Category: Biodiversity

During the counts we set camp at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute annex campsite. We had a larger group as we covered four lakes; Lake Elementaita, Lake Sonachi, Lake Oloidien and Lake Naivasha, which is the main lake.

The campsite

Lake Elementaita is a soda lake and the only breeding ground for the Great white Pelicans in Kenya and neighbouring countries. The lake attracts visiting flamingos, both the Greater and Lesser varieties, which feed on the lake’s crustaceans, insect larvae and on its suspended blue-green algae. Lake Elementaita is a Ramsar site and a Wetland of International importance.

Greater flamingos in Lake Elementaita

Lake Oloidien is a volcanic crater lake found at the south west corner of Lake Naivasha, home to Kenya’s largest flower farms. Oloidien, which used to be connected to Naivasha, has been going saline since its water levels fell and it became a separate lake in 1979. In 2006 it passed the salinity mark and began to produce bacteria called spirulina, a microscopic blue-green algae and the main food for Lesser Flamingos. The lake had thousands of flamingos, which have migrated from Lake Nakuru due to high toxicity levels in their natural home at Lake Nakuru.

Lesser Flamingos at Lake Oloidien

An Eland and Flamingos at lake Oloidien

Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake which was designated as a Ramsar site in 1995 and is managed by the local property owners under the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association formed in 1934. The lake provides diverse habitats for a variety of mammals, birds and fish. The lake didn’t have many flamingos, although the population of resident and migratory ducks and other waders was impressive.

Great White Pelicans, Cormorants, Coots and other waders at Lake Naivasha

Buffaloes near the lake, they watched as we counted the birds..

A Common Stonechat near the lake

One of the cars, which had to be given a push before boarding it

Lake Naivasha’s biodiversity is critically threatened by habitat destruction; pollution from pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; and water abstraction. A population of over 250,000 people lives around the lake. The population has converted wetlands into agricultural lands, residential areas, and tourist hotels. The continued harvesting of papyrus along edges has also destroyed the natural state of the lake.

The second counting destination is Lake Nakuru, which is an alkaline lake in the Rift Valley. It is also designated as a Ramsar and a world heritage site. The lake has been the home for lesser flamingos for many years. However, this time around there were more pelicans and storks than flamingos. The inflow of fresh water has led to the dilution of the water salinity hence reducing the production of blue algae, which is the main food for the flamingos.

So we counted fewer numbers of flamingos than previous years, and the pelicans and other waders seemed to be doing well in the lake. Here are some images from the census. The flamingos have then shifted to the neighbouring Lake Oloidien.

A map of the lake

Sunset

Campfire

Great White Pelicans

Cape Teals

Yellow-billed Storks

This flamingo was walking with its head tucked under the wings..

With my counting group; Peter, Dennis, Anita, Manon, and Fred

Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers watching out for the buffaloes