Important Bird Areas of Kenya*

Site description

Sandbanks, mudbanks, dunes and freshwater pools and marshes at the mouth of the Sabaki, Kenya's second-longest river, approximately 5 km north of Malindi town, between the Malindi-Mambrui road bridge and the sea. The state and size of the estuary vary seasonally, depending on river flows. Just north and south of the river mouth are grassy dunes that conceal permanent or temporary pools of freshwater.

Birds

See box below for key species. This site hosts large visiting flocks of Madagascar Pratincole, and is an important resting, roosting and feeding ground for gulls and terns. Good numbers of Palaearctic waders also occur, and Broad-billed Sandpiper, a very uncommon bird in Kenya, winters here in flocks of up to 80. The near-threatened, restricted-range Malindi Pipit is resident in and around the grassy dunes.

Congregations

Except where shown, data from Seys et al. (1995) and Nasirwa et al. (1995b)

Regionally threatened species

Great Egret Vulnerable Usually present in small numbers, African Skimmer Vulnerable Regular visitor, mainly August-March (Lewis & Pomeroy 1989)

Other wildlife

The estuary is rich in fishes and crustaceans, and supports an important fishery.

Conservation issues

The estuary is unprotected, and heavily used and disturbed by people, although there is little direct harassment of the birds. The livelihood of the local residents (and that of many of the waterbirds) depends on the fishery, but this resource appears to be over-exploited. Soil erosion in the river's catchment is increasing silt loads in the Sabaki, but the effect of this on the estuary's ecology is unknown. The river mouth is a great attraction to birdwatchers. There have been serious problems with security in the past, but it nonetheless could make an outstanding locally-managed bird sanctuary. A research centre is being set up by Moi University on the south bank, between the road bridge and the river mouth.

Further reading

Britton & Britton 1973, Fanshawe 1994, Nasirwa et al. 1995b, Seys et al. 1995

* This information has been reproduced with the permission of the publisher: Nature Kenya, the East Africa Natural History Society.

In Kenya, the book is available from
Nature Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
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P. O. Box 44486 GPO
00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email: office@naturekenya.org
Website: www.naturekenya.org

Outside of Kenya, the book is distributed exclusively through NHBS which is why it can't be found in other on-line bookstores.

Natural History Book Service
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2 - 3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN
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Website: www.nhbs.com

Information provided here with permission by:

Sabaki River Camp and Cottage
(Malindi Camp and Cottage)
on the Sabaki River
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