The “patchwork” landscape of the countryside around Matangwe – a mosaic of shrubs, small trees, small crop fields and pasture.
This will be my last post on my experiences in Kenya: still lots to talk about but it’s time to move on….
As I’ve tried to convey and you will see in the pictures embedded in this post, Kenya has some fantastic birds…and fantastic people. But I’m worried for them. A quickly growing population is putting an ever greater strain on the country’s resources. The country all around Matangwe and Bondo (and for that matter, everywhere I went in western Kenya) is a patchwork of trees and shrubs, small agricultural holdings, houses, and fields for grazing. I don’t know how these “patches” can survive: the use of firewood for cooking is slowly but steadily diminishing any tree growth. Cattle and goats (which constitute a person’s wealth) are overgrazing the fields leaving them vulnerable to drought. Goats are especially bothersome as they eat almost anything and right down to and including the roots. They have been cited as a major cause of desertification in sub-Saharan Africa. I saw flocks of goats numbering over 40 individuals.
A large herd of cattle drinking in the pond. One of the net lanes is just to the left out of the picture. Cattle always made me nervous for my nets….
But population is the key…and right now it is growing fast.
Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying here. The same forces, or similar ones, are at play here in southern Ontario. The GTA, a huge swath of buildings and roads running from Oshawa right around the western end of Lake Ontario to Niagara, has been built on some of the country’s richest agricultural land – once known as the “Golden Horseshoe” – effectively destroying it. And for many years now I have watched with trepidation the spread of housing along roads leading south from Hamilton and the “explosion” in new homes going up in small towns like Caledonia and Cayuga. So we’re no different. It’s a worldwide problem.
The countryside is dotted with small homes like these.
But for the Kenyans and their wildlife to survive, they will have to make some tough decisions around family planning, agricultural practices and land use. To continue on the way they are will lead to an environmental catastrophe. And, sadly, someday maybe these magnificent birds will be seen only in aviaries or, even worse, as pictures in history books.
Painted mud walls and a thatch roof – a common housing choice for many. They are surprisingly cool inside, even on the hottest days.
Photo Gallery:
Red-chested Sunbird.
Gorgeous dorsal detail of a Red-chested Sunbird.
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Frontal view of a spectacular Beautiful Sunbird.
Dorsal view of a Beautiful Sunbird.
The sunbirds, reminiscent of hummingbirds, are like jewels as they flit around flowering trees and shrubs. They were almost impossible to film “in the wild” – fortunately I was able to catch and band these 3 different species.
This Angola Swallow was a lucky catch.
White-headed Saw-wing – a type of swallow.
Lesser Striped Swallow
Overall I saw 9 species of Swallows: 7 typically African ones and 2 Eurasian-breeding migrants (Barn Swallows and Sand Martins or Bank Swallows). One day there was a large movement of a variety of swallows ahead of a rain front that was going through. For at least half an hour thousands of these birds raced by ahead of the storm.
Try weaving this with just your teeth!
Fabulous intricacy of a Weaver nest.
Weaver egg.
Long-crested Eagle – scourge of Weaver nests.
Remains of a Weaver nest after Long-crested Eagle predation.
I was able to watch a Long-crested Eagle go after weaver nests – it didn’t seem to be overly concerned about my presence. The bird flies up to the woven nest and grips it with both feet. Then, hanging from it upside down, it tears into the nest devouring whatever it finds inside. The weavers gather to mob it in an attempt to drive it off. They seemed to annoy the giant predator but not deter it.
Broad-billed Roller – the stunning indigo of the undertail coverts does not show in this picture.
Grey-headed Sparrow.
White-throated Bee-eater. I’m very sorry that I never caught one. They would be magic in the hand.
Red-billed Oxpecker
Hamerkop – “hammer-head”….for obvious reasons.
African Pied Wagtail – a common visitor at the banding pond.
Eastern Grey Plantain-eater perched in a tree overlooking the school
White-browed Sparrow Weaver
Black-winged Stilts along the Lake Victoria shoreline.
Abdim’s Stork.
Little Egret – abundant along Lake Victoria.
Maribou Storks, Abdim’s Stork and Sacred Ibises at he outdoor abbatoir just outside Bondo.
Grey-backed Camaroptera
Black Kites were everywhere but very common in and around towns and cities.
African Thrush – looking like a washed out American Robin.
Speckled Dove
Montagu’s Harrier in a tree overlooking the school.
A pair of African Jacanas frequented the “banding pond”.
Common Sandpiper – exactly like our Spotted Sandpiper in plumage and behaviour.
For the record, I saw 128 species and banded 273 birds of 51 species.
Rick
Iam very happy with Ricks work in Matangwe Keep it up am Amos from matangwe
I am very happy with Rick’s work and the pupils from Matangwe not forgeting myself for the support of this project. I admire the work being an interesting career walking from place to place. I advice that Rick should get somevolunteers in Matangwe to continue with the work even if he is not around. I will be happy if practice the same.
Wonderful work Rick conttinue.(amosorindi@yahoo.com) From Kenya-Matangwe.
Was good