Category: Blog

Bird Ringing in Ngulia

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Aloise Garvey

Do you know that a tiny metal or plastic ring placed on a bird’s leg can unlock incredible secrets about its life? This process, known as bird ringing or bird banding, is a fascinating way researchers learn about birds and how to protect them.

Here’s how it works: a small tag (usually a strip of metal) with a unique code is gently attached to a bird’s tarsus (the part of the leg just above the foot). This tag, now a band or ring on the bird’s leg, helps researchers identify the bird if it’s seen or caught again.

Birds are carefully captured using special mist nets – thin mesh nets with small pockets designed to hold the birds until trained handlers remove them for processing safely. Once ringed, the bird’s species, age, sex, and wing length are recorded. This information helps scientists answer important questions: where do birds go during migration? How long do they live? When do they breed? What’s their health like?

One of the most remarkable bird-ringing sites in the world is right here in Kenya, at Ngulia Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park. The Ngulia bird ringing story began in 1969 when on a misty night the lodge’s bright floodlights attracted thousands of birds. Many flew into the lights, while others settled in nearby bushes. Curious about this phenomenon, ornithologists discovered that these were Palearctic birds – migratory birds travelling thousands of kilometres from Europe and Asia to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. These birds rely on the moon, stars, landmarks, and instincts to guide their epic journeys. But on misty nights, when they reach the hills near the lodge, they become disoriented, and fly towards the lodge’s lights.

Since then, bird enthusiasts and researchers worldwide have gathered at Ngulia annually to ring these extraordinary travellers and witness the awe-inspiring migration. The 2024 Ngulia Annual Bird Ringing event, held from November 24 to December 6, was nothing short of spectacular. A total of 13,328 birds were ringed, including 966 resident birds. An impressive 118 species were recorded, including migratory Eurasian Scops Owl and Corn Crakes and a rare Lesser Cuckoo, and the local, colourful Narina Trogon, charming Eastern Nicators, vibrant African Golden Orioles, and many more.

These birds, with their incredible journeys and dazzling diversity, reveal the wonders of migration and remind us how truly interconnected our world is. Bird ringing isn’t just exciting – it’s crucial. By understanding birds’ migration routes, breeding habits, and survival challenges, researchers can develop strategies to protect them. Events like Ngulia’s Annual Bird Ringing are vital in global bird conservation efforts.

So, the next time you spot a bird in your garden or on a nature walk, remember – it might just be part of an incredible story that spans continents and connects us all.

Raising seedlings of hope in Cherangani

Posted on by John Mwacharo
By Julius Kimani and Paul Kaino

In the Cherangani Hills, communities are leading a transformative effort to restore degraded forests and build resilience against climate change. In 2024, six Community Forest Associations (CFAs) from the area achieved a remarkable milestone of producing 700,000 tree seedlings in a year! This feat shows how concerted local action can spur forest restoration efforts. The CFAs – Elgeyo, Kessup, Cherangani, Cheptongei, Kapyego, and Chesoi – have established vibrant nurseries that nurture over 20 species of indigenous trees, including Syzygium guineense, Markhamia lutea, Hagenia abyssinica, Olea europaea ssp. africana, Juniperus procera, Prunus africana and many more. These nurseries ensure a steady supply of seedlings for forest restoration efforts while empowering communities with new skills and economic opportunities to create a greener, more sustainable future.

The journey to this milestone has been as transformative as the outcome. Through Nature Kenya, with financial support from the TerraFund for AFR100 project, CFA members have been trained in tree nursery management and provided with essential materials, such as potting tubes, wheelbarrows, hose pipes, watering cans, water tanks and piping, to support their efforts.

“Thanks to Nature Kenya, we’ve learned valuable skills to manage our nurseries and restore our forests,” says Mercy Chebet, a member of Chesoi CFA. “This achievement gives us pride and hope for the future.”

Beyond restoring forests, tree seedling production has become a lifeline for local communities. Selling seedlings to the restoration program, county governments, and private buyers has brought much-needed income.

In the Kessup forest, one of thirteen fragments of the Cherangani Hills Forest that spans Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, the CFA raised over 400,000 seedlings and earned over Ksh 2.1 million through the sale of the seedlings. Similarly, Cheptongei CFA produced more than 160,000 and earned more than Ksh 4 million by selling seedlings to the project. “This income helped sustain our operations and improve our lives,” says Dr Thomas Chepkiyeng, Chairman of Elgeyo CFA.

Women have been key players in this success story. The Berur Women’s Group, part of Kessup CFA, has expanded its operations and created economic opportunities by selling seedlings.

The impact of producing these seedlings extends far beyond the nurseries. In April and November 2024, over 288,000 seedlings of 18 assorted species raised in the CFAs’ nurseries were planted across 290 hectares of forest, marking significant progress in restoring degraded areas inside the state forests. To ensure survival, the communities take care of the planted seedlings.

“On average, the survival rate of the planted seedlings is 80%, which is proof that our efforts are working,” says John Musa, a committee member of Cheptongei CFA.

Under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS), communities have been granted access to degraded state forest areas by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), where they plant trees alongside crops, thereby blending conservation with food security.

The CFAs are not stopping at 700,000 seedlings. Going forward, they plan to expand production to one million seedlings annually while diversifying into flower and fruit farming. This ambitious vision underscores the communities’ commitment to conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

“This is only the beginning,” says Hance Juma, a forest station manager at Kessup Forest. “Anything is possible when communities and other stakeholders come together for a common goal – to restore our degraded forests.”

The Cherangani Hills Forest is part of a montane global biodiversity hotspot and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Cherangani, vital for biodiversity and local communities, provides critical ecosystem services as a water catchment for the Kerio Valley basin (Lake Turkana) and Lake Victoria basin, supporting domestic use, irrigation, industry, and hydropower.

KBA in Focus: Lake Magadi

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Joshua Sese

Lake Magadi Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), is a shallow, alkaline soda lake found in a catchment of faulted volcanic rocks in southern Kenya within the Great Rift Valley. The climate is hot and dry. The lake is rich in trona – sodium sesquicarbonate. Trona contains various chemicals, including salt, baking soda, washing soda and caustic soda. It forms a white layer over parts of the lake. The specialized bacteria in the water may turn some areas pink or even red.

Several hot springs feed the shallow, permanent lagoons at the lake’s northern, southern, and western edges, while some remain hidden beneath the surface. These warm lagoons are covered with highly specialized microbial fauna and flora such as cyanophytes, grazed by the endangered and endemic fish, the Magadi tilapia (Oreochromis grahami). The lake hosts significant numbers of Lesser Flamingos, which are known to breed in Lake Natron, about 50 kilometres south of Magadi. It is also home to the little Chestnut-banded or Magadi Plover. Diverse habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, and savannas surrounding the lake are home to a variety of plant and animal life.

For more than a hundred years, Magadi Soda Company, established in 1911, has harvested the trona, which is dried into soda ash. Soda ash is used in the manufacture of glass and many other products, and was Kenya’s main mineral export for many years.  Currently, the lake and the company are under the management of Tata Chemicals Magadi.

Lake Magadi is a site recognised for its high biodiversity importance. In collaboration with Tata Chemicals, the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other stakeholders, Nature Kenya holds water bird counts at the lake to help monitor its state.

Local youth step up efforts to conserve Cherangani Hills Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Julius Kimani

The Cherangani Hills Forest ecosystem is undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the ‘Understanding Cherangani Links to Human Well-Being’ project. This initiative, funded by the Global Center on Biodiversity forClimate (GCBC), is empowering local youth to take the lead in conservation efforts while tackling pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, poverty, and climate resilience. Nature Kenya is implementing the project as the lead in a partnership with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenyatta University, and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). By combining traditional knowledge with scientific research, the project places young community members at the forefront of safeguarding nature and livelihoods.

Spanning approximately 100,000 hectares across Trans-Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot counties, the Cherangani Hills Forest is a vital water catchment area between the Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana basins. Designated as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the forest provides invaluable ecosystem services, including clean water and cultural values. However, these benefits are under constant threat from deforestation, illegal encroachment, land fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change. Recognising that sustainable solutions must involve the community, the project is engaging local youth to help gather essential data that will shape future conservation strategies.

In May 2024, 34 young people were trained to use Kobo Collect, a mobile data collection tool, to assess ecosystem services and conduct Restoration Opportunity Assessments Methodology (ROAM). Through the workshop, participants developed skills in conducting interviews, recording observations, and ensuring data accuracy. Their role extends beyond data gathering—they are now key agents of change, bridging the gap between local communities and conservation efforts.

Collaborating with KEFRI, the project also trained 50 youth drawn from various groups, including Indigenous communities, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), and farmer groups. They were then assigned to conduct socio-economic surveys in forest blocks such as Kapyego, Chesoi, Kapolet, Kapkanyar, and Lelan. These surveys explored the impact of deforestation and land use changes on livelihoods, providing critical insights to inform Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMPs).

The project’s impact extends beyond immediate benefits. Twelve youths participated in a rapid biodiversity assessment led by the National Museums of Kenya, where they collected data on plants, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish. Meanwhile, another group of eighteen youth studied pollination services to support a forest restoration business case. Twenty other participants assessed soil carbon levels to evaluate the forest’s role in climate regulation. Moving forward, these youths will play a crucial role in developing an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) strategy and action plan to tackle the region’s climate challenges.

Beyond contributing to the project’s goals, these young people are gaining invaluable skills in research, environmental conservation, and data management—skills that can open doors to careers in conservation and related fields. More importantly, their involvement fosters a deeper understanding of how healthy ecosystems contribute to human well-being, inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship.

Once the data collection phase is complete, the findings will guide scientists, policymakers, and conservation agencies in designing solutions to protect Cherangani’s biodiversity while promoting sustainable forest use. These solutions will be implemented at national and county levels, ensuring that the ecosystem and the communities that depend on it can thrive in the wake of climate change.

This project is about preserving a forest and empowering a generation to take charge of their future. By equipping youth with the tools to make a difference, the initiative is creating a ripple effect—turning conservation into a movement where nature and people thrive hand in hand. The Cherangani youth are proving that the future of conservation is bright, dynamic, and full of possibilities.

KBA in Focus: Kirisia Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

Situated in the arid and semi-arid land on the Leroghi Plateau in Maralal, Samburu County, is the Kirisia Forest Key Biodiversity Area. Also known as Leroghi, the forest is one of Kenya’s oldest state forest reserves, gazetted in 1933, and the latest Important Bird Area (IBA) in Kenya designated in 2023. Kenya’s IBAs also qualify as Key Biodiversity Areas.

Kirisia forest is a critical wildlife dispersal route in northern Kenya, forming part of the north end of the Laikipia Plateau. It is also a crucial water source in the expansive, arid Ewaso Nyiro North river catchment. The KBA exhibits high floral diversity, hosting dry montane forest, upland forest and arid scrub vegetation. The high-elevation parts of the forest shelter upland bird species, which are largely cut off and miles away from the nearest central Kenya highlands that share similar species. Threatened fauna in the KBA include African wild dogs, Grevy’s zebra, Lelwel hartebeest, reticulated giraffe, vultures and Grey Crowned Cranes, among others. Black rhinos used to be common, but habitat destruction and poaching led to their disappearance. The site has two important cliffs, the Opiroi Cliffs, where the Critically Endangered Rüppell’s Vulture nests and roosts.

The forest is a source of life to the local community, providing diverse forest resources such as timber, fencing and building poles, non-wood products like honey, sand, water and herbal medicine, and ecosystem services. It is also important for cultural practices and eco-tourism.

However, Kirisia Forest faces several challenges threatening its future, most of which are anthropogenic. These include illegal logging for timber and firewood, charcoal burning, over-harvesting of herbal medicine and overgrazing, especially during the dry season when the only available pasture is in the forest. The predominant community living adjacent to the forest are nomadic pastoralists. Encroachment for settlement has also led to increased cases of human-wildlife conflicts. Other threats include forest fires, intentionally or accidentally caused by the local community, the spread of invasive species, soil erosion, and climate change.

Concerted efforts are needed to ensure that degradation is reversed for the long-term survival of the KBA. Kirisia Forest is under the management of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Community Forest Association. The forest has a management plan that is currently being implemented. After rigorous community sensitization and awareness creation on the benefits of conserving the forest, more than 5,000 squatters willingly left the forest land they had encroached on. The natural forest is regenerating, and the community is leading in activities to rehabilitate and reforest degraded areas through tree planting. They are also adopting alternative livelihood options. Plans are underway to establish a Nature Kenya Site Support Group in Kirisia Forest.