SPIKE THE SECRETARY BIRD

Posted on March 3, 2012 by beaty limo

BY: CHEGE AMOS

Over the years Soysambu conservancy has played a great role in wildlife conservation,the conservation of animals have remained successful as a result of the commitment in habitat conservation. The conservancy is a home to more than 200species of residents birds and the over100 migrants and palaearctic birds and a home to some threatened birds species such as great white pelican(global restricted range)grey crested helmet shrike(globally threatened). The secretary birds are among the largest species of birds that have gotten refuge in the conservancy after anthropogenic activities encroached their former habitats. On 28th February 2012 ‘spike’,a young secretary bird was saved by national geographic television team and soysambu conservancy from other birds that intended to kill her after her mother died. Lets all conserve the habitats so thats the wildlife can find a refuge.

SOYSAMBU BIODIVERSITY

Posted on May 11, 2011 by beaty limo

The Great White Pelicans some landing on the Island to join the Flock on Lake Elmenteita the only breeding ground in East Africa.

Augur Buzzard(Butte a. augur):The Bird of prey resting on the Acacia tree checking for any available Prey.

The Flamingos on the shores of Lake Elmenteita.

The Lesser Flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor) on the shores of Lake Elmenteita.

Black and white Colobus (Colobus guereza) in the Acacia xanhtopholea (Yellow Barked Acacia)Forest.

Soysambu conservancy is a privately owned land and declared as wildlife conservancy way back in the year 2007.It is a non-profit making organization with Diverse Fauna (Mammals) and Avifauna (Bird life). The avifauna comprise of both Terrestrial and the Wetland birds found in the 75% portion of Elmenteita within the Conservancy.
The recent animal census indicated that there is an increase in the number of animal species like the Eland ,Grant’s Gazelle, water Bucks,Warthogs,Bush Bucks,Reed Bucks,Vervet Monkey,Rock Hyrax and the Baboon, the population of the Semi-Endangered Ruth’s child Giraffe is quite promising.
The Conservancy has over 40 Mammal specie and over 450 Avifauna or Birds species. The total number of animals counted on 7th May .2011 for the wet season census was 8,615.Thanks to all who joined us in the Census Exercise.
Shared by: Community Education and Awareness Department(Beaty)

GAZETTE NOTICE

Posted on July 21, 2010 by soysambu-guest-blogger

LakeElmGazette

In exercise of the Wildlife Act the Minister for Wildlife and Forestry has declared Soysambu to be a wildlife sanctuary. Our director, Kat Combes, has worked on this for the last five years so that we can get UNESCO nomination for a World Heritage Site.

We would also like to ask ask those residents and stakeholders on and around Lake Elmenteita to support GLECA (Greater Lake Elmenteita Conservation Area). There will be a meeting soon to discuss the management of the Lake with the Kenya Wildlife Service. There is a draft management plan.

The declaration of Lake Elmenteita Wildlife Sanctuary is a step forward in the nomination of the Kenya Rift Valley Lakes World Heritage Site. It will provide national protection to this incredibly fragile lake. Soysambu borders the Lake on the west. We look forward to working with our neighbors in protecting this valuable part of Kenya’s heritage.

Egyptian Geese at Soysambu

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Monicks

Today, I set out with only one mission in mind, to take a photo of the Egyptian Geese I had spotted a few days ago. Even though my photographic skills are not sharp, I managed to take a few photos of the pair of Egyptian Geese.

The Egyptian Geese were browner in colour, with chestnut patches on the feathers and around each eye, what a spectacular appearance! Its Conservation Status is of Least Concern (LC), that is, ICUN 3.1

As I approached, the female goose (the smaller one) started making cackling noises and stayed hidden for a while, with the male curiously eyeing me. I am suspecting there are eggs somewhere and I can’t wait to see the Goslings as am intrigued by nature.

My curiosity couldn’t help as I wanted a nice shot, but they got scared and flew off a few metres from the water to dry land. Phew!!

Soysambu Conservancy is rich in bird life!

Why we established the Conservancy

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Combes Kathryn

Thank you for visiting this site. This is my first blog (ever) after setting this up with the help of my friend, Emma. Soysambu is the only area of open land left in this part of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley where the wildlife have come to take refuge from expanding human development. The soil is fragile and can only sustain grasses which provide food for the wild animals and cattle. Once an area successfully utilized only for livestock and hay cultivation it now has around 12,000 wildlife competing for the same resources. Lake Elmenteita which Soysambu borders on 3 sides was named a Wetland of International importance by the Ramsar Convention in 2005. This lake now hosts the only breeding colony of Great White Pelican in East Africa. Many populations of lesser and greater flamingo also occupy the lake. It is a birders paradise. You can’t imagine how important this is to the whole string of Rift Valley Lakes! Semi endangered Rothschild giraffe are happily reproducing here along with the Colobus monkeys, cape buffalo, eland, gazelles, impala and just about everything else. The Acacia woodlands, the Euporbia groves, the leleshwa bush all add up to areas in need of forestry preservation when everything around us is getting flattened. I could go on forever… How can we preserve this amazing array of flora and fauna and operate in a sustainable way utilizing all the resources available and to help the surrounding communities benefit from their wildlife heritage by developing programmes for poverty reduction and education? These were the questions facing us then and now as we are building the Conservancy. I am not an expert on these things, but learning fast, and looking for every way possible to protect the land, the wildlife and the culture. Any suggestions and comments are greatly welcomed and appreciated. Many thanks, Kat

pelicans are breeding on Lake Elmenteita

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Tag Archives: birdlife

SPIKE THE SECRETARY BIRD

SOYSAMBU BIODIVERSITY

GAZETTE NOTICE

Egyptian Geese at Soysambu

Why we established the Conservancy