The Birds of Kenya

In the fall of 1993 John and I went on safari in Kenya. Kenya sits astride the equator in east Africa, and we were surprised at the comfortable weather we enjoyed - dry heat with often gentle breezes. Our safari took us to several game reserves and parks where we were able to see animals up close. The animals are accustomed to the safari vans and are undisturbed by them. One day we waited for a herd of 21 elephants (in all sizes) to cross the road ahead of us. The animals were magnificent ! But this article is about BIRDS! One of our sons had been on a tnp to Zambia several years ago and told us of the number of species of birds he saw. We decided to keep a bird list during the two weeks that we were in Kenya. We went anned with "Collins Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa, set up much like the Peterson guides. We were also fortunate to have safari guides whose knowledge of birds was excellent. Without our bird books and our guides' help we could never have come up with our list of 156 species. Many of the African birds are very colorful, as their names suggest. For example: the Red and Yellow Barbet, the Lilac Breasted Roller, and the Orange Bellied Parrot. The Sunbirds and Bee-eaters are also beautifully colored. There are some birds, such as the Robin Chat and the Mourning Doves, that would have looked at home in Maine. There are several species with very long tails; among those we saw were the Speckled Mousebird, the Blue-naped Mousebird, the Ashy Starling, and the Straw-tailed Whydah; a black and cream colored finch-like bird with thin and very long pale yellow tail feathers. We saw large flocks of both Lesser and Greater Flamingos on the shores of lake Samburu, Ostrich flapping across the dry plains, Marabou Storks, and several species of vultures, eagles, and herons. On the grounds of Mount Kenya Safari Club, Storks, Peacocks, and Sacred Ibis strolled about freely. At the Animal Orphanage there we fed Egyptian Geese, who were running about with their chicks. The Vulturine Guineafowl, with its mantle and chest feathers striped blue, black, and white and its cobalt blue breast, was striking. We saw flocks of them skittenng along. One day our guide spotted a Verraux's Eagle Owl sleeping in a tree. This owl is about two feet tall, brownish-grey with a whitish face edged by black on both sides. The Superb Starling, resembling an over grown Robin, with white breastband, white under the tail, and a creamy white eye, was a common sight. We saw three varieties of Kingfishers, all smaller than the American variety, and bnlliantly colored. We were so intent on observing the birds that our travel director (who gave everyone Swahili nicknames) called us Bwana Ndege and Mama Ndege (Papa and Mama Bird). The birds, the animals, and the most friendly people made our safari in Kenya unforgettable.

Evelyn White

IN SEARCH OF SEA PARROTS Searching for Puffins off the Maine coast. Nel Anctil

BACK YARD NESTING SUCCESS Our efforts to get birds nesting in our back yard are finally rewarded. Dan Marquis

GREBE IN A BASKET An amusing story about a Red-Necked Grebe. Louise Sylvester

ENCOUNTER WITH A HUMMER What happens when human and hummingbird meet? Jean Taber

RAMBO CHICKADEE A tenacious chickadee takes on all comers. Paticia Fish

FLORIDA FLING Take a stroll through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Tom Hayward