Wanyoike Wamiti
Enhancing capacity for learning bird ringing skills through research and conservation
| Location | Country | Categories | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Africa, Birds | 26 May 2002 |
In July 2002, on behalf of Nairobi Ringing Group, I received a grant from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation (Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation) to support a professional capacity building in bird ringing as a fundamental skill in birds’ research. The project wound up in June 2003. Among the many accomplishments, we made a higher indentation in terms of triumph including purchase of equipment e.g. PIV desktop computer, 1-4 man tent, 4 sleeping bags and replenished our rings stock. The funds moreover backed 6 ringing field expeditions and demonstrations at Egerton University, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, School for Field Studies in Kitengela, and Friends of Kinangop Plateau (South). Ensuing such a tremendous transformation and renewed vigor, needs for an additional funding was inevitable.
After submitting a final project report and priming a follow-up grant application, an award was approved in December 2004. The incumbent project’s broad objective is to enhance capacity for learning bird ringing skills through research and conservation. Among other things, funds will enable ringing group’s membership fraternity expand on activities initiated with the first funding, make several field expeditions including trips two of Kenya’s biologically important sites i.e. Taita Hills Forests and Kikuyu Escarpment Forest. We’ll also have few trips dedicated to learning raptors’ trapping techniques, handling and banding within Nairobi. I have already established links with Simon Thomsett who has spent a good time with raptors.
Monthly ringing will continue in an urban (Nairobi) forested habitat, and weekly trainings at the Nairobi Museum grounds. A Rocha Kenya has already granted permission to start a constant effort site (CES) at their property in Karen, Nairobi. Our previous CES have been the Nairobi Arboretum whose condition has deteriorated as shown by reducing number of new and recaptured individuals. A report is in preparation based on our more that 4 years monthly ringing. The report will come up with recommendations to the management board for habitat restoration. The funds will also facilitate us continue creating awareness on bird ringing and conservation by interacting closely with the local conservation action groups e.g. Kijabe Environmental Volunteers and Friends of Kinangop Plateau. We shall also visit students and staff of the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute in Naivasha, Kenya.
Picture: Ngulia - the Project Coordinator, Wanyoike Wamiti, at Ngulia Safari Lodge during the Dec’03 Eurasian migrants ringing project. (© Shailesh Patel, 2004)
News & Updates
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April to August 2005 |
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Picture: The Nairobi Ringing Group members at Watamu with their trainer, Colin Jackson (2nd right), during the second training session in June 2005, while visitors look on. (Photo credit - Mwamba). |
Thursday morning training sessions at the Nairobi Botanic Garden, National Museums of Kenya are still going on well. Majority of the participants are 6 University students on field attachment as well as other Interns at the Department. We have also not missed a session at the monthly ringing and training at A Rocha Kenya’s property in Karen, Nairobi. The number of participants has increased from 7 to 9 per session. We have also been lucky to welcome visitors both kids and adults alike. Until August, we have had 206 new birds and 48 recaptures. In late May, we received an invitation to demonstrate bird ringing and deliver a lecture on birds’ research and conservation in Kenya at the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya’s Centre for Tourism Training and Research in Nairobi. The two day vent was attended by about 200 students and 4 staff members. A total of six birds were captured including a Grey-backed Camaroptera first ringed in 2002. A group of 5 trainees attended training at A Rocha Kenya’s Mwamba Field Study Centre and Bird Observatory at Watamu in June. Two members have completed a computer training course in MS Access and PageMaker. At the moment, we are in the process of releasing our second issue of the Merops Newsletter this year. In august, a team of 3 members participated in the on-going ornithological research projects in one of Kenya’s most endangered habitats, Taita Hills Forest at Ngangao fragment. We have also replenished our ringing data books with 29 books. During the last quarter, we look forward to holding a demonstration at Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute, a trip to Kikuyu Escarpment Forest, participating in Ngulia Palaearctic migrants study, trying raptors at Athi River and waterbirds in one of the Nairobi wetlands.|
30th March 2005 |
| The project got going on 12th Dec. 2004 with a meeting at Ngulia Safari Lodge during the Palaearctic migrants ringing project. This meeting evaluated group’s performance by looking at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats since June 1994. Another meeting on 31st looked at project goals. Training sessions are going on every Thursday at the National Museums, Nairobi. Monthly sessions at a Constant Effort Site in a Nairobi forest at A Rocha Kenya’s property in Karen has been identified and permanent net positions marked. The bird’s movement has been very sporadic with few recaptures perhaps due to scarcity of resources especially food. The overall number of catch has been relatively low especially for Jan & Feb where 36 birds were caught. More nets were added in March and caught 54 new individuals from 24 species and 2 recaptures ringed in February. As training opportunity, we are also aiming at standardizing measurements and efforts for scientific data analysis. A training of trainers’ course took place at A Rocha Kenya’s Field Study Centre in Watamu. Five trainees were equipped with skills to enable them become effective communicators and instructors. Emphasis was put on identification, ageing, sexing, molting score, and taking of measurements. |