naturekenya.org April ‘07 Connecting nature & people Birds wCthBrucuv T'Mchs Wed^e^day 4 April/ atlpwv (after the/ morning' btrUwcdk) at the' IcniiA' Leakey Had/, Nad^obi/MuAerom/ Learn from renowned ornithologist, naturalist and professional bird guide Brian Finch. He will talk on the indentification of difficult species. UefteAhmev\ty wCU/be/provided/ VrL\/er A talk by Dr Caspar Dorylus molestus by April Nobile www.antweb.org Tuey2 4 April, 4:00 p.nv. at the Louis Leakey Hall, National Museums, Nairobi A short illustrated talk followed by the BBC Natural History film "Ant attack" which shows the life and migration of a driver ant colony. Dr Schoning is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and works on the systematic and ecology of African driver ants. He also participated in the production of the film. General eting ca Natural History ety May, 4:00 p.m. Leakey Hall, Museums, Nairobi Don’t miss this most talked-about film to feature immediately after the AGM An Inconvenient truth Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, in a persuasive argument on global warming. A Davis Guggenheim production Bring a friend! Thank you to our Corporate members for theirvery valuable support X.cduxme^cvforeftt birdftn^trCp fri/19 -Hon/23 October APRIL AT A GLIMPSE yeD 4 BI RD ID with brian finch _ THU 5 SAMAK I OUTING __ SA T 14 TREE UftLK __ SUM IS SUNDAU BIROUALK __ TUE 24 DRIVER A MTS TALK __ MOM 30 TREE UALK -- ~BIRDUALKsTuERy^JFDMESDAyMORHING BIRD RINGING EUERy THURSDAH MORNING * Abacus Africa Vacations * Amon Computers * Ben's Ecological Safaris * Birdwatching East Africa * Bridgeworks Africa * Conservation Corporation Africa * Go Places * La Farge Ecosystems * Let's Go Travel * Naro Moru River Lodge * Origins Safari * Safaricom * Sarova Hotels * Wilderness Safaris Members of Birdlife International Partners from other countries will be in Kenya in October for a meeting and will be going on a bird safari to Kakamega Forest. Join them and visit Hippo Point shore line of Lake Victoria, Dunga Swamp & Kakamega Forest. Cost: Ksh 49650/- pp sharing inclusive of one way flight to Kisumu, BB at Kiboko Bay resort, F8 at Rondo Retreat, road transport, and guide fees. Book now, 2 spaces left! by 30th May 07. For more information contact Nature Kenya office Tel: 3746090/9957 Editorial Team Editor Catherine Ngarachu Evening Skies Fleur Ng'weno Naturalist Dino Martins Action Serah Munguti Direct Debit! The easy way to renew your subscriptions - request an authorizing form from Nature Kenya Library closes in April 07 at Easter for relocation to new permanent premises. This will take a few months - watch this space for opening dates! action r *****Nature Kenya wins the Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service £• laroe Award 2007 Kenya's new land policy Kenya's draft National Land Policy was published in December 2006. Download a copy at www.ardhi.go.ke Nature Kenya has submitted comments on this draft, which largely left out biodiversity conservation as a form of land use. Nature Kenya goes to court The Amboseli case came for mention on February 27th at the High Court, where the full hearing was postponed from March 14 as indicated previously, to May 27 2007. SC8 has honored six individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to advancing the science and practice of conserving Earths biological diversity. Recipients of the 2007 awards were nominated by members of SCB, selected by the Awards Committee, and approved by the Board of Governors. The awards will be presented on 4 July during the 2007 annual meeting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. For more on SCB go to www.conbio.org A number of vultures in the Mara and Serengeti are tagged. If you see one, please note the number, date, time, and location (by GPS or nearest landmark). Kindly e-mail information to any of the following addresses: tanzaniabirds@yahoogroups.com pkirui@mitsuminet.com mkoikai@hotmail.com tpf@africaonline.co.ke Play a part for the Mara-Serengeti... report tagged vultures. Vultures play an important role by feeding on wildebeest and zebra that die during their migration. It is estimated that vultures (not lions and hyenas) consume nearly 70% of the dead animals in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. If vultures disappeared from the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem, the sights and smells of rotting animal carcasses would turn away millions of visitors, denying Kenya and Tanzania revenue. Vulture populations are fast disappearing in Africa. In South Asia and parts ol West Africa, populations have declined by as much as 98 percent over the last decade. They face poisoning, habitat loss and persecution The Vulture Project is aimed at improving our knowledge about vulture ecology so that conser¬ vation interventions are based on sound scientif¬ ic principles. NatureA'enva Connecting nature ana pel" 77 /k/ Matcih 200~1 Zan Mac t(a/ Meuc Mafcoe.no Moon phases, April 2007 2nd - Full moon; 10th - Last quarter; 17th - New moon; 24th - First quarter Moon distances from the earth in April 2007 3rd - apogee - (far); 17th - perigee - (close); 30th - apogee - (far) Moon position near bright stars and planets in April 2007 3rd - Spica (in Virgo) NW of moon; 7th - Antares (in Scorpius) N of moon; 8th - Jupiter N of moon; 14th - Mars S of moon; 16th - Mercury S of moon; 20th - Venus S of moon; 25th - Saturn S of moon; 26th - Regulus (in Leo) 5 of moon; 30th - Spica N of moon; Planets, approximate magnitudes Magnitude is a measure of brightness. The lower the number, the brighter the planet! Mercury = 0.0 to -2.0 Venus = -4.0 Mars = 1.1 Jupiter = -2.3 to -2.6 Saturn = 0.2 Uranus = 5.9 Neptune = 7.9 Planets are usually listed in order of their distance from the sun, so Mercury is first. Venus, at magnitude minus 4, is the brightest. Uranus and Nepture are far from the sun, and telescopes are usually needed to see them. Stars and planets Venus is brilliant in the early evening over the sunset. The constellation of Orion is starting to set in the west. Sirius, the brightest star we see at night, is high in the southwest; and Canopus, the second brightest star, is below Sirius in the south. Saturn looks like a bright yellow star, high in the east. It is near the constellation of Leo, the lion. A curving line of stars forms the lion's head. Other stars mark the body of a resting lion, with the star Regulus in the front. Between Saturn and Sirius is the bright star Procyon. Jupiter rises later in the evening, and is still high in the sky in the early morning before dawn. Jupiter is bright and becomes brighter towards the end of April. I^ars and Mercury are also in the morning sky. Mercury is relatively bright and in good view in the first half of April. Donate Remembering Nature Kenya in your long term planning or in your will can help sites and species for generations to come. Migratory birds in a changing climate 12-13 May 2007 natural history ] /? Locusts 2 >//?o Margins February 26, 2007 Dear Dr. Irvine Your specimen is a locust, which together with the crickets and grasshoppers are in the insect Order Orthoptera. It is part of a fairly large and diverse group of locusts known as 'Rain Locusts' falling within the Family Pamphagidae. These are typical inhabitants of most East African bush, rocky areas and savannah edges. They tend to be large, like the one that you collected. From a cursory inspection, and I emphasize that I am not a locust taxonomist, it looks like a member of the genus Lamarckiana. As you noted, the locust was singing. This behaviour is typical of locusts and crickets. It is typically only the males that 'sing' - actually they are stridulating by rubbing their legs against their wings. This is done to attract females and males can sing for hours on end to win a lady-locust's heart. As to the similarity to the call of the nightjar, this is a really interesting observation. It may be that the nightjars mimic these calls so as to lure unsuspecting insects and gobble them up. However, as you probably know, the range of sound that humans can hear is limited and there may be parts of the Calls of both species that are going undetected to the human ear. Thank you for sending your observation to the Insect Committee and I hope that this response is of some help. Send your inquiries on insects and pollinators to dino.martins@gmail.com Kenya Herpetofauna Working Group (KHWG) o&Se.t'Vati-for -/*7 Frogs and toads are seasonal vertebrates breeding at the onset of the rainy season. They breed in pools of water, ranging from roadside puddles to swamps, lakes and rivers. The KHWG would like you to assist them by reporting any breeding, dead or malformed frogs and toads in your surroundings. Your information will be useful in our efforts in For more Chris Madden cartoons buy his book "The Beast that ate the Earth" from his website www.chrismadden.org However most of these breeding areas are threatened as habitats are altered. Pesticides and other agricultural chemicals also find their ways into these water bodies, leading to amphibian deaths or limb malformations. conserving amphibians. Request a monitoring form from of fice@naturekenya. org or cbd@museums.or.ke Binoculars available at the AGM Buy a pair of top quality 8 X 40 binoculars by Viking optics at 16400/- Only 3 pairs available 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/- For more information on how to get your copies And privilege <•»«! oil: Td: 020 3754748 • 3747258 - 3745726 Cell: 0733 732239 • 0720 959749 E-itiaiI. gopl-tcesit? sw*ftkeny.vtom Wc bsit c: www gopl.iteskt nyj com (HTiinillltllT • TMVIl • lESTHRMTS < SMIPNNS t DISCOUNTS Go Places UP & ABOUT BIRDWALKS DECLARATION NATURE KENUA DOES NOT ACCEPT ANy RESPONSiBiirry uhatsoeuer in respect OF NEGLIGENCE of ANy OF ITS STAFF, UOLUNTEERS OR MEMBERS ORGANISING THE OUTINGS/.TRIPS OR FOR ANy LOSS, INJURS, DEATH OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTy. GREAT FACILITIES & GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS! 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/- £0% 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: gm@ driftwoodclub.com or tel 042 20155 WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDWALKS Bird watching walks at sites in and around Nairobi. Meet at the National Museum car park near Langi Langi cafe, 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. SUNDAY BIRDWATCH Members meet at the National Museum, Nairobi car park near Langi Langi cafe at 9:00 a.m. the third Sunday of every month, i.e. 15 APR. '07. The members decide where to go. Bring lunch KINANGOP BIRDING Friends of Kinangop Plateau organise birdwalks every third Friday of the month i.e. 20 APR. 07 at 9:00 a.m around Magumu and Njambini areas. To participate contact Bakari Ng'ang'a on 0721 470215 FFJ BIRDWALK (Coast) Friends of Fort Jesus birdwalks are held the third Saturday of each month, i.e. 21 APR. '07. Please call Marlene Reid on 2491648 or 0720 949195 to confirm ARABUKO-SOKOKE (Coast) The Saturday birdwatch with the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association is on the first Saturday of each month i.e. 7 APR. '07, at 6:30 a.m. from the Visitor Centre, Gede. Cost 100/- per person. KWS fees now apply (100/- Citizens, 500/- Residents) LAKE VICTORIA SUNSET BIRDERS (Kisurmi) The Lake Victoria Sunset Birders 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 organise bird walks to sites around Naro Moru every last Saturday of the month i.e. 28 APR.‘07. For more information contact 0722 364904, 0733 937115 or 062 62071 Email: mt_kebio@ yahoo.co.uk MARURA NAROK BIRDWATCHERS A community group near Uaso Narok Swamp, Rumuruti, which organises birdwalks every last Saturday i.e. 28 APR. ‘07. Call 062 32718 or email olmaisor@africaonline.co.ke TREE WALKS Guided tree walks in the Arboretum on the second Saturday and last Monday, i.e. 14 and 30 APR 07 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. BIRD RINGING Meet at the Museums' Nairobi Botanic Garde.r\, at 7:00 a.m. every Thursday. NGONG ROAD FOREST WALKS Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary Trust nature walks held the first and third Saturdays of the month i.e. 7 A 21 APR '07, at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the stairs leading to the Restaurant at the Racecourse. Call Ignatius ;to confirm on 3875207 or 0720 976299. SAMAKI DAYS Guided fish excursions on the first Thursday, i.e. 5 APR '07 from 9:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Nairobi Museum car park. Pay Ksh 50/- per person on arrival