Nature Blog

Kiptaberr Hill – a new birding hotspot

Posted on by Nature Kenya

Kiptaberr Hill is one of the forest fragments in the Cherangani Hills, located near Kapcherop market centre, close to the Kenya Forest Service station. The hill is a spectacular single giant rock. During a survey for the GEF/UNDP funded “Strengthening Protected Areas Network within the Eastern Montane Forest Hotspot of Kenya” project in the western forests of Kenya in 2015, it was observed that Kiptaberr was a stopover point for migrants and a home to raptors. Kiptaberr Hill is a suitable raptor migratory watchtower that is yet to be considered for protection and conservation.

The survey team from the National Museums of Kenya and Nature Kenya found the Critically Endangered (CR) Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) resident at the rock, with two roosting flocks of 6-8 individuals spotted on one of the survey transects. When climbing up the hill, the team often saw a pair of Vulnerable (VU) Southern Ground Hornbills among flocks of goats and sheep.  At the peak of Kiptaberr rock, at alt 2,786, they found Malachite Sunbirds feeding and nesting.

While enjoying a spectacular view of Trans Nzoia from atop the hill, a visitor will also see a cave between rocks that is home to Nyanza Swifts. The birds make repeated trips to their nests in the cave with food in between their beaks to feed young ones. Some 200m higher, a Lanner Falcon flies in very fast and enters between two rocks.  Suddenly, the sound of begging chicks can be heard. Clearly, Kiptaberr is an avifauna hot spot.

By observing human activities in and around Kiptaberr, it is evident that this forest fragment is facing serious threats. Encroachment, over-grazing and logging are some of the looming threats at Kiptaberr and one cannot stop wondering, ‘does this unique forest fragment have a future?’

How long can an African Paradise Flycatcher live? Nairobi ringing group will tell you…

Posted on by Nature Kenya

Bird ringing is a tool used by researchers to study birds. It involves trapping birds using special nets called mist nets; carefully extracting and examining them; putting a light metal ring with a unique number on the tarsus (leg); taking measurements like age (adult or young), weight, bill length, among other biometrics; and releasing them back to the wild.

A lot of information has been obtained from birds ringed in this way, among them, movement of birds, migration routes followed, lifespan, distribution and dispersal, habitat change, among others.

In Nairobi, ringing is usually done weekly by members of Nairobi Ringing Group at Nairobi Museums Ground. During the month of June, we experienced cold and rainy weather and a decline in the number of birds caught; sometimes we closed nets with 1-2 or no bird ringed at all. Nevertheless, that has not interfered with members’ morale and effort to set up nets and hope to ring some birds.

A number of longevity records in June are very important information for ringers and birders in general. A Singing Cisticola (Cisticola cantans) with ID ring K 45132, was first ringed on 9th July 2009 as an adult bird, and re-trapped in June 2016. A Rüppell’s Robin Chat (Cossypha semirufa) with ID ring AA 31604 was ringed on 17th July 2014 as an adult, and re-trapped in June 2016.

We don’t know how far resident birds move from time to time; but with ringing, we are getting an answer.  An Olive Thrush (Turdus olivaceus) was ringed with ID ring BB 7402 on 11th November, 2015; it was later caught by the public at Kiambu Road, Runda area, approximately 15 km from the Museums ground.

An amazing highlight was an African Paradise Flycatcher with ID ring K45023. This bird was ringed on 23rdAugust, 2007 as a full adult and re-trapped on 23thJune 2016. Lifespan with the ring is 8 years, 10 months, and since he was an adult bird, he may be older than 10 years.

Please report any ringed bird to Bird Committee at Nature Kenya (birds@naturekenya.org) or Ornithology Section, National Museums of Kenya. Remember, don’t try to catch a bird to read the number! Photograph it instead and send us the photo. Wishing you happy birding and ringing!