A rare migratory bird believed to have flown over 6,000 kilometres from Finland landed in Usalo village in West Yimbo, Siaya county on Wednesday but was later found dead.
Local fishermen made the discovery while casting their nets in Lake Victoria near Usalo Beach.
The bird’s origin has been established whose details show that it was ringed in Finland (Museum Zool, Helsinki Finland. Kenya Wildlife Service Head of Veterinary Services, Dr David Ndeereh said they will share the information with the East Africa Bird Ringing Association to obtain further details on the bird.
This is not the first time an unusual migratory bird has landed in the area.In January 2020, an Osprey from Europe was also discovered in Usalo.
A member of the community, a Mr. Walter Oloo also spotted the bird on January 20, 2020 and reported to KWS Siaya County team.
Walter said he spotted the bird’s body and noticed it had two rings on its legs, one metal and one plastic, which made him suspect it was under scientific study.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings.
The discovery made in 2020 prompted calls for greater protection of Lake Victoria’s catchment areas.
KWS Director Research, Dr. Patrick Omondi, called on the Siaya County Government to enhance the protection of Lake Victoria catchment areas including Lake Kanyaboli National Reserve as a number of migratory birds have been sighted in these areas in recent surveys.
