10 
Bulletin of the EANHS 28(3) 
insectivores. Results had not been analysed by the lime 
the fellowship period was ending. However, the wet 
reeds seemed to have a very high diversity and density 
of insects and also seemed to have relatively higher 
catches than other control sites. I recommend that a 
similar study be done on the abundance, distribution 
and preference of the fruiting tree species and check if 
there is any correlation with catches. It seemed to me 
that birds would switch from one food type to the other 
in different habitats These interrelationships could 
probably spell out the importance of Ocsa Landscape 
as refueling site for migratory passerines. 
The “Poo” Study (Avian Nematodes) 
This study aimed at assessing the typical nematode 
burden of migrating songbirds and to establish whether 
there are any relationships between condition score and 
nematode egg counts. Dr. Sue C Cork of Harper Adams 
Agricultural College. UK. was coordinating this study 
Birds shocked hy handling were an asset to this study 
(with the exception of the violent jays and shrikes); of 
course, getting faecal samples was at the mercy of the 
poor birds— thank God for the shock factor when we 
were sure of the next samplc. 
Data taken included condition score, age, sex and 
species. Foccal samples were collected and preserved 
in 70% alcohol to stop the eggs from hatching and for 
ease of identification. Samples would only be collected 
from birds whose biometrics had been documented 
The samples were later to be examined for presence, 
species and number of nematodes per gram of sample 
Nematodes like Capillaria spp and Syngamus spp have 
in the past been found to be highly prevalent in migratory 
passerines. 
KNOWLEDGE GAINED 
My parttcipation in the Earthwatch Millenium 
Fellowship came at the right time; it gave me immense 
exposure to a number of important things: 
• I now know how to set up mist nets, clean them up 
and maintain them to achieve maximum results 
(catches). Doing controls repeatedly for 14 hours 
each day exposed me to some tine details which I 
otherwise would not have learnt in 1 -2 days training 
• I can confidently extract birds of different sizes, 
ages and species. Certain birds like jays and shrikes 
required careful extraction. I got a number of 
lacerations from shrikes Young and small sized 
birds required a lot of care too, especially when 
getting the nets out of their hooked tongues. 
• I am now in a position to take measurements and 
biometrics of birds, e g. fat score, wing length, 
tail length among others, skills which will improve 
with more practice. 
• Ocsa landscape seemed a very popular reserve and 
acted as a retreat and training site for amateur 
naturalists and Hungarian youth who woujd 
otherwise use such a time idling in the city— this 
idea can be transferred to Kenya's I BA sites; to 
establish such camps for training Site Support 
Group members, as well as the rest of the 
community with, of course, proper publicity. 
• I learnt a number of tips on how to manage a ringing 
station for naturalists of different backgrounds. For 
example, how to approach customer care, data 
documentation, ensuring participation of all 
volunteers, ensuring smooth flow of supplies, 
logistics, and programming of events, among other 
things. 
• I have gained immense knowledge on insect 
sampling techniques using sticky plates; setting 
them up, spraying, collecting and preserving plates 
with insects, identification procedures mainly by 
order and categorising them in different size classes 
using grid paper 
l am currently working as a Sites Conservation Officer 
for the Kenya’s Important Bird Areas programme, and 
one of the things 1 am doing, and will do in future, is to 
develop site support groups and train the members in 
simple standard bird surveys and monitoring techniques, 
land-use surveys and environmental education. I believe 
the knowledge 1 have gained will be of great use in this 
work. Other groups have plans for setting up campsites 
and I hope to be able to share my experience with them. 
OTHER EXPERIENCES 
Culture Shock! 
I have worked in the tourism industry for one and a half 
years and have had some experience of different cultures, 
but from the look of things, these experiences did not 
remove the African in me, and there were some extreme 
dressing styles I still considered obscene Temperatures 
were not very cooperative, hitting 40 Celsius mark 
almost daily Walking and riding bikes in pants and other 
summer clothing left me embarrassed. At the end of 
the day I think 1 had to accept and appreciate it as a way 
of life for them, it’s all different now' 
Hospitality 
The kind of hospitality we got from the Hungarians left 
us feeling really at home, families would volunteer to 
lake us out for a swim with their vehicles and give us 
rides back to the camp whenever they would spot us in 
town. We did not have to struggle to do anything as 
somebody was always there ready to assist. Long Live 
Hungarians! 
Ocsa Museum and Church 
We visited the museum twice, and had a chance to 
experience Hungarian culture, and the design and 
arrangement of. an old peasant Hungarian house and 
farming equipment in the ethnographical collection of 
the landscape house A highlight of this trip was the 
visit to the largest of the ten most ancient churches in 
Hungary built in the 13th Century Seated beside the 
old pulpit, legs crossed, the church keeper sang for us 
a beautiful Hungarian gospel song, nicely modulated 
