HELP FOR STUDENT PROJECT TO BUILD BIRDS SHELTER

Hi, i’m Oscar, the founder of Homeground Birds. In addition to keeping variety of birds, provision bird services and products, we are also trying something a little different, that is, offering free education to our youth.We make sure every single idea we encounter is recorded, written and made as either pdf/ebook or blog post and is released for free to readers. we want to deep down share our work with our fellow African youth.
Homeground Birds need help start building new birds house(outdoor and indoor). This is no exception. Homeground Birds is a project we have been developing to allow our people see birds and tell stories currently and in the future. Our action story has been set in a brand uniqueness that we are eager to explore the self employment opportunities/ideas in Africa as well as to end the fixation which states that, “Africa is poor continent”.
Space and Shelter for the birds has been a major problem to us. We understand the complexities our birds go through, but for all handwork we had to operate in the limited space and poor shelters where all the ideals are not always gathered to. With this, we are after our people, and we love seeing change that we need. That is why we need help!

This time has come to get a better place and housing and we need to raise KSH 50,000 by 11st December fit it out and make a cool birds environment.
This is our first venture to help bring the action into live, we will be able to offer conventions starting from our home, Africa and even abroad. Additional backing will go towards forwarding the goal, helping sought out future issues and helping us create new interesting projects.

Our current goal: Ksh 50,000

Keep spreading the word and we will be hitting the higher goals in no time!

Help Us Improve the Future

See you.
Oscar Kemboi

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The African Grey Parrot

The African Grey parrot is considered a large bird,
approximately 12 to 13 inches from beak to tail, with a
wingspan of 20 inches. They are native to western and
central Africa. African Grey Parrots mate for life.

Colors: grey feathers, white patches around the eyes and
red tail feathers. The curved bill is dark grey.
Food: seeds, berries, nuts and fruit.
Average Lifespan: 50 to 65 years!

The African Grey is a very talkative, smart and sensitive bird.
Because these birds are so smart, they tend to be
demanding pets, and will get bored quickly if not stimulated.

African Greys have been said to be the most intelligent of birds.
They pick up on words and sounds very quickly, including the sounds of telephones, microwaves, and even other pets like dogs and cats. Some boast
vocabularies of up to 2000 words! It’s no wonder that many Grey owners are
careful to watch what they say around their

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Perfect ways to Save Cash

Step 1: Determine the week of the year

For example, this week is July 13 to July 19. It is the 29th week of the year.

Step 2: Choose a day of the week that is best to make a deposit or do an online transfer

If you know that Sundays are best for you to focus on your money and other personal business choose Sunday. If Wednesdays after work, after volunteering or after the gym are best, choose Wednesdays. Whatever day is best for you. Just remember to stick this day. If you change it from week to week you’ll risk losing your momentum.

Step 3: Open or designate a dedicated savings account

One of the reasons why this strategy is so successful is because you have a specific action to take in a specific account. To see your savings accumulate, from week to week, serves as motivation to keep saving. Having a specific account to do this, versus using your checking account or some other type of account, helps separate your savings from your “operating money” used for bills and monthly expenses. When you co-mingle, or mix these monies, you run the risk of spending your savings and/or losing motivation to save.

Step 4: Make the deposit or transfer

On your chosen day of the week, make a deposit for or transfer the dollar equivalent of the week of the year to your savings account. For example, since we are in the 29th week of the year, you would deposit or transfer $29 for this week.

Step 5: Do it again next week!

Next week, we will be in the 30th week of the year. You will deposit or transfer $30 next week.

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ABOUT HOMEGROUND BIRDS

HOMEGROUND BIRDS  is Owned and Operated by Oscar Kemboi, who is a 22 year self-trained student, a young part time blogger, computer expert and proud urban Farmer last for three years. The areas of interest in blogging are: Web/Mobile Application Development, Web Designing, business knowledge and farming in Africa for sustainable development.

Oscar Kemboi has the passion to transform the lives of the people in Africa and the rest of the world.: He is currently Pursuing a Degree in Computer Science at the University of Eldoret.

BIRDS 

1. CHICKENS:

l KUBROILERS

l KARI

l KENBRO

l SASHO

l KUROILERS

l BROILLERS

l KIENYEJI 

Including Eggs and Chicks

2. QUAILS,

3. PEACOCKS,

4. DOVES AND PIGEONS

5. TURKEYS

AND OTHER SMALL BIRDS plus

ACCESSORIES:

1. BIRD CAGES

2. INCUBATORS

3. FEEDS

OTHERS:

Free Skills on Bird Rescue and care, Bird and equipment/sales, free training Materials like pdfs and online tutorials.

CONTACTS: 

Phone

 254 704 480949

Email

Homegroundbirds@gmail.com

Website:

http://homegroundbirds.blogspot.com or

http://homegroundbirds.mywapblog.com

Mission: To End Poverty in Africa

Get invaluable assistance in planning a fun and satisfying visit. Our site will get you interesting articles, project plans, photos and videos that you would likely overlook if you were to depend entirely upon Sustainable development.

"I love having Birds around Me", Oscar Kemboi.

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A Modified Poultry Cages*

   

Wire poultry cages 30 x 46 x 41 cm (12 x 18 x 16 in.) high, in three 

batteries of 10 cages each, may be  suspended on a custom made rack 

over standard, slightly forward sloping, rat-rack dropping trays. The fronts 

of the cage batteries are modified to suspend feed and water troughs or 

individual cups. Temporary dividers can easily be inserted between the 

individual cages if desired, although signs of insecurity, or of fighting 

between birds in adjacent cages, has not been a problem. Birds have 

thrived in these cages over a period  of 12 years with no indication of 

maladjustment, and have been used consistently in behavioral studies. On 

release, at any time, they are able to fly immediately.  

In addition to being far less expensive, routine cleaning is much quicker 

and easier than with standard, individual cages. Dust control, as in all 

pigeon rooms, presents a problem,  the control of which in this cage 

system, may be aided by a gentle spraying of the racks and pigeons with 

water. (Pigeons, it should be noted, like to bath and splash if given the opportunity.

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Quails

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Where did Domestication of Doves and Pigons Start?

• 
  
• Archaeological records suggest that  both pigeons and doves trace their 
• domestication back to around 5000 BC. Greek and Roman writings refer to 
• the selective breeding and housing of  pigeons in dove cotes (Levi, 1969), 
• which must represent one of man's first recorded attempts at intensive 
• animal production.  
• The hardy and prolific Columba livia has, through the centuries, given rise to 
• hundreds of breeds and varieties at  the hands of pigeon fanciers. These 
• exhibit a very wide range of sizes, shapes, forms, and behavioral 
• characteristics. By far the most numerous single group is that of the racing 
• homers, which express the characteristic homing and survival instincts 
• common to all pigeons, but not to doves. It is probable that this almost 
• complete lack of homing instinct, and its vulnerability to predation accounts 
• for the captive dove never having been as widely propagated and never 
• becoming established as a feral bird like the street pigeon. As a consequence, 
• doves have remained relatively unchanged by selection, with only the fawn 
• and white coloured varieties being commonly propagated, despite their grace 
• and the ease with which they can be maintained (Hollander, 1954).  In addition to the keeping of pigeons  for racing and for fancy, their young 
• (squabs) have long been raised for food. In the USA, a squab industry had 
• been established by the middle of the 19th century and still flourishes, 
• particularly in the southern states (Levi, 1969). To date, a large and viable 
• squab industry has not become established in Canada, although one seems 
• now to be developing on the west coast. 

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Origin of Pigeons

• The terms "pigeon" and "dove," especially in languages other than English, 
• are often used interchangeably, with "dove" generally having connotations of 
• grace, gentleness, and religious significance, rather than of speciation. In 
• fact, pigeons and doves are representatives of several distinct genera of the 
• subfamily Columbidae.  
• Wild pigeons and doves are more or less worldwide in their distribution, with 
• a number of species of each being native to North America. A few species 
• such as the band tailed pigeon (Columba sasciata<) and the mourning dove 
• (Sonaida macroura) are seen in parts of Canada (Goodwin, 1967).  
• Domesticated pigeons (Columba livia domestica) and the common "street 
• pigeons," which are feral derivatives of domestic pigeons, are not indigenous 
• to the Americas, but were first brought to this continent by the French and 
• the English, to Quebec and Nova Scotia respectively, circa 1607.  
• All today's many varieties of domestic  pigeons derive from the rock pigeon 
• (rock dove) of Europe, Asia, and North Africa (Levi, 1969). The domesticated 
• doves (Streptopelia risoria) Ringneck, Laughing, Barbary, etc., originated 
• from a wild type North African ancestor (Streptopelia roseogrisea) and are not 
• found in the feral state in the Americas (Goodwin, 1967). The number of dove breeders has increased considerably in recent years, particularly in the USA 
• (Burger, 1974). Numerous research and  zoological exhibit colonies are also 
• maintained in both the USA and Canada (Kendall and Scanlon, 1981; Mulder, 
• 1978).  

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Doves and Pigeons Abnormal Behavior

Abnormal behaviours  such as stereotypies (e.g.  route tracing) are frequently caused by an 

understimulating environment. Experiments designed to study pigeons‟ cognitive abilities have 

shown that they are capable of some quite complex thinking –  for example, they can categorise 

objects into groups in a similar way to humans – and they need a suitably stimulating environment. 

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Doves and Pigeons: Potential husbandry related welfare problems and how to resolve them

Parasites:-  can be a major cause of suffering for domestic pigeons. Effective ecto-  and endo-
parasite control is essential. This involves removing faeces regularly, checking birds for parasites
regularly, and treating not only the birds but also their housing, as some ectoparasites such as red
mites do not live on the host when they are not feeding.
Aggression:  –  subordinate birds may be bullied and denied access to resources such as food,
water and perches. Monitoring birds carefully and making sure that there are sufficient resources
for all the birds to use them at once will help to prevent birds suffering through being bullied.
Ensuring that birds can escape from one another will also help to prevent stress and injury.  

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What Doves and pigeons need?

The following list of requirements is based on animal welfare science that has evaluated birds‟
references and motivation for resources, and on the ecology and behaviour of wild birds. More
information on pigeon welfare, housing and care can be found in the references listed at the end of
this document.
  Social housing
Both wild Columba livia and feral pigeons occur in large, mixed flocks and so pigeons should be
group housed in the laboratory. Groups should be carefully observed when first set up to make
sure that aggressive birds do not bully or injure others. An „escape area‟ for timid birds will help to
avoid distress and injury. Breeding can be prevented by not providing nesting places, in which
case birds may lay eggs but will not incubate them.
  Plenty of pen space 
Pigeons should be housed in pens that permit enrichment and a range of behaviours, including
flight wherever possible –  they have been shown to strongly prefer aviaries that allow them to fly.
Long, narrow pens are best because they permit short flights. Cages are not suitable for housing
pigeons and should only be used if there is compelling scientific or veterinary justification. If they
must be used, it is a good idea to use modified cages, for example rabbit cages with shelving,
perches and toys, rather than “standard” pigeon caging. Ideally, pigeons should be housed with outdoor access wherever possible or even in wholly outdoor flights, in which case they will need
access to covered shelters at all times.
  Solid floor 
Grid floors prevent  foraging so are not suitable for housing pigeons. Solid flooring with litter
material for foraging is preferred.  Daily cleaning and the use of minimal litter will help to reduce
levels of dust created by the birds.
  Environmental enrichment 
Pigeons have been found to benefit from items hung from chains, including bird bells, mirrors and
toys designed for other animals such as cats. For aviary housed birds, foliage attached to
enclosure sides using thick gardening wire can provide extra perching and shelter. Branches hung
from the roof and scaffolding will provide a more stimulating environment in very large enclosures.
  Perches 
Each bird should have access to a perching area and perches should be sited at a range of levels,
to encourage birds to establish territories and reduce competition. In larger aviaries, box perches
approximately 30 cm square and 15 cm deep located in blocks along one wall simulate a „natural‟
environment and help to keep faeces in one area.
  Water baths 
Pigeons splash considerably when they bathe, so placing water baths inside larger, waterproof
trays should reduce soaking. Extra baths can be offered to birds on the day before cleaning so that
any substrate and dust will be damped down. Pigeons also enjoy showers, although they must be
monitored to ensure that they do not become chilled.
  A varied diet and opportunities to forage 
Pigeons are omnivorous and should be offered a wide range of grains and green food,
supplemented with pelleted  diets containing animal protein such as chick starter crumbs. Small seeds such as millet, rape or linseed can be fed on the pen floor to encourage foraging or by hand
to help habituate the birds to humans. Turf or trays with other litter can also be used to encourage
foraging, taking care to site foraging areas away from areas where birds defaecate. Other favourite
treats include pinhead oats, hemp with peanuts, popcorn and mealworms. Note that birds fed ad
lib  all the time will become obese, especially if  they are only allowed limited opportunities to
exercise.
  10cm of feeder length per adult bird 
This feeder length will allow all birds to feed simultaneously, which will facilitate natural behaviour
and reduce aggression.
  ‘Flight rooms’ where appropriate 
If it is really not possible for pigeons to be housed in pens that are large enough for them to fly, an
alternative is allowing birds part-time access to „flight rooms‟ with perches (such as a spare animal
room), provided that they are closely monitored to prevent bullying. Birds can be trained to retreat
to nesting areas or even to fly to the hand, as an alternative to catching them with nets.

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Natural history of Doves and Pigeons

The domestic pigeon, Columba livia, is probably descended from the rock dove, which nests and 

roosts on and in rock formations such as cliffs, gorges and caves. Feral pigeons living in towns are 

escaped domesticated birds, and they use ledges on structures made by humans in the same way 

that rock doves use natural rock formations. Free-living, feral birds can occur in numbers ranging 

from pairs up to large, loose flocks that feed and roost together. However, the pigeon is highly 

territorial and will defend roosting spaces and nesting areas. Pairs are usually monogamous and 

males „drive‟ females away from the rest of the flock during the breeding season. 

Domestic pigeons are primarily seed eaters but will take a wide range of grains, fruits, berries and 

vegetation and invertebrates such as small snails. There are over 200 breeds of pigeon in which 

different traits have been selected for racing or showing, some of which have traits that could result 

in welfare problems.  It is important to bear this in mind when choosing a breed for laboratory use. 

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Doves and Pigeons: Good practice for housing and how to care

1.  Hawkins P, Morton DB, Cameron D, Cuthill I, Francis R, Freir R, Gosler A, Healy S, Hudson A,
Inglis I, Jones A, Kirkwood J, Lawton M, Monaghan P, Sherwin C and Townsend P (2001)
Laboratory birds: Refinements in husbandry and procedures. Laboratory Animals 35 (Suppl. 1)
Download at http://tinyurl.com/3aljtmd

2.  McGregor A & Haselgrove M (2010) Doves and pigeons. Chapter 44 in The UFAW Handbook
on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals,  8th
  edn (ed by R Hubrecht and J
Kirkwood), pp 686-696. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

3.  FELASA (2007) Euroguide on the Accommodation and Care of Animals Used for Experimental
and Other Scientific Purposes: Based on the Revised Appendix A of the European Convention
ETS123. London: FELASA. Available for purchase at www.rsmpress.co.uk/bkfelasa.htm

4.  Nepote KH (1999) Pigeon housing: Practical considerations and welfare implications.  Lab
Animal 28 (2): 34-37.

Recommended references

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Kuroiler Chicken

A Kuroiler Chicken is a chicken breed with indigenous traits which grows faster and lays more eggs than the local chicken, this chicken breed has been introduced in Uganda. Kuroilers were first successfully introduced in India more than a decade ago. The birds are low-maintenance scavengers that thrive on household and agricultural waste.

How Kuroiler Birds Came to Uganda

The Kuroiler breed originated from Kegg Farms in India and is now available on the Uganda Market. “On July 12, 2010, the first Kuroiler chicks were hatched in Entebbe. On the same day, indigenous chicken were hatched,” says Dr. Daniel Ssemambo, the executive director of National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB). NAGRC & DB is an organisation, under the agriculture ministry, that supports the implementation of the national breeding policy. 

According to Ssemambo, the first move was to find out how the Kuroilers faired against local breeds. “We hatched Kuroilers and local breeds on the same day,” he says. “The two breeds were given to chicken farmers in Kabale, Gulu, Apac, Mayuge and Wakiso districts under a pilot project to assess which variety performed better.

The farmers testified that the Kuroilers grew faster, putting on 1kg for hens and 1.5kg for cocks by three months and 3kg and 4kg respectively by six months. 

Just like the local breeds, the Kuroilers are largely kept under a free range system, where the birds are left to scratch for food with no restrictions and very little or no supplements. 

“The difference is that while the locals are moderate while scratching for food and may even take a rest, Kuroilers are aggressive and feed continiously. This explains why they put on weight faster than the local breeds,” says Esau Galukande, the NAGRC technical manager, who also took part in the research. 

Kuroiler Birds on Uganda Farms

A farmer in Wakiso district said the birds grow faster, produce more and bigger eggs. 
Compared to hybrids, the egg-yolk is even more yellowish, hence more nutritious. The fact that this farmer kept the chicken successfully in a semi-urban environment is a pointer to their big potential. 

“I package the eggs in sets of half a dozen and sell them in supermarkets. A tray goes for sh10,000 compared to sh6,000 for hybrid eggs,” said Betty Ssewanyana, a farmer in Entebbe. Ssewanyana said while the mortality of local chicken is high, all the 23 Kuroiler chicken she got grew.

According to Dr. James Ongu, a veterinary officer from Apac, who undertook the development of the Kuroilers in the area, the growth and survival straits they exhibited against the local breed were high. “This area is largely chicken-producing and this breed is set to revolutionise and ease chicken rearing,” he said. 

Asked if they could be crossed with indigenous chicken, Dr Vinod Kapur, from Kegg Farms said it was not advisable if a farmer wanted to maintain quality. Kapur said Kegg Farms would start distributing the chicken in Uganda. 
Ssemambo said the chicken had a very big potential of improving nutrition in Uganda. The breed was launched in Kenya recently. 

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Owls in Kenya

The Owls which belongs to the family of Strigidae play useful ecological role by controlling 

the population of agricultural pests such as rats and large insects and also serve as indicator 

species as they gauge ecosystem wellbeing, yet they are highly feared by the local community 

in Kenyan hills at the Kenyan Coast and valleys. The locals kills these birds of prey and deliberately 

destroys their eggs, nests and nestlings at crevices in cliffs or in natural wood cavities due to 

the toxic myths that associates them with bad omen or evil spirits and witchcraft. In Addition, 

human activities in the area have led to forests encroachment and habitat loss and further 

endangering not only owls, but also other species of animals. There had been no projects in 

this area undertaken by the Government/ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or 

Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to raise community's awareness on the role of owls 

in the ecosystem and the importance of conserving their habitats and change their perceptions 

and beliefs towards owls, the fact that might perpetuate the threats and further endangering 

them.

Due to aforementioned problems facing owls in Kenyan Hills in Kenya, National Birds of Prey 

Trust from United Kingdom funded this conservation project whose prime goal was to 

promote community based conservation of owls in this region whose Principal investigator 

was Daniel Maghanjo Mwamidi from Chepkoilel University College (A constituent college of 

Moi University). The project collaborated with Media, Ministry of Education, Office of the 

President (District Commissioners and Provincial Administration) and the local community 

leadership. 

This objective was intended to build capacity to the local institutions by training them on the 

ecology and strategies of conserving and monitoring owls in Kenyan hills. It was envisioned that 

building their conservation capacity would help to attain sustainable owl conservation in the 

area, since CBOs, SBECs and Women groups’ members are drawn from within the 

community; and hence they would better understand conservation verses cultural challenges 

facing owls thus help providing local-based solutions.

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Do Owls Eggs Cure Cancer?

Do eggs from owls cure cancer? Apparently, this false claim has been identified as one of the biggest threats to the night birds at the Kenyan Coast.

The revelation in a research by University of Eldoret means the nocturnal birds face multi-pronged threats in the area.

On one side, scientists are engaging locals to dispel myths that owls are spooky birds that premeditate people’s deaths and steal spirits at night.

Daniel Mwamidi, a researcher from the university, says some people in Taita Taveta have also been spreading false rumours that their eggs cure all forms of cancers.  

“This has given rise to business of searching for eggs from owls by jobless people in the community. This will have profound effects to the future population of owls in Taita area if no measures are taken to curb this ecological vice,” he warns.  Another threat is the increasing habitat loss and degeneration.  

“Threats facing owls include fragmentation of forests, encroachments and quarry mining destroying the caves,” Mwamidi says.   He is currently leading a conservation project in the area to save the birds.

Although owls are not generally considered as highly threatened in Kenya, Mwamidi says their numbers are considerably reducing.  “Owls face persecution due to the uncalled for myths that associates them with evil spirits or witchcraft due to their nocturnal nature. The Taita community still hold the myth that owls are evil thus killing them on sight,” he says.  

The conservation drive is funded by National Birds of Prey Trust (NBPT) from United Kingdom at about Sh740,000.  Mwamidi is currently promoting ecological awareness by locals and assessing the status of the roosting habitats of the Strigidae family of owls in Taita hills.  

He is also visiting schools to hold conservation talks with students and teachers. He cautions farmers against poisoning rodents on their farms because this also kills owls.  

“We also advise community members that the old and mature indigenous trees such as Prunus africana, Fig trees (Ficus thuningii), Phoenix renclinata and trees with wood pecker holes should be conserved because majority of owl species roosts on them,” he said.  Mghange Location Chief, Phabian Kera confirms there is loss of indigenous tree cover in the region.  

“One of our roles as administrators now, is to encourage our people to plant indigenous trees. As scientists have proved, loss of these trees has resulted to loss in many animal species,” he says.   A farmer from Mwatungu village, Livingston Njulu, says also says the number of owls may have decreased.  

“During my time as a teenager, we used to see owls all over the area at night. But now, the owls are no more. My last time to see an owl was last year,” says the 55-year-old man.   “Our grandparents used to warn us about these night birds.

One story is that, when you hear it making noise outside your homestead at night, be warned that a sorcerer is within your compound,” he says.   Mwamidi extols the many benefits these provide to counter the myths. He, for instance, says a single owl can save a whopping Sh830,000 (US$9803).  

The birds can also save people from contacting diseases like tuberculosis, swine dysentery, mange, and brucellosis.   He says conservation of owls will have long-term benefits in Taita hills in improving food security and restoring ecosystem integrity of Taita hills forest complex.  

Mwamidi says owls have crucial functional ecosystem role of biological control of over 250 agricultural pests.   He says: “Owls are the most economically beneficial species to human beings than of any other bird species because they control the population of rodents such as rats, mice, voles and squirrels.  

“This is beneficial to the agricultural industry because a single owl can consume up to 750 rats in a year! This saves approximately 30,000kg  of grains annually, since one rat destroys up to 40 kg of grain per year.  When translated to monetary value, a single owl can save farmers from incurring losses of Sh830,000 per year.”  

He adds that owls indirectly protect humans and livestock through cutting the cycle of many vector borne diseases transmitted by these rodents such as swine dysentery and brucellosis.   “Owls are also important to bee keepers as they control the population of skunks that enter beehives and destroy the young brood of bees and honey amounting to huge economic losses to farmers,” he says.  

Skunks, which are rampant in Taita, also eat farmers’ chicken and their eggs.   “Owls are not bothered by the odour of a skunk. In fact, they attack, kill and consume skunks on sight. Owl is the only natural enemy that the skunk has,” he says.   In addition, owls eat lizards, frogs, insects, scorpions and snakes.  Mwamidi says owls are also referred to as ecological barometers because they help scientists estimate how healthy a habitat is.  

“Owls are extremely sensitive to many environmental changes in an ecosystem. They can even sense chemical and pollutant levels that can give people an early warning sign of any impending ecosystem threats.  

Pesticides and other chemicals can build up in our environment and are passed on to animals. This can reduce owls’ populations due to feeding on prey contaminated with toxins, which in turn signals scientists that a possible problem exists,” Mwamidi points out.      

- See more at: http://homegroundbirds.mywapblog.com

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The Story of a Lawyer who turned passion for raring birds into lucrative venture

Peter King’ara, 44, has always been passionate about birds. He has travelled to different parts of the world looking for rare species to keep at his sanctuary in Gichiche Village, Othaya.

Under his Barefoot Venture project, the farmer-cum-lawyer keeps more than 30 different species of birds.

“I have gone as far as America and Britain to get some of these birds. I love birds and that’s why I have invested so much to grow my sanctuary,” he said.

Although he initially did not have plans of making money out of his bird collection hobby, after going through literature on the various birds at his farm, he discovered that there was potential to cash in on his passion.

“The birds that are rarely eaten like pigeons and peacocks have very beautiful feathers that fetch a lot of money in some countries,” he said.

Mr King’ara started his project in 2005 after visiting a friend, Babu Muthama, at his residence in Karen, Nairobi. The visit marked the beginning of his business.

The farm near Gichiche shopping centre which is 8km from Othaya in Nyeri is now home to birds that are rare elsewhere in the country. “I invested more than Sh2 million to start this project,” Mr King’ara said.

Some of the exotic birds in the farm are white guinea fowls, king pigeons, lion pigeons, fantail doves, Indian peacocks, ostriches, Bantams, Egyptian geese, red normal geese, quails and spotted guinea fowls, crown birds, the crested crane, turkeys, white and spotted ducks, white and spotted geese and local pigeons among others.

He says that ostrich meat can fetch a tidy sum since it is one of the most popular cholesterol-free red meat in the world.

Peacocks are mostly kept for beauty but while their breeding requirements are almost similar to chickens, they rake in earnings almost 100 times more.

“Besides, the bird’s tails fall off and grow back every two years, giving the farmer another opportunity to make some money. A single male peacock feather goes for Sh300.

Mr King’ara has seven ostriches in his farm which he bought from a farmer in Baringo as chicks at Sh12,000 each.

He uses them to promote domestic tourism. Local educational institutions and tourists visit the farm to see the different species of birds.

Mr King’ara says ostriches are on high demand in the Middle East and Europe. An ostrich egg goes for Sh3,000 and one bird produces up to seven eggs a year.

“A mature ostrich fetches about Sh450,000 while sale of peacock stock could earn up to Sh100,000 per bird. Eggs produced by the peacock earn a farmer Sh200,000 every laying season,” adds the lawyer.

He says that because of the nomadic nature of the peacock, it does not make a good breeder because it keeps on moving from the eggs. However, he uses turkeys for breeding of peacock.

The peacock chicks are removed from turkey’s care after 27 days to protect them from possible attack.

But since the land is not large enough to keep many birds, Mr King’ara says he plans to transfer them to his 180-acre ranch in Naru Moru where he will set aside about 40 acres to rear them. Structures to rear the birds at the ranch are under construction.

He says that apart from doing business, he wants to change the perception of many people who consider dry regions as unproductive.

The farmer has already transferred the ostriches to the ranch where he is also setting up Facing Mt Kenya Resort, which he says aims to tap Chinese and domestic tourists.

“I want to make it affordable to the local people and the Chinese market, which has not been taken care of properly in this country,” he says.

Mr King’ara adds that he will use his ostriches and three of the his horses to provide visitors rides around the farm and take for tour of Mt Kenya which is few kilometres away.

However, he says if the number of ostriches increases, he will sell some although a lack of abattoirs for the birds hinders him from selling their meat. A kilogramme of ostrich meat goes for Sh2,000.

The Maasai Ostrich Farm is the only outlet for the birds meat and eggs, which are in high demand.

The resort will cost about Sh250 million upon completion, which Mr King’ara says will be by mid this year.

In the same farm, located in the semi-arid part of Kieni, 50 acres are under horticulture whose produce he sells produce.

Mr King’ara has ready market for his produce which he cultivates on order. In a year, he says, sale of the produce earns him more than Sh15 million.

“I have been very busy with birds during the holidays and weekends. I now see myself transforming from a lawyer to a poultry farmer by investing heavily in this unique bird project,” he adds. “I have alternated between working at my law firm office in Nairobi and rearing rare bird breeds here.”

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) issued him licence several years ago so that he could host some of the protected birds he found during his tours.

KWS officials discovered his unique bird collection after getting several applications from him seeking permission to keep ostriches and quails.

In addition to the bird sanctuary, King’ara has established fishing ponds where local farmers learn how to keep fish. He also rears eight dairy cows, several dairy goats and keeps bees.

All these projects have four full-time employees.

He has used these projects to train local self-help groups on how to start income generating activities instead of relying on white collar jobs or staying idle due to unemployment.

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