This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
Published on August 3, 2019, by Caroline Wambui, a renowned author, this article highlights the menace of quelea birds in Kenya's agricultural sector.
Quelea birds, known for their distinctive red-billed appearance, are a common sight in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, and Narok. These birds are notorious for their ability to invade farms in large numbers, leaving farmers helpless.
According to Shadrack Muya, an ecologist and dean of the school of biological sciences at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, quelea birds are attracted to regions with abundant food sources. They rely on memory to locate areas with surplus food and can travel long distances to reach their destinations.
The birds' large food reservoirs allow them to store seeds, which are digested later when they are resting. This behavior makes it challenging for farmers to predict where the birds will invade next.
Quelea birds breed three times a year, producing an average of three eggs per clutch, which contributes to their robust populations.
Control measures include large-scale use of chemicals, which, however, has a long-term residue effect and can increase toxicity along the food chain. David Mugambi, a lecturer at Chuka University, advocates for integrated biological and mechanical approaches to manage the quelea bird population.
One innovative solution proposed by Mugambi is to establish a mechanism to trap the birds and put them into economic use as a rich source of protein, helping to address food insecurity in the country.
At Mwea rice scheme, farmers employ traditional methods to scare the birds, including using slings with stones, catapults, scarecrows, and noise-making devices.
