•Ill I Natu Connecting nature & people Fundamentals of Herpetology by Kenya Herpetofauna Working G (KHWG) VE AWARD TO FLEUR NG’WENO This herpetofauna training is of interest to members interested in learning more about Amphibians and Reptiles. It will be held every Wednesday of the week between I and 2 p.m. at the Invertebrate Zoology Lab, Natural Sciences Building, at the National Museums, Nairobi. Lectures begin II July. Registration fee is Ksh. 200/- person with an additional course fee of Ksh. 100 per lecture (i.e. per Wednesday session). Certificates will be awarded at the end of the course only to those who have taken part in at least three quarters of the lectures offered. For any further questions, and or clarification please contact Beryl at bebwong@yahoo.com. Enquiries can also be made at the Herpetology section, National Museum of Kenya telephone number +254-020-3742131-4 Ext. 244/245 Every year. Eve magazine celebrates the essence of Africa's New Woman by recognizing women who have made an outstanding contribution in their area of expertise. Congratulations to Fleur who emerged the winner in the category of Wildlife and Conservation. Workshop on Conservation and Management practices Monday 6th August 2007 Louis Leaky Hall, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi Thank you to our Corporate members for their very valuable support * Access Africa Safaris * African Touch Safaris * Eagles Roost * Ontdek Safaris * Rondo Retreat * Wildlife Safaris JULY AT A GLIMPSE SAMAKI0A9- UGD 11 FUNDAMENTALS OF HERPE1ULUL9 SAT 14 TREE WALK AT THE ARBORETUM_ SUN 15 SUNOAy BIRDUALK- MON 30 TREE WALK _ MORNING BIRD RINGING EUER9 THURS0A9 MORNING Talks will be given on a range of topics including • protected areas conservation • monitoring • importance of policy in conservation • impacts of climate change in East Africa Case studies linking livelihoods with conservation will also be presented. Speakers will be from Kenya Wildlife Service, United Nations Environment Programme, BirdLife International, East Africa WildLife Society, ILRI and the Kenya Forest Service Attendance is free, but numbers will be restricted - so early registration is recommended. To attend please send your full name, institution, email address and mobile number to: tba-africa@tropical- biology.org by 20 July 2007. The Workshop is organised by The Tropical Biology Association (TBA) in conjunction with Kenya Wildlife Service, and with support from Nature Kenya. The workshop is part of the 2007 TBA field course in Kenya. Editorial Team r Editor Catherine Ngarachu Evening Skies Fleur Ng'weno Naturalist Dino Martins Action Serah Munguti v BirdLife Partner INTERNATIONAL Trip to Naivasha Sat 4- Sun 5 August ‘07 Cost: Kshs. 1, 300 Visit to a nearby Snake park and birdwatching at Oloiden. Book at Nature Kenya by 1st August 2007 Cost Inclusive of transport, food, camping fees and entry fee to snake park. Bring your tent and sleeping bag. If you don't have one, it can be organized, but only with early communication. Camping in Laikipia Fri 20 - Sun 22 July ‘07 Come camping and learn about the wild plants in Laikipia district. To participate and for more details please call Sue 0733 891721 or Julia 0722 756647. Organised by the Succulenta East Africa. National Focal Event • Nature Kenya partnered with local communities, government agencies, non-government organisations and the private sector to celebrate World Environment Day 2007 Go Places lESTMRANTS MTianiMEIT’TIMfl Donate Remembering Nature Kenya in your long term planning or in your will can help sites and species for generations to come. Photo left: Mangrove planting at the Sabaki River mouth. More than 2500 seedlings were planted. Photo right: Clean up exercise at Sabaki Shopping centre. 300 Kg of garbage was collected. BIRDS WANTED ENTER A RARE COMPETITION » Bird photographers - enter a novel photo competition and win high-quality Minox prizes! The Rare Birds Yearbook invites you to submit your photos of the world's 189 Critically Endangered birds. Rare Birds Yearbook is a new, annual publication, which will appear in October 2007 for the first time. It is published ' in association with global conservation organisation BirdLife International and £4.00 of each sold book will be donated straight to conservation. In association with high-quality optics company Minox and BirdLife International we can offer a nice setup of prizes. Please visit www. rarebirdsyearbook.com to fi nd a list of the concerned species, the prizes, the rules, the jury members and more about the book. The competition runs until 15th July 2007. MEMBER SURVEY LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SERVICES, BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES » Return your filled form (mailed in June) by 31st July '07 to participate in the draw. natural history 7/7c> July 16 • Moon • • .#* * ^Antares • Jupiter July 25 Moon, July 2007 Last quarter 7th; New moon 14th; First quarter 22nd; Full moon 30th. Planets' magnitude, July 2007 (Lower values are brighter; planets are listed by their distance from the sun) Mercury 2.7 Venus -4.4 to -4.5 (brightest planet seen from Earth) Mars 0.7 Jupiter -2.5 (second brightest) Saturn 0.6 Planets, July 2007 Venus is brilliant over the sunset. You can even see it in daylight; just look for it a little earlier each day. It is at its brightest on the 12th; then starts to sink rapidly towards the horizon. Venus will have left our evening skies come mid August. Saturn, less bright, is also in the western sky over the sunset this month. We can use Venus to locate it: Saturn and Venus start this month just 38 arc minutes (1 arc minute = one sixtieth of a degree) apart on the 1st. The two planets then slowly drift away from each other as the days go by. Sat¬ urn is lower than Venus, and on the 16th our moon appears just below Saturn. The bright star Regulus is also in the same part of the sky. On July 17 the moon, Saturn, Venus and Regulus will all be fairly close together in the western sky. Stars shine with a twinkling light, while planets are a steady light. Planets, of course, do not produce light, they are lit by sunlight. Jupiter is bright in the eastern sky at sunset, and is visible almost all night. Mars can be seen in the morning sky before dawn. Earth is at aphelion (most distant from sun) on July 7th. That is one reason why July is such a cool month in equatorial regions. July Stars The constellation of Scorpius, the scorpion, is high in the south. Look for bright stars forming the head and claws, and the curving body in the shape of a fishhook. Two stars close together form the sting in the tail. On July 25, the moon will be just one de¬ gree to the southeast of the Scorpion's fiery eye, the star Antares. The planet Jupiter is a little to the north. The orange star Arcturus is high in the northwest, and the blue-white star Spica can be found just north of our moon on July 21st. The constellations of the Southern Cross, in the south, and the Plough, in the north, are tipping towards the west. Leo the lion is low in the west, its bright star Regulus close to Venus and Saturn. Nature Kenya - connecting nature and people SUPPORT OUR WORK : become a member.' www.naturekenya.org office@naturekenya.org j'/alking rniils NABU Kii r* BirdLife fUSAID KENYA ■'***’£? FROM THE 4m*ICAN FfOFVS I KSNYh W1UJUFE SERVICE UP & ABOUT BIRDWALKS DECLARATION NATURE KENyA DOES NOT ACCEPT ANy RESRONSIBILITy WHATSOEVER IN RESPECT OF NEGLIGENCE OF ANy OF ITS STAFF, UOLUNTEERS OR MEMBERS ORGANISING THE OUTINGS/TRIPS OR FOR ANy LOSS, INJURy. 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 3 pax 4 pax 4000/- 6500/- 4,900/- 7,400/- 5,800/- 8,300/- 20% OFF ACCOMMODATION AT THE DRIFTWOOD IN MALINDI 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 JULY '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 JULY '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 JULY '07. Please call Marlene Reid on 2491648 or 0720 949195 to confirm TREE WALKS Guided tree walks in the Arboretum on the second Saturday and last Monday, i.e. 14 and 30 JULY ‘ 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 Garden, at 7:00 a.m. every Thursday. ARABUKO-SOKOKE (Coast) The Saturday birdwatch with the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association is on the first Saturday of each month i.e.7 JULY '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 (Kisumu) 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 lakevic toriasunsetbirders@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 JULY '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 JULY '07. Call 062 32718 or email olmaisor@africaonline.co.ke NGONG ROAD FOREST WALKS Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary Trust nature walks held the first and third Saturdays of the month i.e .7 <& 21 JULY '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 JULY '07 from 9:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Nairobi Museum car park. Pay Ksh 50/- per person on arrival Yes! Start my Nature Kenya membership Surname First Name Ms/Mr/Title Address Tel Mobile Email MEMBERSHIP TYPEs (Choose one) Ksh Per Year Full 1,000 Sponsor 3,ooo Family 1,400 Corporate 10,000 Corporate Plus 20,000 Send cheque or money order to NATURE KENYA, Box 44486 GPO, 00100 NAIROBI P. O. Box 44486 GPO, 00100 NAIROBI www.naturekenya.org email office@naturkenya.org