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Successful release of a White-backed Vulture

We are happy to report that last month we successfully released a poisoned white-backed vulture back into the wild. White-backed vultures are critically endangered so every vulture is precious and worth saving to prevent extinction of the species. Rescue and rehabilitation is a demanding job and a lot of parties are involved to reach a successful result. Here's how it all went down.

Step 1: Kipeto Temporary Holding Facility

On May 26 a White-Backed Vulture was found showing symptoms of poisoning in Olerai Conservancy. The vulture was transported to Kipeto Temporary Holding facility where is stayed overnight. The facility proved capable of serving its purpose to care for a bird overnight before sending it on for critical care and recovery.

Step 2: Soysambu Raptor Centre

After the first night the White-Backed Vulture was transported to the critical care facility at Soysambu Raptor Centre. Here the poisoned vulture received 24/7 care. The bird stayed here for .... days until it was strong enough for the last phase of the recovery process. 

Step 3: Naivasha Raptor Centre 

After recovering from the worst effects of the poisoning the vulture was transferred to the Naivasha Raptor Centre to be with other vultures. In the presence of a permanent resident White-backed Vulture from the Mara and a Hooded Vulture from Laikipia it calmed down and regained its strength. On June 6, 11 days after it was found in Olerai, it was determined suitable for release based on its normal behaviour with the other vultures in the  facility.

Step 4: Tagging the vulture

On 7 June the vulture was fitted with a solar powered GPS transmitter provided by Dr. Ralph Buij of The Peregrine Fund as part of the Kipeto Project vulture ranging data collection. Next the vulture received a light sedation for the 6 hour drive to Olerai, the site of his release.

Simon, JW and Mwapa' tagging the vulture with a solar powered GPS transmitter.

Step 5: Release day

This was a high-profile release resulting in excellent community engagement with Kipeto Energy, KWS, Nature Kenya, BirdLife, The Peregrine Fund and the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust. For the release a large crowd had gathered among whom Olerai Conservancy Chair David Soriampan, the Community Education Warden Nairobi/Kitengela and 20 members of the local community.

The vulture release was a success and the next few days we received positions showing it was successfully foraging and ranging widely proving it had recovered from the poisoning. The bird is flying well and foraging normally in Nairobi NP on June 13 and then down to Amboseli NP. 

Releasing Naanyo (KiMaa for Patience) the White Backed Vulture at Olerai.

New vulture nests at Naivasha Raptor Centre

Five new custom-built vulture nests were made for the permanent resident Ruppell’s Vultures. The early signs are good; the birds are roosting on nest edges and adding nesting material to them on their own. The urates seen dripping over the cliff ledge are entirely normal, and is what would be seen on a natural cliff face.

Permanent in-care Ruppell’s Vultures on their breeding cliff, rearranging nesting material.

Vulture response team in the Mara

Simon Thomsett travelled to the Masai Mara in early April to oversee the vulture response team and check up on their preparedness for an incident. Another reason for the visit was to make a plan for the soon to be built Mara Raptor Centre holding pen for incoming vultures. One of our goals for the second half of 2021 is to upgrade the existing Temporary Holding Facility at Olderkesi Conservancy, to enable more effective poisoning responses in the Mara in the case of large poisoning events.

Monitoring 200+ large raptor nests

The Mara Raptor Project expanded its raptor monitoring effort during the second quarter of 2021. As of the end of June, we are monitoring over 220 large-raptor nests in the greater Mara ecosystem. The highlights of the quarter have been the large number of active Lappet-faced Vulture nests (28 thus far) and the discovery of two new White-headed Vulture nests. We are also closely monitoring the progress of 5 active Martial Eagle nests using camera traps. 

Nest of a Lappet-faced Vulture in the Mara.

Exciting sightings of African Marsh-Harriers

During the quarter we were encouraged by the number of African Marsh-Harriers we recorded in the greater Mara. We had three sightings and one sighting consisted of a family group that indicates they might have bred in the Mara or northern Serengeti. This species is one of Kenya's rarest and most endangered breeding raptors.

Boy, the Martial Eagle

Boy was in a transitional period, half way between learning to hunt and dispersing away from parental care when he, like so many of Kenya’s birds of prey, was electrocuted. Boy came from Lake Naivasha and was lucky to have been rescued and taken to a vet where it was picked up by our team. Learn more about the treatment and recovery of Boy, the Martial Eagle, who will never fly again but nevertheless has made his life valuable by being an ambassador for his species and all other electrocution victims. Read Boy's Story.

Featured bird of prey 
Ayres's Hawk-eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii) taking a bath

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