The NATIONAL MUSEUMS of KENYA Waterbird Count Results in the Rift Valley, Nairobi and Central, Kenya for July 2018 Oliver Nasirwa CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH REPORTS: ORNITHOLOGY NO. 84, FEBRUARY 2019 Supported by: 1 Waterbird Count Results in the Rift Valley, Nairobi and Central, Kenya for July 2018: NMK Ornithology Reports No. 84, Feb. 2019 Waterbird Count Results in the Rift Valley, Nairobi and Central, Kenya for July 2018 Oliver Nasirwa National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya,
[email protected]; NMK Centre for Biodiversity Research Reports: Ornithology No. 84, February 2019 Summary The July 2018 waterbird counts were carried out in 15 sites in the Rift Valley, Nairobi and Central, Kenya regions. Water levels were high in most sites during the counts particularly at lakes Baringo, Bogoria, Magadi and Ol’ Bolossat. A total of 808,862 individual waterbirds of 81 species were recorded across all the 15 sites. Lake Magadi had the highest number of individuals with 449,938 of 37 species followed by Lake Bogoria with 343,266 of 32 species and Lake Baringo with 5,702 of 44 species. The highest number of waterbird species was recorded at Lake Ol’ Bolossat with 50 species, followed by Lake Baringo with 44 species, and Lake Magadi and Dandora Sewerage Treatment Works with 37 species each. Across all the 15 sites, Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor was the most abundant species, dominating by 96.7% (781,921) of the total number of individuals counted followed by Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber with 1% (7,978) and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis with 0.2% (1,690).