Gearing up for 2023 In 2022, Nature Kenya rolled out its
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ISSN 2073-5111(Print)
A newsletter of Nature Kenya-The EANHS January 2023
available to push for the sustainable use
of Yala Swamp resources to benefit local
communities and biodiversity.
Our advocacy team will keep tabs on calls
for comments for Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) reports, more so for
development projects near ecologically
sensitive areas. We kindly request members
to submit comments whenever asked to
do so.
Our weekly bird walks in Nairobi and
Malindi will continue in 2023. Other
membership engagement activities, such
as monthly talks and Ask Our Nature Expert
Members of Mt. Kenya Biodiversity Conservation Group conduct their monthly bird walk in Mt.
Q&A sessions, are also lined up for the
Kenya Forest. Photo by M. Kiama year. Two Global Big Days will be held on
Gearing up for 2023
May 13 and October 14. On these days,
bird watchers worldwide will go out to
enjoy birds and submit their observations
through the eBird mobile app. We urge
By John Mwacharo
members to mark these days on their
I
n 2022, Nature Kenya rolled out its calendars and plan to participate in these
On March 31, we will hold our Lungs for
Strategic Plan for the next decade. The engaging citizen-science events.
Kenya charity golf tournament at the Karen
2022 – 2032 Strategic Plan refocuses Country Club. This year’s tournament seeks The road ahead is tough, and we look
Nature Kenya’s conservation efforts under to raise funds to catalyze the restoration forward to your continued support to
five pillars: Save Species & Sites, Foster of degraded forest landscapes in Mt. achieve the desired conservation impacts.
Sustainability, Build Support, Act on Kenya and the Aberdares. We encourage Together, we can make our world better for
Science and Consolidate Structures. The members to support this tournament by us and future generations.
implementation of the new strategic plan sponsoring, donating auction or raffle items
will continue in 2023. Happy 2023!
or registering to play.
Work on saving species and conserving Engagement with partners to scale-up BIODIVERSITY TALKS
their habitats at various sites continues conservation actions continue. We will
countrywide. Vulture conservation activities maintain existing partnerships with
in the Maasai Mara, Mosiro, Amboseli and corporates and pursue new ones to further
Kwenia landscapes are ongoing. Nature our work to restore degraded landscapes
Kenya will engage 64 community volunteers and empower local communities.
to monitor vulture populations, look out
for wildlife poisoning incidents and create In 2023, Nature Kenya will continue to
awareness at these sites. Our site support address drivers of biodiversity loss through
groups (SSGs) at 26 Key Biodiversity Areas policy reform, advocacy, promoting
(KBAs) will continue to play a critical role mainstreaming of biodiversity in economic
in biodiversity monitoring and habitat decision-making processes and promoting
restoration. nature-based solutions and models. Top on
Dr Paul Matiku, Executive Director, Nature
the agenda is blocking the controversial Kenya, speaking during a Key Biodiversity
The annual waterbird counts will take place allocation of Yala Swamp for sugarcane Area (KBA) side event at the Convention on
in January-February 2023 at the Great Rift growing by the National Land Commission Biological Diversity COP 15 that was held in
Valley lakes and other wetlands within the (NLC). Working with like-minded December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. Photo
country, including Nairobi and its environs. organizations, we will use all channels courtesy of P. Matiku
LUNGS FOR KENYA
13 TH
CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
DATE: 31ST MARCH 2023 | VENUE: KAREN COUNTRY CLUB | TIME: 8:00AM
PLATINUM SPONSOR: KSH. 1,000,000 | GOLD SPONSOR: KSH. 750,000
SILVER SPONSOR: KSH. 500,000 | BRONZE SPONSOR: KSH. 250,000 |
HOLE SPONSOR: KSH. 100,000 | INDIVIDUAL PLAYER: KSH. 2,500 (NK MEMBER),
KSH. 3,000 (NON MEMBER) | TEAM ENTRY KSH. 12,000
To register contact Angela: nkmembership@naturekenya.org or telephone 0739200216
ACTION
Forest Restoration at Kieni
KBA in Focus: Mount Kenya Forest
By Joshua Sese
S
oaring 5,199m above sea level, Partnership Fund, Darwin Initiative,
Mount Kenya is the highest peak Kenya Breweries Limited, Safaricom,
in the country and the second and World Land Trust, has been at the
highest in Africa. The mountain lies forefront in spearheading the Mount
140km northeast of Nairobi and Kenya KBA restoration process. As a
is shared by five counties: Embu, result, the 2019-2029 Mount Kenya
Kirinyaga, Meru, Nyeri and Tharaka Forest Restoration Strategy has been
Nithi. Mount Kenya includes an developed, 28 Community Forest
altitudinal gradient consisting of rock, Associations (CFAs) in the region
ice and snow on the highest peaks, have been trained and over 1,500
bamboo, scrub and moorland at the ha of degraded forestland restored.
middle altitude, and montane forest Diversification of livelihood options
on the lowest slopes. The forest forms for forest-adjacent communities Staff from the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC)
the Mount Kenya Key Biodiversity has also been enhanced through join representatives from the Kijabe Environmental Volunteers
Area (KBA). beekeeping, the establishment Organization (KENVO), Kieni Community Forest Association,
of commercial tree nurseries and Kenya Forest Service and Nature Kenya in a tree planting
The KBA is a crucial carbon sink and eco-tourism. Nature Kenya is also activity at Kyeni Forest. KDIC supported the growing of 5,000
water tower. Mount Kenya Forest is promoting the adoption of fuel- trees in the forest in December 2022. Photo by J. Mutunga
a source of two main rivers in Kenya: efficient cookstoves. More than 1,000
Ewaso Nyiro North and Tana. These households and five local schools
rivers supply fresh water to more than have benefited from this initiative
4 million people, irrigate 2 million aimed at reducing demand for
hectares of croplands and generate fuelwood from the forest.
95 per cent of Kenya’s hydroelectric
power. Mount Kenya Forest is a haven Nature Kenya is working closely with
for remarkable biodiversity, including upstream stakeholders, CFAs, and
some unique species like the Site Support Groups (Ithugu SSG and
Mountain Bongo, African Golden Cat, Mt. Kenya Biodiversity Conservation
Giant Forest Hog, Mount Kenya Bush Group) to strengthen their capacity
Viper, Kenya Dancing Jewel Damselfly for watershed protection. The
and Abbott’s Starling. Elephants, communities are encouraged to
leopards, and bushbucks are among actively participate in activities such
other wildlife found there. as tree planting, environmental
awareness, policy influencing,
Despite its priceless value, Mount advocacy and eco-tourism. So far,
Kenya Forest faces immense eight CFAs from Meru, three from
degradation due to illegal Kirinyaga and two from Tharaka-Nithi
logging, overgrazing, poaching, counties have submitted priorities for
encroachment, forest fires and climate incorporation into their respective
change, among others. Weak forest counties’ County Integrated
governance and management, Development Plans (CIDPs).
invasive species and overreliance on Furthermore, businesses relying on
forest resources for livelihoods are ecosystem products and services The Privatization Commission also supported the growing of
also threats to the KBA. provided by Mount Kenya Forest 1,200 trees in Kieni Forest in December 2022.
Nature Kenya, with funding from are highly encouraged to support Photo by A. Mecha
partners such as Critical Ecosystem restoration activities in the KBA.
For updates visit For contributions, advertising and subscriptions, contact us by:
www.naturekenya.org Post: P. O. Box 44486 GPO, Nairobi
EDITORIAL TEAM Telephone: 020 3537568/0780149200/0751624312/ 0771343138
Fleur Ng’weno, Angela Mecha, Email: office@naturekenya.org
Richard Kipngeno and John Published with support from:
Mwacharo
LAYOUT
John Mwacharo
FRONT BANNER
Lorenzo Barelli Nature-Kenya @Nature_Kenya
nature_kenya Nature Kenya
NATURALIST
Wonders of Nature Planets over sunset
By Fleur Ng’weno
T
he planet Venus, orbiting These stars have meaning in
between the sun and the many cultures. The glow of
Earth, is the bright light M42 was considered the fire of
over the sunset. Not far below at creation by the Maya people
the start of January is the little of central America. According
planet Mercury, closer to the to NASA, “The Mayan culture’s
sun. Because planets reflect the likening of the Orion Nebula to
sun’s light, Venus and Mercury a cosmic fire of creation is very
are quite bright. The big but apt. The nebula is an enormous
far planet Jupiter is bright high cloud of dust and gas where vast
overhead, and the planet Saturn, numbers of new stars are being
less bright, is between Venus and forged.”
Jupiter. Mars, the ‘red planet’, is
high in the east, glowing orange. In Greek myths, Orion is followed
by his hunting dogs: Sirius, the
During January, Mercury brightest star we see at night, in
sinks rapidly into the sunset, the southeast, and Procyon in
re-appearing in the sunrise at the east. Here near the equator,
Fish out of water: These fish, probably Barbus, were caught on mid-month. Venus rises as Saturn we can also see the second
camera leaping up a stream in flood on the Sunday Birdwatch at sinks; they pass each other on brightest star, Canopus, low
Kakuzi near Thika. Photo by J. Gateru January 22. On the 23rd, look in the southeast. To the right
for Venus, Saturn and the thin of Canopus, the bright star
crescent moon together in the Achernar is low in the southwest.
west.
To the north of Orion there are
Jupiter moves steadily constellations, or star patterns,
westwards, followed by Mars. named by the ancient Greeks.
The waxing gibbous moon is The Pleiades cluster or “Seven
near Mars on January 3, and Sisters”, is high overhead. With
again on the 30th and 31st. The binoculars, you can see the
moon is near Jupiter on Jan 25 blue haze that surrounds them.
and 26. Between the Pleiades and
Orion, the Hyades cluster forms
January stars a cone-like shape, the face of
In mid-December, the Earth Taurus the Bull to the ancient
travels through an area of dust Greeks. Reddish Aldebaran, the
and rocks in space. Some of Bull’s fiery eye, is at one end of
these particles may fall into the cone.
the earth’s atmosphere and
burn up. We call them meteors Further north, bright stars form
or “shooting stars” (although a large pentagon, part of Auriga
they are not stars). Look for the Charioteer. At the pentagon’s
Staying afloat: Monitor lizards are good swimmers. This one was the Geminids meteor shower northern end is the bright star
seen in a stream at Kakuzi on the Sunday Birdwatch. on a dark, clear night between Capella. Below Capella, low in
Photo by J. Gateru midnight and dawn from Dec the north, is the constellation
7 to 17, especially early on the Cassiopeia, shaped like the letter
14th. M. To the west of Cassiopeia is
the Great Square of Pegasus.
Planets, Dec 2021
On clear January evenings, the The Milky Way, a pale band made
sky is filled with bright stars. of millions of stars, stretches
The star pattern Orion the across the constellations,
Hunter rises due east. Viewed from the M of Cassiopeia in
from Greece, he seemed to walk the northwest, through the
across the sky, setting in the pentagon of Auriga, past
west. To us near the equator, Betelgeuse in Orion, past Sirius,
Orion seems to lie on his back as to the southeast.
he rises in the east.
In the morning before dawn, the
Three bright stars in a row form beautiful constellation of the
Orion’s belt. Three fainter lights Southern Cross is prominent in
in a row hang from the belt. the southern sky.
Among these is M42, the Orion
Nebula. You can see it with the Moon, Jan ’23
unaided eye on a clear, dark Jan 6: Full moon. Jan 15: Last
night, or with binoculars. quarter (half-lit moon overhead
at dawn). Jan 21: New moon; on
Four bright stars like the corners Jan 23, look for the slim crescent
of a box form Orion’s body. near Venus and Saturn. Jan
Imagine bright blue-green Rigel, 28: First quarter (half-lit moon
at the upper right, as Orion’s overhead at sunset).
The art of nest building: A Spectacled Weaver carefully
knee kicking into the sky; and
constructs its nest at Loresho. Photo by P. Usher January sun
orange Betelgeuse, at the lower
left, as Orion’s left shoulder. In Nairobi in late January, the
sun rises at 6:41 am and sets at
6:51 pm.
IN THE FIELD
Birding Updates
Wednesday Morning Birdwalks in Nairobi please contact Ireene Madindou at
FUNDAMENTALS OF
Please observe Covid-19 protocols as
or phone
0701-028739.
ORNITHOLOGY
needed: wear or bring masks and meet at
designated venues. Thursday Birdwalks in Malindi
4th January – Museum Grounds/Michuki 5th January – Mayungu. Meet at 4:00pm
Memorial Park. Meet at 8 am in the at the Malindi Museum near Nature Kenya
open space in front of the entrance to the Membership Office
museum galleries. 12th January – Malindi Museum Grounds.
11th January – Manguo Pond, Limuru, Meet at 4:00pm at the Malindi Museum near
with the African Waterbird Census. Meet Nature Kenya Membership Office
at 8.30am at Manguo Pond, off the upper 19th January – Mtangani via Afya
Nairobi-Naivasha Road, just past the flyover Hospital. Meet at 4:00 pm at Malindi
to Limuru. Museum (100/= Boda boda fare to and
18th January – Dandora Sewage Works from)
(Nairobi Oxygenation Ponds, Ruai), 26th January - Moi Village. Meet at 4:00pm
with the African Waterbird Census. Meet at Malindi Museum (100/= Boda boda fare
at 8.30am at the main entrance to the
to and from)
Sewage Works/Oxygenation Ponds off
Koma Rock Road in Ruai, Nairobi. Birding 28th January. Saturday Birdwatch –
and counting likely to end at 2 or 3 pm. Mtangani. Meet at the Malindi Museum at
For more directions please e-mail Or WhatsApp 0738
682773 Or phone 0720 335819
For more information, email:
25th January – Nairobi National Park / or
Langata Wetlands with the waterbird phone 0725223042.
counts. Meet at 8.30am at the Nairobi
Coast January 2023 Waterbird Counts
National Park Main Gate, KWS headquarters
along Lang’ata Road. Thanks to KWS for If you would like to take part; if you are
Get a FREE
welcoming the birdwalk. experienced in identifying and counting
waterbirds; and if you can meet the
January 15th Sunday Bird Watch – group at the site or provide a vehicle for 2023
Brackenhurst. Meet at the Brackenhurst
Main Gate, at 8:30am. Directions: Drive
transport, please contact: Amina Simba
/
copy of our
along Limuru Road to Ruaka, take a right
turn and continue straight along Banana
0725223042 or Lennox Kirao Lennox.kirao@
arocha.org / 0738575431.
2023 BIRD
Hill Road. Turn right at the two big white
stones with signage, the gate is 1km ahead. CALENDAR
Alternatively, take PSV number 106, 114
or 115 at the Khoja roundabout in Nairobi,
when you renew your
alight at Brackenhurst gate. There is an membership today,
entrance fee of Ksh. 200 per adult and Ksh. recruit a new member CELEBRATING OUR
100 per child below 12 years. or buy items worth Ksh. BIRDS OF PREY
If you have questions, please write < news@ 2,000 and above.
naturekenya.org> or phone 0780-149200.
Tentative January 2023 Waterbird Counts
on the Rift Valley lakes:
Bush squirrel. Photo by P. Usher
Lake Ol’Bolossat January 13 and 14
Mombasa Birdwalks are held the 3rd
Lakes Bogoria and Baringo, January 20, 21
Saturday of each month. To check meeting
and 22.
time and place, check Facebook page:
Lakes Naivasha, Sonachi, and Oloidien,
If you would like to take part; if you are Or contact: Taibali Hamzali / 0733-980540
waterbirds and if you can meet the group or Kelvin Mazera /
at the site or provide a 4x4 for transport, 0720-928783
Yes! Start my membership
Surname JOIN/RENEW MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP TYPES
First Name Ksh Per Year Select ‘Lipa na Mpesa’
Full 2,000 Select ‘Pay Bill’
Ms/Mr/Title Sponsor 6,000 Enter business number 100300
Family 2,800 Enter account number (put your
Address Student 1,200 lapsed membership number or
Tel. Schools, Clubs 1,500 write new member)
Corporates 50,000 Enter the amount, enter your PIN
Mobile and above Confirm details & press OK
Email
For details on associated groups such as Youth Committee, Succulenta, and Friends of Nairobi Arboretum, City Park or Arabuko-
Sokoke Forest, contact office@naturekenya.org
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