Membership of the Society increased in 1977 both locally and 
overseas and in 1978 this trend continued. 
A bird census was carried out in the Nairobi area by members 
in December 1978 and an analysis published in the Bulletin in 1979. 
A further census will take place this year and the Society hope 
to make this a yearly feature. 
The Society* s 70th Anniversary year has proved to be an active 
one, membership has already reached a record number. To date there 
are 65 overseas life members, 3 Junior overseas members, 62 full 
overseas members, 32 overseas institutional members and 200 overseas 
exchanges. In addition the local membership stands at 40 life, 
580 full, 34 jixnior and 20 institutional. Three J oumal parts have 
been published and issued to members together with the Bulletin . 
The Society, thanks to Don Turner, together with Air Madagascar and 
Madagascar Air Tours, were able to offer members three trips to 
Madagascar, This was very popular and was quickly over subscribed. 
At the National Museum's 50th Anniversary Festival held in June 
1979 the Society was able to put on a fine display of its activities 
and this was much admired and helped to increase membership. Many 
congratulatory letters have been received from leading scientific 
bodies r.ll over the world and the Society feel justly proud of them. 
The authors, Leslie Brown and Peter Britton, as well as the 
editor, have pushed ahead with the 'Breeding Seasons of East African 
Birds*. ^ This very important work is now with the printers and will 
be available shortly to members, in book form, at a reduced price. 
The Society is also pleased to announce the publication in the 
near future of a much needed handbook 'The Birds of East Africa* 
by Peter Britton, 
The publications of 70 years are a tangible proof of the East 
Africa Natural History Society's success, which has been made poss- 
ible by the hard work of its office bearers over the years and the 
support of its members, A complete set of publications is held in 
the Library at the National Museum and a list of available reprints 
for sale is sent to members at regular intervals. Some members 
are regarded as 'old faithfulls', having joined the Society in its 
formative years. At the other end of the ladder are those who join 
for short periods while working within East Africa. 
1979 had truely been a wonderful anniversary year, A time to 
look back proudly on past achievements and to look forward to the 
future , 
A complete list of Office Bearers will be published in the 
January/February 1980 B ulletin . 
E.B.A, 
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