Most recently, I have developed an interest for the avian species. Why? You may ask… well birds fascinate me. One, they are diverse, two, versatile, three, easily seen almost everywhere, four, colourful, five amazingly creative; the list could go on and on, on why they are simply amazing creatures and if any of you have not started looking up at them, you should.

Speckled Mousebird

Participating in several bird watching activities, my latest hobby, have enabled me to appreciate their diversity and there importance in the ecosystem. Birds are ecological indicators; meaning they are used to communicate information about ecosystems and the impact human activity has on ecosystems to groups such as the public or government policy makers. Wikipedia.

Greater Flamingoes

Other than the above, birds have influenced me in a spiritual way. Through there uniqueness, I have come to see the wonders of the one who is bigger and greater than all of us, the maker of the heavens and the earths. His creation is diverse and awe inspiring, in that, when you observe one creature, be it a spider, ant, frog or elephant, or plant and seek to find out its process of growth since its inception of birth or germination to its death or decay, you will always be left breathless. Even in this modern technological times, no human being has being able to do what He does. The mixing of colours in birds and how they always seem to march and no colour ‘clashing’ occurs just shows how “there is no better designer than nature”.

Grey-backed Camaroptera thermoregulating on a chilly day

“God saw all He had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31

Female Variable Sunbird

My constant observation of birds has opened a new world to my understanding of wildlife and how we live and coexists together in this one big earth. Bird watching has offered me with a chance to travel my country, city and even close within my neighbourhood not to mention the home garden or back yard, which offers me with daily marvels of them, the species may be the same every day and common but I’m still perplexed by the social life of this species. Once you begin to understand each and every species on its own, you begin to see the bigger part of life and how it is more than just marvellous.

Common Bulbul

Nests of several birds found in our own back yard have also opened the light for me in birds. You begin to see the species formation and how the birds take part in caring and protecting the young, where both male and female participate in the bringing up of the young before it endeavours into its first flight out of its nest.

Olive Thrush Chick

There feeding habits are also very particular and to find better ways of attracting beautiful birds to our garden, I’ve been on a google search rampage for bird feeding ideas. If any of you know of a good technique, please comment.

Of more importance is the need to continuously share the knowledge learnt on birds to the society in particular, from family to friends and even acquaintances. Most people do not realise the importance that this group of species play in our ecosystem, but they are ready and willing to learn. I see hope for the survival of wildlife in our country and the globe in general where we human beings appreciate and learn to co-exists with wildlife.

Singing Cisticola

African Pied Wagtail

Hadada Ibis

“My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature.” Dr. Jane Goodall

Join me in my journey to see and share the more than 10, 000 bird species present in the world starting with the close to 1,100 species present in my country Kenya. Lets learn.

P.S – Ignore the quality of the photos.

Happy New Year