Great white pelicans in Soysambu conservancy

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Great White Pelican

Scientific Name: Pelecanus onocrotalus

By Duncan Oduor and Ezekiel Chebii

Soysambu Research Center

World Distribution

Great white pelicans are found in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. The ones in Africa stay here throughout the year, but the others fly from Eastern Europe (migrate) to Africa in the winter because they do not like cold weather.

Habitat

Great white pelicans spend a great deal of their time in the water. They usually choose large, freshwater lakes that have reed beds or small islands that can be used as safe places to nest as in lake Elmenteita.

Feeding

They feed mainly on fish, though they sometimes eat crustaceans (shrimp-like creatures). They usually fish in shallow water. They feed on Tilapia grahami in lake Elmenteita.

  • Use pouch to scoop up several litres of water with fish swimming.
  • Lift head up and squeeze pouch to get rid of water.
  • Swallow fish.

They often use teamwork when feeding: a group of 8-12 birds swim into a horseshoe shape to surround the fish, then, all together, they plunge in their beaks and scoop them out.

Predators

Vultures, eagles, jackals, hyenas and lions could eat young pelicans. Adults are sometimes preyed by crocodiles.

SOY87swaraPelicans breeding site in Lake Elementaita

Breeding

Pelicans often breed in large colonies of 40,000 to 50,000 pairs. Nests are usually just a rough pile of twigs on the ground. Two eggs are laid, which both parents keep warm by taking turns to rest them on their feet. After 29-36 days the eggs hatch into bald, helpless chicks which the parents feed from a special liquid that runs down their beaks. The chicks are able to fly when they are 10 – 12 weeks old, but will not be ready to breed themselves until they are aged 3-4 years.

Other important facts

  • Males are larger than females and have larger beaks.
  • The little hook on the end of the beak is used for preening (combing) the feathers to keep them in perfect condition for flying. Special oil keeps them waterproof.
  • Pelicans are light for their size (5 – 9 kg) because of air spaces in the bones and under the skin.

Pelicans lifespan in the wild is 15 -20 years while in captivity they can stay for 60 years.

Facts and Figures About Great White Pelicans
Name Great white pelican
Type of animal Bird
Where found Africa, Europe
Habitat Lakes
Diet Carnivorous
Average length 170 cm
Average weight 9 kg
Average number of young per year 2
Egg incubation 32 days
Maximum lifespan 27 years

Birdlife at Soysambu Conservancy– Lake Elmenteita

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I love nature….who came about by referring to it as Mother Nature? Is there Father Nature juxtaposed?  

Lake Elmenteita is 20 Km South East of Nakuru Town. It gets its water from Kekopey hot springs at the Southern end and two small streams – Mereroni & Kariandusi flowing from the eastern plateau. Siltation of the Lake from soil erosion is high especially now because of subsistence farming on the upper catchment. We do hope that the water off-take from Mereroni stream will not cause the Lake to dry up again once the rains subside; and that, the Mereroni -Mbaruk Water Resource Users Association (MBARUA) will ensure there is enough water inflow from the streams.

There are about 49 waterfowl species recorded including palearctic migrant, of international importance are populations Greater & Lesser Flamingo and the Pied Avocet.

Greater White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus

They are currently in hundreds at Lake Elmenteita.

The adults are mainly white almost identical to the Pink-Backed Pelican which are greyish white.

Breeding is high during the wet season as the water levels of the Lake are high and rocky outcrops (islands) in the eastern sector are flooded to form islets which are ideal for safe nesting.

They often feed in tightly packed groups, submerging heads and necks in unison. The scene is breathtaking for bird lovers as the waves in the Lake make everything astounding.

Grey Crowned Crane – Balearica regulorum gibbericeps

We spotted four (4) of them today at the riparian area but they flew away without a snap-shot….Grrhhhh.

Why Giraffes Have Such Long Necks

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Why Giraffes Have Such Long Necks.

By Duncan Oduor

Soysambu Conservancy Research Centre

Giraffes are generally said to have evolved to enable them eat high leaves that their rivals could not reach (enable them to eat hard-to-reach food). The evidence supporting this theory is weak.Studies have shown that giraffes in most part of Africa rarely browse the tips of trees even when lower leaves are scarce.

Another theory does with sexual selection. Giraffes’ necks begin to grow and once they reach certain length, males begin to use them as weapons. The animals compete for female favors(Dominancy). The male ones thwacking(Necking) each other’s ribs and legs with their heads, which are reinforced with horn-like growth called ossiccones. Male Giraffes’ with longest necks deliver hardest blow. This theory does not explain why females also have long necks but not long as males.

 

MALE NECKINGNECKING MALES

rothschild giraffe now endangered

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Giraffe and bird species in danger

By Nation Reporter

Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 21:00

Some species of bird and giraffe are on the brink of extinction unless urgent measures are taken to conserve them.

Scientists working in Kenya said the Sokoke Scops Owl, a small member of the species, faces extinction in East Africa due to illegal logging in indigenous forests in the Coastal and North East Tanzania.

Dr Munir Virani of The Peregrine Fund and the National Museums of Kenya found an estimated 1,025 pairs during his study in the early 1990s, and during this recent study, he and his colleague’s estimated only 800 pairs.

“The Sokoke Scops Owl is considered a flagship of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and is an indicator of the health of the forest” Dr Virani said.

The Rothschild’s giraffe is the latest African mammal to be declared “endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

There are nine recognised giraffe sub-species and the Rothschild’s is the second most endangered, with less than 670 remaining in the wild, says Kenya Wildlife Service.

The situation in Soysambu Conservancy

Out of the remaining 670 rothschild giraffes the Soysambu conservancy has a population estimate of 70,currently most of the adult females have young ones ranging five months to 2 years old.This is an indication of a healthy population and quick measures should be put in place to help conserve them.We are infact optimistic that one of the females is  calving soon,the was reported by one of the researchers who is currently taking her studies on the same.We are welcoming more students,consevationists,stakeholders and donors who have interest in helping Soysambu conservancy and the world to improve their population.Enough data has to be collected and analyzed for mitigation measures. 

Rothschild Giraffe Now An Endangered Species.

Posted on by

Giraffe and bird species in danger

By Nation Reporter

Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 21:00

Some species of bird and giraffe are on the brink of extinction unless urgent measures are taken to conserve them.

Scientists working in Kenya said the Sokoke Scops Owl, a small member of the species, faces extinction in East Africa due to illegal logging in indigenous forests in the Coastal and North East Tanzania.

Dr Munir Virani of The Peregrine Fund and the National Museums of Kenya found an estimated 1,025 pairs during his study in the early 1990s, and during this recent study, he and his colleague’s estimated only 800 pairs.

“The Sokoke Scops Owl is considered a flagship of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and is an indicator of the health of the forest” Dr Virani said.

The Rothschild’s giraffe is the latest African mammal to be declared “endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

There are nine recognised giraffe sub-species and the Rothschild’s is the second most endangered, with less than 670 remaining in the wild, says Kenya Wildlife Service.

 Situation in Soysambu Conservancy

By Duncan Oduor and Beatrice Limo

Out of the remaining 670 rothschild giraffes the Soysambu conservancy has a population estimate of 70,currently most of the adult females have young ones ranging five months to 2 years old.This is an indication of a healthy population and quick measures should be put in place to help conserve them.We are infact optimistic that one of the females is  calving soon,this was reported by one of the researchers :Zoe Muller who is currently taking her studies on the same.We are welcoming more students,consevationists,stakeholders and donors who have interest in helping Soysambu conservancy and the world to improve their population.Enough data has to be collected and analysed  for mitigation measures.

conservation of giraffe,rothschild giraffe in soysambu.

Rothschild giraffe in Soysambu Conservancy.