• The preparation for the Sidi Goma Festival scheduled for 6
October is forming a firm foundation. It is aimed to be a
multifaceted event involving the Afro-Asian fusion as the core
Theme.
• The affairs at the Kenya Wildlife Service are still not sorted
out, as issuance of new smart cards for citizens wishing to
visit game parks are still on hold.
Interestingly, no alternative is in place except doing the Safari
through established tour operators and paying foreigners' rates.
Could it be that locals are not welcome or is it a collusion to
extend business to the tour operators ?
Well, time will tell; or perhaps another Commission of Inquiry. Only
joking.
• The hurdles involving the acquisition of new repertoire of
viewing are cleared and we have now interesting DVDs on
Nature, Wildlife and Space.
We hope everyone will take full advantage of these offerings. [K.D.]
.
BIRD WATCH NEWS:
Saturday, June 17th: Certainly
one of the wettest bird walks in the history of Mombasa Bird Walk,
if not in my own history.
It was really gratifying to see all the "die hard" birders turning
out.
Several phone calls before the walk ascertaining the degree of my
own madness and having it confirmed when they were assured that it
was bird walk
Sat "rain or shine": A drive up to the car track at Nguu Tatu where
we had to park with "care" in all the mud didn't look too promising
as the rain continued to pour and indeed a lot of the "walk" was
done from the relative dry of the Banda.
However a walk down to the pond or shall we say a "slide" turned up
quite a few species.
The best being an exceedingly wet African Darter. He may spend a lot
of his time in the water but obviously did not like the rain. Never
have I seen a more miserable, hunched bird.
Other special birds seen Black Shouldered Kite, doing some splendid
hovering. Greater Blue Earred Starling, Fan Tail Widow Birds, Woolly
Necked Stork, Flappet Lark doing his thing despite the rain and
about 15 others.
Wet but not birdless. (M.R.).
.
PAST EVENTS:
June 20th: The video on Fidel
was an interesting insight into the legend, who is synonymous with
Revolution and Cuba as a nation.
A
stubborn survivor, like a cat of nine lives.
July 4th: Due to last minute
hiccups that involved inefficiency and bureaucracy in the
"developed" nations, the advertised "Wonders and Splendours of
the World" video could not be screened.
The hasty replacement was a documentary filmed on the now (in)famous
President Bush.
Alternative views on some of the decisions made in the last five
years by the reigning Super power are analysed and microscopically
dissected.
What emerged was a good viewing, entertaining in its hilarity
portraying sickeningly quixotic decisions and reasons advanced for
them but eventually changing the concept of freedom for many
societies.
.
FUTURE PROGRAMME:
August 1, Tuesday Video - "Volcanoes Of The Deep".
This explores the astounding undersea volcanic habitats, filled with
strange new creatures and landscapes.
It unravels the dynamic habitat where life is fuelled by the
planet's internal fires- a place that may hold the key to finding
life on other worlds.
August 15 Tuesday: Talk by Professor M Hyder "Will we ever
live down the Tsunami that hit us 500 years ago ?"
Professor Mohamed Hyder, eminent educationalist and academic par
excellence, is going to talk on a catastrophic marine phenomenon and
its stranglehold on the course of development of this region.
August 19 Saturday:
Monthly Bird Walk With Marlene Reid.
Join Marlene Reid Bird for an afternoon Walk looking at birds and
enjoying the countryside .
August 26 Saturday:
Field Visit To Sultan's Summer Palace.
Visit to the grounds of the Sultan's palace at Peleleza,
spectacularly located on a headland overlooking the modern Kilindini
harbour.
Visit courtesy of the kind permission by the present owners. Details
for travel will be announced at the Fort meetings.
Book you place with the Chairman KD on tel:
2313713 (office) or
0733-896150 before August
22nd.
.
