It is said that Kenya is a birder’s paradise. However, it has lost many birds at the species level as part of evolution. Some migrate, but others just go extinct due to various external threats. Many such birds belong to the category of Hawks, Cranes, Jaegers, and Frigatebirds. But thanks to the recent attempts made to photograph and preserve the findings of the remains of the birds, people interested in the study of birds have been able to peruse the documented records. Such publications are scarce just as the birds are; however, they are readily accessible in the public domain.
Articles by Val Jiwa
Top 12 Safaris In Africa are Mara, Serengeti, Kruger, Okavango, Ngorongoro, Luangwa, Etosha, Amboseli, Hwange, and Bwindi. From the vast savannahs of Kenya to the pristine wilderness of Tanzania, the continent is home to some of the world’s top safari destinations.
Lake Nakuru of Kenya is in the province of Rift Valley. An incredible feature of the lake is the large gathering of long-necked, long-legged Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The lake is situated in Nakuru National Park and is a flamingo par excellence. Freshwater streams from the mountain surround the magnificent Lake Nakuru. They trickle through moss-covered rocks, nourishing the green leaves and long grasses sweeping low to the ground. The flamingos love to bathe and frolic in the mountain water of the streams. Then they rinse off the salt that would otherwise harden their feathers, rendering them unable to fly.
Shearwaters, Flycatchers, And Ducks Of Kenya Some of the birds in Kenya that was once abundant suddenly become nomadic due to various reasons. But people do come across them accidentally. A few species belonging to shearwaters, old world flycatchers and ducks are among them. Shearwaters Belonging to the order of…
The ostrich is closely related to the New Zealand kiwi and the Australian emu. It is the largest bird with the male growing 2 meters tall. An ostrich weighs around 200lb or 100 kg and measures 7-9ft in length. Hence, it is too heavy to fly and remains a flightless bird. But the flightless ostrich has the biggest eye of any animal. It measures 5 cm across, allowing them to see predators at very long distances. The ostrich’s wings reach 2 meters and are used to shade chicks, in mating displays, and to cover the skin of the upper legs.
Serious birders, while wandering around the Kenya’s vast outdoors have encountered birds that have been forgotten for the longest time. These nature lovers described the birds in great detail and have created accounts for subsequent research. Such birds are the Storm petrels, the Bee-eaters, the Waxbills, and other such sundry rare birds. Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds in the world. Bee-eaters are the near passerine birds belonging to the Meropidae family. Most of the accounts on these birds are shallow descriptions about their identification features, behavior and ecology. Much research is needed to study and understand these birds in detail.
The Vulturine guinea fowl inhabits much of Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya. It lives in flocks of 30 individuals in the savanna, dry bush, scrubs, acacia woodland, forest edges, and grassland with trees. Guinea fowls are hardy birds and are suitable for a range of climatic conditions. At night, the birds roost in trees. The call of the guinea fowl is a high-pitched song. What gave the bird its name is the appearance of bluish-gray colored skin of the upper neck and a head that is similar to vultures. The International Union for Conservation lists it as a low risk.
Enjoying Kenya safari in a hot air balloon is one of the most thrilling experiences. It gives a bird’s eye view of the wildlife and the vast savannah of the game parks. After about an hour, just about the time of descent of the balloon, along with the exhilaration, some people feel a slight discomfort or stuffiness in the ear. But it almost always goes away on landing. This uneasiness is ear barotrauma. People who suffer from congested nose due to common cold are more likely than others to feel such awkwardness. Detection of ear barotrauma requires a physical examination.
Alan Eustace was Google’s vice president of engineering and search. Before that, he worked on chip design and architecture projects. He is also a skydiver and has completed 500 jumps. Eustace exudes a mild demeanor, but beneath that is an engineer who likes challenges. Hence, his love and passion for space travel led him in 2014 to be the highest skydiver. He ascended via balloon to 136,000 feet and returned with a parachute and a spacesuit. It did not garner the same press attention that, Felix Baumgartner, the former record holder got because Eustace’s motives were not prestige or fame.
The most elegant way to experience a Kenya wildlife safari is in a hot-air balloon. After the balloon wildlife safari over the vast plains and savannahs of Kenya, the crew and the passengers of the hot air balloon flight will toast and enjoy a champagne reception. An elaborate breakfast accompanies the champagne toast at the landing place. There is a reason behind this celebration that dates back to the time when the pioneers and innovators staged the first few hot air balloon flights in the late 1780s. For engagements and weddings, additional accompaniments are provided to make the experience special.