On the weekend of 2^nd-3^rd October 2010, Nyahururu Bird Club (NBC) conducted group bird walks at Kasuku part of Lake Ol’Bolossat, Sewage Ponds/ Manguo and Uaso Narok Forest Reserve to mark the 2010 world bird festival. We invited local community, institutions, government sectors such as Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Local Authorities, as well others involved in birds and their biodiversity.

2^nd October

Participants assembled at Kasuku trading center along Nyahururu-Gilgil Highway for 7km to Lake Ol’ Bolossat, Kenya’s 61^st important Bird Area. On our way to the lake, we observed a male of the Jackson Widowbird performing a courtship display, and African Dusky Flycatcher launching an aerial sally from an Acacia and African Marsh Harrier who seemed to disagree with a Black-shouldered Kite over foraging territory.

Kasuku part of Lake Ol’ Bolossat

Contrary to last year during the drought when the lake was like a dry floodplain with scattered ponds of dirty water, this time round, one could feel a cold breeze as we got closer and closer to this little-known yet biodiversity rich wetland. We conducted a four hour-long bird walk and recorded 547 individuals from 587 species. The list included three migrants: Southern Pochard, Yellow Wagtail and the rare Ferruginous Duck. The resident Red-knobbed Coots outnumbered them all. Other than birds, Hippopotamuses were visible submerged deep in the open water. It was amazing at the tail end of the bird walk to note the enthusiasm among the participants who, even after such an exhausting four hours, still had 7km back to the tarmac.

Nyahururu sewage ponds and Manguo Hippopotamus view point

Twenty eight (28) bird species (190 individuals) were recorded from this part where the dominant group was the ducks. The Coots once again outnumbered other birds. Majority of the species recorded in this part were recorded at Kasuku in themed-south.

Uaso Narok Forest Reserve

This is a natural forest with over 90% indigineous vegetation comprising of the bushland grassland and forest trees. Species recorded during the walk includes Narian Trogon Slender-billed Starling, Sharpe’s Starling, African Emerald Cuckoo, Verrauxe’s Eagle, Owl, Lesser Honeyguide and Hartlaub’s Turaco to name just a few. 28 bird species and 190 individual birds were recorded.

3^rd October 2010

Shamata Trip

Two members of NBC were invited to attend a youths’ meeting organized by youth opinion leaders in Shamata, located on the northern slopes of the Aberdare Mountains. The place offers magnificent view overlooking the Lake Ol’ Bolossat basin. Prior to the meeting, we conducted a 45 minutes bird walk where we recorded 106 individuals of 25 species. The two NBC members (George & Amina), once given a chance to address the youth, dwelt on relevance of bird watching and its contribution to conservation. Eleven (11) of the youths

Conclusion

We could like to thank Mr. Kariuki Ndang’ang’a for providing support to NBC members to attend the function and to all participants who made this day such a big success. Such events are important in several ways e.g. consolidation of the club and could be an encouragement to those aspiring to become bird watchers. As is NBC’s motto, “the future is today”, it is today’s actions that will determine how things will be in the days to come. Let us continue joining our efforts together to make our country a sufficient home for birds and wildlife in general for our own benefit.

                                    With NBC “it’s bird watching at its best”