Residents of Usalo Village in Siaya County have once again witnessed a rare phenomenon after spotting another exotic migratory Western Osprey bird from Finland this week.
This marks the second time such a bird has been sighted in the area, prompting renewed calls to have the region recognised as a bird sanctuary.
Walter Tende Oloo, a fisherman from the village, discovered the bird trapped in a fishing net. Unfortunately, the bird passed away due to the entanglement. Identification rings were found fastened to its legs, confirming its origin.
The ring bore the mark: Museum Zool, Helsinki, Finland, with C6.U, indicating that the bird, believed to be a fish-eating raptor, had been ringed in Finland.
Bird ringing is the practice of catching birds, marking them with an identifying band around the leg, and then releasing them. In Kenya, the National Museum of Kenya does ringing on the birds by the Nairobi Ringing Team and Nature Kenya to track and preserve them.
The discovery comes exactly five years after a similar bird was discovered around the same area. The bird made headlines in January 2020 after it had flown over 6,900 kilometres from Finland to Kenya.
An Osprey bird (Pandion haliaetus), also known as the sea hawk, fish hawk, or river hawk, is a large, fish-eating bird of prey and known for impressive migratory journeys.
The bird has a wingspan of up to 180 cm (71 inches) and is easily recognisable by its white underparts, dark brown upperparts, and distinctive black eye stripe.
They have unbelievable skillsets when it comes to flight, catching prey, and good old survival. They consistently reinvent themselves every single day.
From the high-speed, feather-perfect dive to the insane precision of snatching a needlefish right off the surface are some of the bird's commendable characteristics.
Usalo Beach in Usalo village is teeming with various species of birds, making it a great place for birdwatching. The two recent events have prompted locals to demand recognition and the transformation of the area into a bird sanctuary.
One of the villagers, whose land the birds love taking refuge in, wants the government to protect the area, which is now becoming a bird sanctuary.
Speaking to the Nation, the 77-year-old villager said a lot of exotic birds frequent the area, but since locals do not know their value, they end up eating or injuring them. The villagers are hopeful that the area will be recognised and elevated to make it a tourist attraction and boost the sector.
