Workshop on birds of prey held in Kenya – John and Margaret Cooper

John Cooper and Sarah Higgins, wildlife rehabilitator, with the spotted eagle owl that stole the show at the Workshop

A One-Day Workshop on the health and welfare of birds of prey and their interface with poultry and other species was held at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM), University of Nairobi,  on Wednesday 3^rd July, 2013

The lectures started with a presentation on “Birds of prey: status and threats” by Dr Peter Njoroge, a Kenyan biologist, Head of the Ornithology Department at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). . He discussed the different species of bird of prey and explained their importance. He pointed out that farmers should welcome certain raptors on their land because “an owl is a better rat-catcher than a cat”.

Dr B.M Kavoi then spoke on the anatomy and physiology of birds of prey and domestic chickens.  He explained the differences in body structure.  This was an excellent comparative review of the similarities between raptors and domestic poultry.

Dr Celsus Sente, a wildlife veterinarian from Makerere University, Uganda, then gave the first of his two lectures.  Dr Sente had travelled by bus – a journey of over fifteen hours, to Nairobi.  His first presentation was on the complex relationship between raptors, humans and commercial enterprises.  He provided statistics on the population of birds of prey in Uganda, the largest host country in Africa.  He discussed attitudes to birds of prey and enumerated the challenges that they are facing.

A vulture’s idea of how to deal with a vet! John Cooper wards off the not-so-gentle advances of the bird that guards the entrance to the rehabilitation centre in Kenya

The next presentation covered the law relating to birds of prey.  Dr Francis Gakuya (Kenya Wildlife Service, KWS) explained legal protection in Kenya and Mrs Margaret Cooper the international status of these birds Dr Gakuya noted that birds of prey are protected under Kenya’s Wildlife Act (Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 376). This means that a permit is required from KWS if such birds are to be taken into captivity or studied as part of a research programme.  If these birds were to be properly protected there was a need for better enforcement of legislation, increased awareness of their importance, restriction of pesticide use and (probably) introduction of captive-breeding programmes.  Mrs Margaret E Cooper discussed international legislation that is relevant to birds of prey, including CITES. She explained the importance of the “Five Freedoms” in respect of animal welfare and their application to birds of prey.

Rehabilitation was the subject of the next lecture, a joint presentation by Professor John Cooper, Mrs Margaret Cooper and Dr Zoe Gibbs.  The Coopers read out a message of greeting from Mrs Jeannie Knocker, still living in Kenya, the daughter of the legendary falconer and naturalist Captain C W R Knight.

“an owl is a better rat-catcher than a cat”

Following coffee and the usual Kenyan “bitings” (tasty, locally produced, snacks) there was an opportunity for registrants to view literature provided by the British Falconers Club (who had also given  financial support) , the Hawk and Owl Trust, the Raptor Research Association and, nearer to home, NatureKenya.

Aa thought-provoking lecture by Professor Philip Nyaga was entitled “Birds of prey in relation to poultry production and health”. Professor Nyaga discussed the possible role of birds of prey in terms of disease transmission to poultry.

Professor Cooper returned to the podium to give a high-speed lecture on “Health and diseases of birds of prey”.  He pointed out that in the early 1970s large numbers of publications about “raptor medicine” emanated from Kenya, largely based on work with sick and injured birds of prey. There was much written information on the diseases of raptors, especially falcons (Family Falconidae), some of it dating back a 1000 years to Arabic treatises.

Margaret Cooper and Sarah Higgins with a casualty Verreaux’s eagle owl at the centre

Dr Sente’s second lecture was entitled “Population dynamics, control and management of birds of prey in urban and rural areas in perspective to poultry and other industries”.  He provided information on the population trends for black kites and fish eagles from separate regions within Uganda.

The last presentation of the morning was by Dr Mbaria on poisons and toxicants of birds of prey and poultry.  He discussed the different types of toxicants and their effects on population and ecosystems.

The first afternoon presentation was by Professor Nyaga on post-mortem techniques followed by a presentation by Professor Kanyari and Dr Githigia on the identification of parasites of birds.

Participants then proceeded to the laboratory where they were taken through forensic aspects of diagnostic pathology and treatment of birds of prey by Professor Cooper, rehabilitation by Dr Gibbs, Mrs Sarah Higgins and Mr Simon Thomsett and viewed a display of laws and codes of practice and NatureKenya publications illustrating the conservation value of raptors in the wild by Mrs Margaret Cooper.

At the end of the day the registrants were introduced to a live eagle owl (Bubo africanus), a casualty bird that could not be released, and told about his history and care by Mrs Higgins. This attracted much interest and discussion – an important breakthrough in terms of the preconceptions that some Kenyans have about raptors.

John and Margaret Cooper