This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
Kenya's Most Threatened Birds ¶
Kenya is home to a diverse range of bird species, but many are facing threats to their survival. According to recent data, the country's top ten rare bird profiles have been revealed, highlighting the need for urgent conservation action.
Published on July 18, 2020, the report highlights the plight of several bird species, including the Taita Apalis, Kilifi Weaver, and Grey Crowned Crane, which are all found in Kenya.
The Taita Apalis, once found in the magical mist forests of the Taita Hills, is now clinging to just four square kilometers of space. Nature Kenya and research scientists affiliated with the National Museums of Kenya are working to secure patches of farms to increase the natural forest.
The Kilifi Weaver, found only in the coastal forests of the Dakatcha woodlands and Arabuko-Sokoke, is also under threat. Nature Kenya has bought some land in Dakatcha to protect the natural space of the bird.
The Grey Crowned Crane, the world's fastest disappearing crane, is found only in sub-Saharan Africa. Its population in Kenya has halved to fewer than 10,000, with the country home to 45 percent of the species.
Conservation efforts are underway to protect these and other threatened bird species in Kenya. The Peregrine Fund East Africa is working with conservancy rangers, partnering with wildlife, humanitarian, and advocacy NGOs, and first-responders to protect vultures, which have declined by up to 90 percent in the last two decades.
Other bird species facing threats in Kenya include the raptors, eagles, and papyrus swamps around Lake Victoria. The Kenya Bird of Prey Trust is committed to rescuing, caring, conserving, researching, and educating on raptors, while Nature Kenya is working with local communities to protect Yala Swamp and monitor the birds.
