People come from around the world to witness Lake Naivasha’s birds

More than a thousand bird species live in Kenya and almost four hundred species make their homes at Lake Naivasha where Dave and I spent the first two weeks of our orientation course.

I marveled at the birdsongs—

their warbles and chirps and calls—

their variety, intensity, and volume. 

Listening to those birds in such close proximity 

was one of the highlights of my life.

It’s no surprise that people come from around the world 

to watch Lake Naivasha’s birds.

We lost all our photos from our stay on the shores of Lake Naivasha but nowadays, thanks to the internet, besides seeing photos of those lovely birds, you can also listen to their songs.

So here we go, thanks to the following links:

At this link, you will see the lake and the birds that live there, and you can listen to their distinct calls. You’ll see vibrant Superb Starlings between the 1:29 point and 1:49. At 2:13 you’ll see the Colobus monkeys that lived among us, too. Watch for their striking black and white silken fur. (Click here.)

At this link you’re in for a treat because you’ll see beautiful Lake Naivasha while also listening to Kenyan singing. I’ll always love their rich harmonies and pulsing rhythms. You’ll also see (at the :47 mark) the most prominent creature that lived among us—and the most deadly—hippos! (More stories about hippo incidents in future posts!)

In the next clip, you’ll listen to bird songs and see tents similar to those we used while there (although our group’s tents were spread apart more than those in the video). You’ll also see way too many photos of marabou storks.

Ibis was another prominent bird at Lake Naivasha. We didn’t see them often (because, I think, they lived high in the trees) but their calls definitely caught our attention. Often. In Grandma’s Letters from Africa, I described the ibis’s call in as kind a way as possible—I said it sounded like a crow’s “caw” over a loudspeaker. What you’ll hear on this video clip is toned down compared to being there in person. Be thankful! 

After listening to the raucous ibis’ calls, you’ll better appreciate the calls of the African Fish-eagle in this next video.

When I recall our days living at Lake Naivasha, my heart still thrills at the birdsongs. (Except for the ibis' calls!)

Look at the birds in the sky!

They don’t plant or harvest.

They don’t even store grain in barns.

Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them.

(Matthew 6:26, CEV)