«rC«. at 7:00 a.m. every Thursday. SAMAKI DAYS Guided fish excursions on the first Thursday, i.e. 6 April '06 from 9:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Nairobi Museum car park. Pay Ksh 50/- per person on arrival 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 ACCOMMODATION AT THE DRIFTWOOD On presentation of your membership card, you can get this discount off accommodation (if paying by cash or cheque) at the Driftwood Beachclub. This is a charming beachfront property with great food and service. Contact: