Current status of diurnal breeding raptors in the greater Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem, southern Kenya: an assessment of abundance, distribution and key areas in need of conservation

Abstract

I document the current abundance and distribution of breeding and resident raptors in the greater Athi-Kaputiei Ecosystem of southern Kenya. Data were drawn primarily from field surveys and supplemented with secondary data from other observers’ records, and open-source databases. A total of 138 nests were recorded, of which 103 belonged to globally threatened and near threatened species. A total of 135 resident pairs of raptors were recorded in the area, belonging to 20 species. An additional 26 non-resident raptor species were observed in the area with varying levels of frequency. Results indicate key areas that need to be prioritized for conservation as major development projects — including a standard gauge railway, wind energy facilities, and an expressway — are implemented in the wildlife-rich Athi-Kaputiei area.

Keywords: raptors, Athi Plains, Nairobi National Park, sustainable development, human-wildlife co-existence