Birds of Mbeya

Lengo langu ni kufanya ulimwengu ambamo tunsweza kuishi kwa amani na vitu vyote asilia.

Ndege wa Mbeya Kitabu ambacho kimeandikwa na wanachama wa Roots & Shoots Mbeya, Tanzania

My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature. – Jane Goodall, Founder, Roots & Shoots

Birds of Mbeya a field guide written by Roots & Shoots members in Mbeya Town

Ndege wa Mbeya Kitabu ambacho kimeandikwa na wanachama wa Roots & Shoots Mbeya, Tanzania

Birds of Mbeya a field guide written by Roots & Shoots members in Mbeya Town

ɴext ɢeɴeʀatɪoɴ pʀess Providence, Rhode Island

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Shukrani Acknowledgments

Tungependa kutoa shukrani zetu za dhati kwa Barbara Cervone wa Next Generation Press, Marekani; Gazelle Safari Company ya Mbeya Tanzania; mra ti bu wa Roots & Shoots Mkoa wa Mbeya Peter Mwamala, mw a n achama Leonard Bwake, walimu ndugu na marafiki pamoja na wanachama wote wa Roots & Shots mkoa wa Mbeya waliosaidia kufanikisha uandaaji wa kijitabu hiki. – Waandishi We would like to give our thanks to Ba rb a ra Cervone at What Ki d s Can Do; the Shinnyo-en Foundation in the United States; Gazelle Safari Company in Mbeya, Tanzania; Carl Cervone of Technoserve; the regional coordinator of Roots & Shoots in Mbeya, Peter Mwamala, and volunteer Leon a rd Bwake . And thank you to our dear teach ers , fri en d s , and all Roots & Shoots mem bers in Mbeya Regi on who hel ped wri te this book. – The Authors

Waandishi Authors

Yaliomo Table of Contents

Iganzo Secondary School

Utangulizi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Agustine Elihudi Ande Matthew

Introduction

Ilomba Secondary School

About Mbeya

Abdulbhary Bashiru Kasiana Mbeyela Esperansa Mfikwa Devotha Ndunguru Ivumwe Secondary School

Saimoni Adam Shitalima Shani Musa Ibrahim Mwampyate Itende Secondary School

Betha Ezekiel Nasibu Mbwiga Emanuel Mwakasumi Meta Secondary School

Said Hamis Sospeter Kansapa Emmanueli Esadi Mrutu Sangu Secondary School

Lulasamu Daudi Levocatus D Manego Beatrice Andrew Mwakyembe Kively J. Njombo Editor

Genevieve Edens Roots & Shoots volunteer

Mazingira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Kuhusu Ndege . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Bird Basics Utafiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Our Research Maelezo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 About the Guide

Utangulizi Utangulizi Introduction Introduction

Sisi wanafunzi 19 tulishiriki kuandika kitabu hiki. Tu n a s oma shule za sekon d a ri mbalimbali kwenye viwango vya O na A, kuanzia umri wa miaka 16 h adi 22. Tunaishi Mbeya, Tanzania na sisi sote ni wanachama wa Roo t s & Shoo t s .

Roots & Shoots ni progra mu inayo husika na el i mu ya mazingi ra , jamii na wanyama kwa vijana kuanzia shu l e za msingi mpaka chuo kikuu. Pia Roots & Shoots hutoa nafasi kwa vijana kukaa pamoja na kutafakari, kujifunza na kuel ewa mazingi ra na u husiano wa viu m be vya asili na jamii. Kwa namna hii Roots & Shoo t s inawasaidia vijana kuchukua hatua za kuboresha dunia kwa bi n ad a mu , wanyama na mazingi ra .

Wanachama waona kikundi cha ngedere kwenye msitu.

Group members spot a troop of monkeys moving through the forest.

The nineteen students who participated in writing this book are between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two. We live in Mbeya, Tanzania, where we study at different schools in both Ordinary (regular secondary) and Advanced (advanced secondary) levels.

We are all mem bers of Roots & Shoo t s . Roots & Shoots is the Jane Good a ll Institute’s global, environmental, and humanitarian program for young people, with members from nursery school to university and beyond. Its mission is to fo s ter re s pect and compassion for all living things , to prom o te understanding of all cultu res and bel i efs, and to inspire each indivi dual to take acti on to make the world a better place for the envi ron m ent, animals, and the human community.

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Mazingira Mbeya About Mbeya UtanguliziyaIntroduction

Sisi wanafunzi tuliandika kitabu hiki kwa kuwa tu l i ona umu h i mu wa k u f a h a muvi z u ri zaidi ndege wanaoishi Mbeya Mj i n i . Tu m ejifunza aina za n dege wanaoonekana katika mazingi ra mbalimbali, s eh emu zinazovutia n dege kwa wi n gi , vyakula vya o, na jinsi wanavyo husiana na bi n ad a mu .

Tumefanya ut a f i tiwa ndege ili kuel ewa aina za ndege, namna wanavyoi s h i , na,sehemu wanapoishi, bali pia kuel ewa vi z u ri zaidi mazingi ra yetu kwa ujumla. Tu n a k u sudi ut a f i tiwetu ut ach ochea vijana kufikiria zaidi kuhu su dunia inayowazunguka.

Ki t a buhiki, kilich oandikwa kwa Kiswahili na Ki i n gereza, kimeandaliwa kwa ajili ya shule, maktaba, jamii, na hasa wanachama wa Roots & Shoo t s .

Our group dec i ded to write this book in order to ex p l ore the lives of birds that live in Mbeya Town . We discovered which kinds of bi rds live in different habitats, wh i ch places su pport large nu m bers of birds, as well as information su ch as what birds eat and how human soc i ety affects birds in Mbeya.

We think it is important to conduct this research not on ly to understand wh a t kinds of bi rds live here, wh ere they live, and what they eat, but also to better understand the envi ron m ent as a wh o l e . Our research is a way for youth to think more deep ly about the natu ral world that su rrounds us every day.

This boo k , wri t ten in both Kiswahili and English, is for use in schools, libraries, and anyone interested in M beya’s birds.

The youth of Roots & Sh oots Mbeya and Genevieve Edens, Roots & Shoots volunteer October 2007

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Mkoa wa Mbeya uko nyanda za ju u kusini nchini Tanzania huku Af rika Mashariki. Mkoa una wi l aya nane: M beya Mj i n i , M beya Vij ij i n i , Chunya , Rungwe, Mboz i , Kyel a , Ileje na Mbalali.

Mandhari kutoka Mlimani Loleza.

M beya mjini ni mch a n ga nyi ko wa The view from Mount Loleza. makabila mbalimbali na wageni kutoka nje ya mkoa na nje ya nch i . Katika wi l aya ya Mbeya Vij ijini, k a bila maarufu ni Wasafwa; Chunya , ni Wakimbu, Wabungu, na Waguluka; Rungwe, ni Wanya ky u s a ; Mboz i , ni Wanyi h a ; Kyel a , ni Wanyakyusa na Wanya s a ; Il ej e , ni Wandali. Mali asili z i n a zop a tikana mkoani ni makaa ya mawe na dhahabu. Kuna kilimo kingi kama vile kahawa, m i gomba, tumbaku, chai, na ufugaji. Pia kuna hifadhi ya wanyama (Ki tulo) na ch em ch em za maji moto (Mbalali, katika bon de la Usangu, na Mbeya Vijijini). Uvuvi wa samaki unafanyika katika ziwa la Nyasa na Rukwa. Aina nyi n gine za mazingi ra zinazop a tikana mkoa wa M beya ni milima tambara re , milima yenye misitu, na maziwa ya volkano.

M beya is in the sout h ern highlands of Tanzania, East Af ri c a . M beya Regi on has ei ght distri ct s : M beya Town , M beya Rural, Chunya , Rungwe, Mboz i , Kyel a , Il ej e , and Mbalali. The pop u l a ti on of M beya Town(8 0 0 , 0 0 0 inhabitants) is a mix of many ethnic groups, including people from out s i de the regi on and out s i de the co u n try. In Mbeya Rural, the most com m on et h n i c group is the Safwa; o t h er distri cts inclu de people of the Kimbu, Bungu, Guluka, Nya ky u s a , Nyi h a , Nya s a , and Ndali groups.

Natural resources in the region include coal and gold; the area is suitable for farming coffee, banana, tobacco, and tea, as well as keeping livestock.

Due to its position on the Rift Valley, there are many hot springs, as well as Lakes Nyasa and Rukwa. Kitulo, known for its ra re orchids, was recen t ly gazetted as a National Park. Biomes found in Mbeya Region are montane forest, montane grassland, and volcanic lakes

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Utangulizi Introduction

Maeneo tulioyofanyia utafiti ni yafuatavyo: Loleza, Ivumwe, na Songwe.

Vitu tulivyoviona huko ni mapango, vilima, mito, majimoto, chemchem, misitu, na mashamba. Baadhi ya mimea tuliyoona ni mahindi, maharage na ngano, pamoja na miti milingoti, pine, maembe, na miti ya asili. Pia tuliona maua mengi, majani, na majani marefu (ferns). Baadhi ya mifugo tulioona ni mbuzi, kondoo, punda, ng’ombe, na mabwawa ya samaki.

Pia tuliona wanyama pori kama nyoka, panzi, vipepeo, na ngedere.

Barabara kubwa Mbeya mjini.

A main street in downtown Mbeya.

The areas where we did research are Loleza, Ivumwe and Songwe. There we saw caves, mountains, rivers , hot springs, w a ter sources, forests, gra s sland, and agri c u l tu re. Plants in these areas inclu de corn , be a n s , and wh e a t ; there are exotic tree species like eucalyptus, pine, and mango, and also native trees like acacia. There are also many flowers, grasses, and ferns.

Some animals that we saw, besides birds, are domestic animals like goats, sheep, donkeys, and cows. We also saw snakes, bugs like grasshoppers and butterflies, and a troop of vervet monkeys.

Mbeya Mjini iko kwenye Bonde la Ufa. Baadhi ya milima huku ni Mlima Mbeya na Mlima Loleza kwa upande wa Kaskazini, na Mlima Ugali kwa upande wa Maghari bi . Ba adhi ya mito inaanzia milimani na mito mingi n e huwa na maji kwenye kipindi cha mvua. Kwa mfano, mto wa Nzovwe unaanzia kwenye milima, na mto wa Meta hutegemea mvua na ch em ch em .

Masika huku Mbeya huanzia mwezi wa kumi na moja na kuendelea hadi wa mwezi wa nne; wakati wa kiangazi unaanzia mwezi wa tano na kuendel e a hadi mwezi wa kumi. Pia, kuna kipindi cha baridi huanzia mwezi wa sita na kwisha mwezi wa nane. Katika kipindi hichi, ubaridi unaweza kufikia hata kiwango cha joto 2o selsiusi kwa siku.

Mbeya Town is loc a ted on the Rift Va ll ey. Mountains su ch as Mount Mbeya and Mount Loleza to the nort h , and Mount Ugali to the west, su rround the city. Many rivers run thro u gh town, s ome that start in the mountains and others that are ra i n - fedand on ly exist du ring the ra i ny season . For example, the source for River Nzovwe is at Mt Mbeya, while the River Meta is seasonal with the rains. The ra i ny season starts in Novem ber and lasts until Apri l . The dry season lasts from May to October. The cold season lasts from June to August, wh en the tem pera tu res drop, but it does not get cold enough to free ze.

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Chini ya Mlima Loleza. Maua haya yavutia songosori wengi.

Study spot below Loleza's peak. The orange flowers here attract many sunbirds.

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Kuhusu Ndege Bird Basics

Kadiri idadi ya watu inavyozidi inaathiri mazingira kutokana na kuongezekwa makazi na shughuli kama ujenzi, ufugaji, kilimo, uchomaji wa mkaa, na shughuli nyingine za nyumbani. Idadi ya ndege huko imekuwa ikipungua kutokana na ongezeko la binadamu ambao huharibu mazingira kwa kukata miti kwa ajili ya mkaa, ujenzi na kilimo. Pia Tuliona viota vingi vya ndege korobindo kwenye matawi ya mti huu, Songwe. uwindaji wa ndege kwa ajili ya We saw dozens of weavers’ nests hanging uchawi umeongezeka, kwa mfano, from the branches of this tree in Songwe. uaji wa bundi. Vilevile, makelele kutokana na watu, magari, muziki na vitu vingine vimekuwa kero kwa ndege. Hivyo, mambo mengi yamelazimisha ndege kuhama eneo hilo.

Mbeya’s expanding human populati on has affected the natu ral envi ronment in many ways , e s pec i a lly thro u gh activi ties like con s tru cti on , farming, livestock keep i n g,c ut ting trees for firewood and charcoal produ cti on , and other domestic activities. The number of birds has noticeably decreased as their habitats are altered by the deforestation that comes with increased population. Also bird hunting – and killing owls because of belief in witchcraft – has risen tremendously. Noise pollution from people, cars, and music has disturbed birds, too. For these reasons, many birds have left the area.

Watu wengi wachunga mifugo wao kwenye Mlima Loleza.

Many people graze their livestock on the slopes of Mount Loleza.

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Kuna aina 1088 za ndege katika nchi ya Tanzania. Mkoani Mbeya kuna ndege wa aina thelathini na tatu (33) walioonekana katika muda wa utafiti wetu.

Mara nyingi ndege wanajitokeza katika kipindi cha masika kwa kuwa ni kipindi ambacho ndege wanazaliana. Ndege kama mayera huwa ana tabia ya kuhamahama kwa kufuatana na majira . Ma ra nyi n gi ndege hawa wanahama kutoka nchi za mbali na kuingia nchini Tanzania hasa kwenye wakati wa masika. Katika kipindi hiki ndege hawa hujipatia chakula mbalimbali kama samaki, panzi, na panya.

Tuliweza kuwatazama vizuri ndege hawa kwa kutumia hadubini. Hivyo ilikuwa rahisi sana kuwaona kwa sura na rangi. Ndege hawa hutofautiana kwa namna nyingi, kama sauti, maumbile, na vyakula wanavyokula.

Unapowatazama ndege unashauriwa kukaa kimya ili wasishtuke. Vilevile unapofanya uchunguzi wa ndege ni bora upange muda maalum wa kuwatazama katika eneo moja na kisha uende sehemu nyingine ili uweze kuwatazama ndege wa aina mbalimbali.

There are 1088 different bird species in Tanzania. During our research in Mbeya, we identified 33 of these.

Some birds are only found in Tanzania during the rainy season, which is the period with the largest number of birds present. In Mbeya, birds like herons come during the rainy season and then leave during the dry season to far away countries in Europe and elsewhere, following their food. In the dry season, they can’t find things like fish and grasshoppers as easily.

While birdwatching, it is good to use binoculars in order to see clearly the birds’ details and colors. There are also other ways to identify them, for example by their calls, their shape, and the food they eat. When you are birdwatching, you are advised to stay quiet so the birds do not fly away.

Also when you are surveying birds, it is good to set a designated length of time in one spot and then another, in order to see different kinds of birds.

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Utafiti Our Research

Maeneo ya utafiti

Tulifanya utafiti wetu katika sehemu tatu: Loleza, Ivumwe na Songwe.

Loleza iko pembeni kidogo na jiji la Mbeya na ni eneo lenye milima, mashamba na misitu. Milima hii ina misitu ya kupandikizwa pamoja na ya asili, na pia ni chanzo cha maji kwa jiji la Mbeya.

Wanachama wanatumia hadubini kwa mara ya kwanza.

Group members use binoculars for the first time.

Kwa kuangalia sura ya ndege unaweza kugundua anachokula. Kwa mfano, mdomo ukiwa mrefu unamaanisha kwamba ndege huyu anapendelea kula chakula cha aina ya asali na wadudu wapatikanao kwenye maua, na pia nyama na samaki, kama songosori, mayela, na wengine. Ndege wenye midomo mifupi hupendelea kula vyakula vya nafaka. Kwa mfano, ndege wanaoitwa Passeriformes (jina la oda la kisayansi) ni kama dundulusi, jokolilo na chekechea; ndege hawa wanafanana kwa maumbile, wana midomo na miguu mifupi, wana rangi tofauti, vyakula vyao vinafanana, na pia wanafanana kwa mikia, huwa wanamikia mipana na mifupi.

By simply observing a bird, it is possible to discover many things about it.

For example, the shape of its beak can tell you what it eats. If it has a long, curved beak, it eats nectar and insects and it will like to be in areas with many flowers. Birds with short beaks, like those in the order passeriformes (such as finches, bulbuls and mannikins), eat seeds and are similar in appearance and behavior.

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Eneo la juu tu l i pofanya ut a f i tini seh emu wazi na yenye maja n i . Huku tu l ipata ndege wa aina ch ache. Eneo la pili tulipata ndege wen gi lakini walikuwa wa aina tatu tu. Sehemu hii ina maua na majani marefu (ferns), na iko karibu na chemchem ya maji. Pia eneo hili liko karibu na msitu wa miti mirefu na mifupi. Eneo la tatu liliko bondeni , lina miti mirefu na mimea ya aina tof a uti. Seh emu hii ni baridi kiasi kutokana na kivuli cha miti. Huku kulikuwa na aina tofauti tofauti za ndege ambao wengine hawakuweko kwenye sehemu nyingine yoyote (kwa mfano Schalow’s Turaco). Eneo la nne ni seh emu iliyoko bon deni yenye uwazi, majani marefu na miti mifupi.

Study Areas

We conducted research in three areas: Loleza, Ivumwe and Songwe.

Loleza is on the outskirts of downtown Mbeya; it is a mountainous area with farms, forest, and grassland. Mount Loleza has two kinds of forest: tree plantations of pine forest and natural forest with native trees that are preserved to protect water sources for Mbeya Town.

The first spot wh ere we did research was an open area with grasses and brush, where we saw only few birds. The second spot included open grassland bel ow us and flowering bushes and short trees above. Here we saw many birds, but only a few species. The third spot, which is in the eastern valley, is a forest with tall trees and bushes. This area was cold because the sun does not reach through the canopy. We saw several different bird species that on ly were iden ti f i ed in this spo t , like Schalow’s Turaco. The fourth spot is further up in the va ll ey wh ere the forest meets the open grassland.

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Pia eneo hilo lina maua, foto kiafi, na ndege wa aina nne tofauti. Eneo la tano liko kwenye mwanzo wa mlima. Eneo hili lina mashamba na miti michache kama vile milingoti na miti ya maua na majani. Ndege waliopatikana huku walikuwa wa aina sita tofauti. Eneo la sita liliko kwenye mwanzo wa mlima pia. Eneo hili lina ndege wa aina tano tofauti; lina miti ya maua na matunda iliyozunguka eneo la nyasi. Kando yake ni eneo la maji.

Sehemu ya pili tulikofanya utafiti ilikuwa Ivumwe; huku kuna vyanzo vya maji ya mto Nzovwe; limezungukwa na makazi ya watu na mashamba kwa shughuli za kilimo. Eneo liko kwenye upande wa kusini-mashariki kutoka jiji la Mbeya. Tulifanya utafiti kwenye maeneo mawili: Eneo la kwanza liko mwanzoni kwa chanzo cha maji na lina aina tofauti za mimea ambayo ni miti yenye miba, maua, na mipogoro. Eneo lina maji na ndege wengi wa aina tofauti. Pembeni na mito kuna miti iliyopandwa na isiyofyonza maji mengi.

In this area, there are flowers; we saw four different bird species here.

The fifth spot, at the foot of the mountain, is cultivation and grassland with scattered trees, including eucalyptus. There were six kinds of birds here. The sixth spot was also at the foot of the mountain. This space was an open field surrounded by flower and fruit trees, pine, and eucaplyptus. There was also a river nearby; we saw six different species.

Ivumwe, southeast of Mbeya Town center, was the second area where we conducted research at the source of the River Nzovwe. The place is surrounded by human settlement and cultivation. We did surveys in two spots. The first spot was right at the river’s source. Surrounding the water are plants like flowers and Ana trees. Along the banks of the river are exotic tree species that do not absorb much water. Here we saw large flocks of birds and several species.

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Mji mzima waonekana kwenye njia ya kupanda kileleni Loleza.

The entire city is visible from the path we used to reach Mount Loleza.

E n eo la pili liko kando na bara b a ra , pia kuna mahali ambako maji ya n a k usanywa na kusambazwa kwa sehemu tofauti jijini Mbeya. Eneo hili ni chepechepe, lina mikokwa, mitete na mimea mingine tofauti. Ndege wapatikanao katika eneo hili ni wa aina tofauti.

The second spot is close to a large road, where the river water is collected and dispersed to different parts of Mbeya Town. This spot is a wetland area, with a tree called mkokwa, species of reeds, and other plants. We saw several different bird species here.

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Frequency of Bird Species 8 7

Sehemu ya tatu ni Songwe iliyoko magharibi kutoka jiji la Mbeya. Eneo la kwanza liko kingoni na mto, lina nyasi ndefu mitete na miti ya aina tofauti. Ndege wachache wanaonekana huku kwa sababu ya uhaba wa chakula. Maji ya moto na ya baridi yanapatikana. Eneo la pili lina maji na miti mirefu na mifupi pamoja na nyasi fupi ziotazo juu ya maji. Miti hii ni ya miba na matunda; pem beni kuna pango la asili. N dege wanaoonekana huku ni wa aina nane tofauti.

6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Namna

Tulifanya utafiti kwa kutumia namna moja ambavyo tulikaa kwenye seh emu fulani na kuhesabu ndege kwa muda wa dakika ishirini tu. Tuliandika kila aina ya ndege tuliyemuona na jumla ya idadi ya ndege tuliowaona katika kila sehemu. Tulifanya utafiti kuanzia tarehe 17-06-2007 hadi tarehe 2907-07 na hata siku za jumapili. Tulichagua sehemu za kutembelea kuwa na ndege wengi na mazingira yanayotofautiana. Baada ya utafiti, tulitunza kumbukumbu kwenye ngamizi.

The third spot where we conducted research was Songwe, west of Mbeya Town. The first spot is on the banks of a river, close to the hotsprings, with tall reeds and different tree species. We saw few bird species because of a scarc i tyof food there. The second spot has water, trees andbu s h e s , and short grasses that grow on water. Th ere are fruit trees and a large cave.

We identified eight species of birds there.

Methods

Our point-count surveys were taken over twenty-minute periods in each spot. We recorded every species of bird that we saw, as well as the total nu m ber of indivi dual bi rds spo t ted. All data was taken on Su n d ay mornings between June 17, 2007 and July 29, 2007. We chose spots for a range of habitats and favored those with a large number of birds at first sight.

We recorded all our data in the computer to create charts and graphs.

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Matokeo

Matokeo yalikuwa kama yafuatavyo: ndege wanaoonekana kwa wengi ni jokolilo, songosori, dundulusi, kunguru, na chekechea. Ndege wanaopatikana kwa uchache ni sele, mile, duwai, magugu, turaco na olive pigeon. Ndege kama dundulusi, jokolili na njiwa pori pamoja na aina tofauti ya ndege wanaokula mbegu walionekana kwenye manen eo ya mashamba. Songosori peke yake alionekana kwenye maen eo ya miti ya maua. Kwenye maen eo ya miti mingi ndege wanaopatikana ni kunguru, jokolilo, shalow’s turaco, songosori, njiwa pori, na lead colored flycatcher.

Results

The most common species we ob s erved in our research areas were Common Bulbul, Sunbirds, Red-Billed Firefinch, Pied Crow, and Black and White Mannikins. The least common bird species were Hammerkop, Widowbird, Schalow’s Turaco and Olive Pigeon. Areas of cultivation had a fairly high diversity of species of seed-eating birds, including Common Bulbul and Mannikin. In areas with flowering bushes and trees we saw mosly Sunbirds. In forested areas were mainly birds that we identified in only one spot, for example Schalow’s Turaco and Lead Colored Flycatcher.

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Majadiliano

Tuliona ndege wengi kwenye maeneo ya mashamba na karibu na makazi ya watu. Hii ni kwa sababu kuna chakula kingi katika maeneo kama hayo na pengine ndege husika wamezoea bi n adamu, hiv yo hawakushtuka tulipowakaribia. Jokolilo wanaonekana sehemu nyingi kutokana na u p a tikanaji wa mbegu za nafaka na miti ya matunda. Maen eo yenye maua wanavutia ndege wen gi hasa wale wanaof yonza asali ya maua na wanaokula wadu du kama vile son go s ori.

Pia maen eo yenye nyasi ndefu na miti mich ache kuna aina ch ache ya ndege kutokana na upungufu wa chakula; ndege walioonekana huku ni wale wanaokula wanyama au wadu du. Tulishindwa kuona ndege wen gi kwenye sehemu za misitu kwa kuwa ni ngumu kuwaona kati ya miti na majani, walijificha au walikuwa juu sana. Hata hivyo, tuliweza kusikia sauti zao.

Discussion

We saw a high number of birds in cultivated areas and places near human habitation. We believe this is because there are many sources of food in these areas, or perhaps because the birds there are used to humans and did not fly away when we approached the study site. The most common birds, like bulbuls and crows, live in several different habitats because they are omnivores; they will be where there are seeds, trees with fruit, crops like corn and, in the case of crows, trash.

Similarly in areas with many flowers, we saw birds such as sunbirds that eat nectar or the insects that live in high numbers there. Spots with long grasses and few trees tend to provide little food for birds, so there were fewer birds. The ones we did see were birds of prey and those that eat insects. According to our data, forested areas have the fewest number of birds, but these numbers were affected by our ability to see them.

We heard many birds, but they were difficult to spot through the thick vegetation and high up in the tree canopy.

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Katika eneo hili, karibu na kileleni, tuliona ndege wachache kwa sababu iko juu na tupu, bila miti mingi.

At this study area, near the summit, we only saw a few birds because the spot is high up and open with few trees.

Panzi tulimwona Mlimani Loleza.

One of the grasshoppers that we saw on Mount Loleza.

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Kuhusu Maelezo About the guide

Maelezo haya yanahusika na ndege wa aina 20 walioko Mbeya Mjini na Vijijini. Ba adhi ya ndege , kama Kunguru, ni wa kawaida, na wengine, kama Shorobo Kibwenzi, wanaonekana mara moja moja.

Kwa kila ndege, yameandikwa majina matatu: jina la kisayansi, jina la Kiingereza, na jina la k i enyeji. Pen gine hili jina la tatu ni la Kiswahili na mara nyi n gine hili jina linatokea lugha ya kabila kama Kisafwa au Kinyakyusa.

The guide that follows includes 20 species of birds that are present in Mbeya Town and its outskirts.

Some, like the Pied Crow, are very common, while others, like Schalow’s Tu raco, are less often seen .

Each entry includes at least three names: the scientific name, the English name, and the name that people use in Mbeya Town. This is sometimes Swahili, and other times the local dialects Kisafwa or Kinyakusa (in which case we also include the Swahili name for clarification.)

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Kwa kili ndege pia, kuna alama ya mchoro mdogo inayoonyesha urahisi wa kumuona: kwa mfano, tuliwaona Kunguru wengi, hivyo ndege huyu anaonyeshwa na michoro mitatu; tulimuona Fundichama moja, hivyo ana alama ya mchoro mmoja tu.

Hiyo mich oro yo te ilich orwa na wanafunzi Abdulbhary Bashiru, Au g u s tine Elihudi, na Emmanuel Mwakasumi.

The bird icons indicate how likely you are to see the bi rd according to our data: for example, P i ed Crows a re very com m on so they have three bird icon s ; we on ly ob s erved one Ha m m erkop, so we gave it on ly one bird icon .

Stu dents Abdulbhary Ba s h i ru , Au g u s tine Elihudi, and Emmanu el Mwakasumi created the illu s trati ons in pen , pencil, and waterco l or.

Scopus umbretta Utangulizi Introduction

Ciraetus cinereus

Tai Mwekundu Brown Snake Eagle

Sele Fundichama Hammerkop Ana rangi ya kahawia, kichwa chenye umbo la nyundo, mdomo mrefu, miguu mirefu mpaka 56 cm. Hupatikana maeneo yenye mabwawa, mito, mabwawa ya samaki na maeneo yenye maji.

Sele wanakula samaki na vyura.

This large (56 cm) brown bird has a distinctive hammer-shape head, a long beak and long legs. It prefers areas with swamps, rivers, fishponds, and all places with water – although some have been known to inhabit urban areas of Mbeya.

Hammerkops eat fish and frogs.

Ni ndege wanaokula nyama, tai huyu ana rangi ya kahawia wilimzima na rangi ya kijivu chini ya mabawa pindi arukapo. Pia ana kichwa kipara na macho ya njano yaliyofanana na ya bundi. Tai huyu wa kahawia ana mdomo mfupi uliojikunja mweusi. Mkiani ana fio nyembamba za rangi ya kijivu.

Miguu yake ina rangi ya kijivu iliyopauka.

A hunting bird, this eagle is brown, with gray under its wings, visible when it flies. It has a baldhead and yellow eyes that look like an owl’s.

Its short, sharp beak is black. Most often you will see it circling above valleys.

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Milvus migrans Utangulizi Introduction

Columba arquatrix

StreptopeliaIntroduction decipens Utangulizi

Turaco schalowi

Mwewe Black Kite Kuna aina tof a uti za mwewe lakini hakuna kati ya aina hizo mwenye rangi nyeusi. M wewe wa madagasca na jangwa la Sa h a ra wana ra n gi ya kahawi a , maen eo ya kifuani na mkiani wana ra n gi ya kutu . Wo te wana miguu mifupi ya nja n o.

Wakati wa kuruka mbawa zake zinaten geneza kona kwenda nyuma.

Ndege hawa wanaishi mijini, vij ijini, na pia maen eo ya savanna.

M wewe wanakula panya, mijusi, samaki na wadu du wakubwa.

Th ere are different kinds of kites but the one found in Mbeya is a Bl ack Ki te , com m on ly found from Mad a gascar to the Sa h a ra De s ert. It is actu a lly brown , with ru s t - co l ored breast and wi n gs and yellow legs.

While in fligh t , the tips of its wi n gs s tretch back . These bi rds live in u rban areas, in vi ll a ges, and also in open areas. Ki tes eat mice, lizards, fish, and large bugs.

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Njiwa Mweusi Olive Pigeon Njiwa hawa wana rangi ya kijivu iliyo na madoa meupe. Mdomo wenye rangi ya njano na ni wa kati.

Macho yaliyozungukwa na mduara wanjano. Miguu pia ni ya njano.

Sehemu zingine za mwili kuanzia kifuani. Ni weusi sehemu zote za mwili Hupendelea kula matunda.

Pa hupendelea sehemu zenye miti mirefu.

This pigeon is green with black speckles. Its medium-sized beak and feet are yellow, and yellow rings surround its eyes. Its breast is black. It eats fruit and spends most of its time in the tree canopy.

Kuyu Jichonjano African Mourning Dove Njiwa hawa waporini wana kichwa cha kijivu na mgongo wa kaki.

Macho yake ya njano yamezungukwa na rangi nyekundu iliyo pauka. Njiwa hawa wanapatikana maeneo ya nyanda za chini, maeneo yenye michanga, vijijini.

Njiwa hawa wanataga mayai mawili kwenye viota vilivyo jengwa kwenye maeneo yoliyo jificha.

Wanakula nafaka na wadudu.

These doves have a gray head, a tan-colored back, and a pale pink breast. A red ring surrounds their yellow eyes. They live in lowlands and villages. The females lay two eggs and the nests they build are in hidden areas. These doves eat insects and crops.

Shorobo Kibwenzi Schalow’s Turaco Ndege hawa wana kichwa chenye manyoya marefu (panki) ya kijani na madoa meupe nyuma. Macho yake ya mezungukwa na rangi nyekundu ambapo chini yake kuna ufito wa rangi nyeupe. Mabawa yana rangi ya kijani na bluu kwa mbali. Mkia wake mrefu una rangi ya bluu ya kiza.

These birds have a head with a large green crest and a wh i te throa t .

Red ri n gs su rround their eye s , wi t h a bl ack stri pe undern e a t h . Th e Tu raco’s wi n gs are green , and blu e at the tips. Its long tail is dark blue.

It lives in forests in the tree canopy and eats mostly fru i t s .

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Hirundo rustica Utangulizi Introduction

Mbayuwayu Barn Swallow Kuanzia kichwa, shingo, mgongo na mkia ni rangi nyeusi. Sehemu za juu za mbawa ni nyeusi. Sehemu za chini za mbawa, na kifua na tumbo ni nyeupe. Mdomo ni mfupi na mweusi. Hupendelea maeneo ya mvua. Wanakula wadudu. Kiota hutengenezwa kwenye nyumba za binadamu waliohama magofu ya nyumba pangoni. Hupatikana kwa misimu pale mvua inapoanza.

The top of this bi rd’s head , b ack , and long tail are blu e - bl ack . In flight, the wh i te of its wi n gs , throa t , and breast are vi s i bl e . Its dark be a k is short. Ba rn swall ows eat insect s .

Swallows build their nests in houses that have been left em pty and in caves. Th ey occur in large flocks and are most com m on du ring the ra i ny season ; t h ey migra te nort h du ring the dry season.

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Pycnonotus barbatus

Cossypha heuglini Utangulizi Introduction

Jokolilo Shore Tako-Jeupe Common Bulbul Ana kichwa cheusi, kifua kahawi a , chini ya mkia ni nja n o. Ana ukubwa kati, s a uti: “jok-lilo, jok-lilo.”

An a pen delea mahali pa misituni, bustani, makazi ya watu, s eh emu zenya maji kama mito. Chakula chake ni matunda na mbegu zake vilevile mapera, songwa, na mang’ang’a; anakula pia nafaka kama vile mpunga, mahindi, ulezi, nk. Kwa kawaida hut a ga mayai mawili hadi matatu. Baba na Mama husaidiana katika kulea wato to.

A med ium sized brown bird wi t h bl ack head, creamy breast, and yell ow vent under the tail. Its son g “jok-lilo, jok-lilo” gives it its name in Mbeya. Found in ga rden s , forests, human habi t a ti on, and near w a ter. Bu l buls eat fruit and seed s and also crops like ri ce, m i ll et and corn . Usu a lly the female lays two to three eggs ; male and female take tu rns bri n ging food to the ch i cks.

Prinia subflava

Magamaga Bawa-Kahawia Tawny-Flanked Prinia

Kurumbiza Michirizimeupe White Browned Robin Chat N dege hawa wana ukubwa ukati , tu m bo ora n ge na mbawa gray.

Kichwa ya ke ni nyeusi, na juu ya m acho ana seh emu cheupe. Wa n ap a tikana kwa mahali pa bustani, pem be zoni ya misitu, na mahali ya m i to. Wanakula wadu du na mbeg u .

This medium-sized bird has an orange breast and a bl ack head with a white stri pe. Its wi n gs are dark gray. It is found in many habitats, including gardens, forest edges, and along rivers . It eats insects and seeds.

Nya n ti ti ana mkia mwembamba mref u . Ana ra n gi ya kij ivu na kahawi a , ra n gi nyeup seh emu za chini, m acho mekundu , na panki nyusi kichwani. Hu p a tikana katika kingo za misitu, m a jani maref u , vi chakani na maen eo ya kisavana p a m oja na maen eo ya ch emichemi na kwenye bustani. Huten geneza kiota kilicho bonyea kwa juu kwa kutumia majani katika vi chaka vyenye majani maref u . Pia hut a ga mayai 3-4. Hu pen delea kula matunda, nafaka kama mpunga , uwel e , ulezi, mtama na mahindi.

This prinia has a long tail. It is gray with brown on its back and has a black crest and a white breast. It appears at forest edges, in tall grass, in savanna areas and near springs and in gardens. It builds nests out of long grasses and lays three to four eggs. It likes to eat fruits, and crops like rice, millet and sorghum.

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Nectariniidae (Family) Utangulizi Introduction

Chozi Sunbirds Ni ndege wa umbo dogo (13 to 14 cm), hupatikana sehemu zenye maua, misituni, kando ya mito au ya ziwa, na sehemu za kilimo.

Wanakula asali za maua na wadu du, kwa hiyo wana mdomo mrefu ulio pinda na mweu s i . Sa uti ni “pssipssi” Hupendelea maeneo yenye miti mifupi na maua mengi. Hutengeneza kiota chenye mdomo mrefu mfano wa kibuyu.

These small birds (13 to 14 cm) live in places with flowers, in forests, near rivers, and at high altitudes.

They eat nectar and insects, and live in areas with many flowers.

They have many calls, including one that goes, “pssi-pssi.” Sunbirds build their nest in the shape of a gourd with a long entrance. Males of this family are very colorful, while females are tan, brown, and cream, and difficult to identify.

Utangulizi Introduction

Chozi Mweusi Amethyst Sunbird Juu ya kishwa ni kijani ya kung’aa; chini ya shingo ni zambalau; sehemu zingine zote ni nyeusi.

The Amethyst Sunbird is mainly black, except the top of the head is irridescent green and under the throat it is purple.

Ana kichwa shingo; s eh emu za juu za mbawa ni kijani; ndani ya mbawa ni nja n o ; kifua ni nyekundu, k a ti ya kifua na hsingo ni zambalao.

This bird has a green head, neck, and wings; under the wings it is yellow; under the green throat is a purple ring and a red upper breast.

Chozi Tumbonjano Variable Sunbird Sehemu za juu ya kichwa ni kijani; kifua ni zambalau; tumbo ni njano, mkia na mbawa ni kahawia.

This sunbird has a green head and purple throat. Its breast is yellow and its wings and tail are brown.

Chozi Neli Malachite Sunbird Ana kichwa cha nja n o, m b k ijani ya kiung’aa, mgon go- kahawi a ; chini ya mbawa ni njano; tumbo ni kijani.

The Ma l achite Su n bird has a yell ow head, irridescent green wings, a brown back, yell ow under the wi n gs , and a yellow breast.

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Chozi Mikufumiwili Eastern Double Collared Sunbird

Chozi Gunda Scarlet Chested Sunbird Juu ya kichwa na chini ya mdomo ni kijani; kifua ni chekundu; sehemu zingine zote ni nyeusi.

This bird is mainly bl ack , except for the top of the head, wh i ch is i rride s cent green , and its red throa t .

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Corvus albus Utangulizi Introduction

Kunguru Pied Crow

Bwerenda Domojekundu Red Billed Fire Finch

Ana rangi nyeusi kichwani, mkiani, mbawa na miguni pamoja nashingo, mgongo. Sehemu za ukosi mpaka tumbo ana rangi nyeupe. Hupatikana; maeneo ya wazi, pembezoni mwa bahari na maziwa; mashambani vijijini na sehemu za jijini. Hutengeneza viota kwa kutumia vijiti; manyoga, makaratasi, nk. Pia anapendelea kula nyama.

Ana uwezo wa kutaga mayai 3-7 na huatamia kwa siku 19.

Ana rangi ya pinki kwenye mdomo; ana macho madogo yenye duara nyeupe; ana mkia mweusi na pia miguu ya ke ni mifupi. Du m e ana taji jekundu pia ana rangi ya kahawia mgongoni, mbawa; pia ana rangi ya pinki kichwani na sehemu za chini za kifua. Jike ana mwili wa kahawia. Wanapatikana sehemu ya mjini, ya kilima, na savana. Wanapendelea kula mbegu.

This crow has a black head, tail, wings, and legs, together with a black throat and back. It has a white collar and a white breast.

It appears in open land, developed land, on lakeshores, and in farms, villages, and cities. It makes its nest from twigs and pieces of paper.

It also eats meat. The female lays three to seven eggs and sits on them for 19 days.

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Lagonostica senegala

These small birds have a pink beak and black eyes. The males are red, apart from brown wings and a brown-tipped short tail; females are brown with a small red patch on their head. They are very common in cities, cultivated areas, and open spaces. They eat mostly seeds.

Lonchura bicolor Utangulizi Introduction

Zosterops senegalensis Kinengenenge Manjano

Chigi Rangimbili Black and White Mannikin

Kinengenenge Manjano Yellow White-Eye

Ni ndege wadogo na wana rangi ya kahawia, nyeusi na nyeupi na mkia mrefu. Wanaishi kwenye maeneo ya wazi na wanakula mbegu. Viota vyao vinajengwa kwenye majani marefu. Chekechea utaga mayai kati ya nne na kumi.

Juu ya kichwa, mbawa na mkia mfupi ni njano-shingo; kifua na tumbo ni njano. Ana miguu mifupi. Yello White-eye wanapatikana sana kwa flocks. Wanapendelea mazingira kama misitu, bustani, na especially mashamba.

Wanakula matunda na wadudu.

These are small brown, black, and white birds with long tails. They live in open land and eat seeds.

Their nests are built from long grasses. The female lays between four and ten eggs.

This is a small bird, green-yellow above and yellow below, with a white ring around its eye. It is found in large flocks in many habitats – in Mbeya especially in open, cultivated land or forest edges. It eats fruit and insects.

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Who we are

Roots & Shoots Roots & Shoots, part of the Jane Goodall Institute, joins youth in over 100 countries worldwide in projects that help the environment, animals, and human community. In Tanzania, the Roots & Shoots main office is in Dar es Salaam, with regional offices in most parts of the country. There are 12 active clubs in Mbeya Town’s primary and secondary schools; they keep gardens and tree nurseries, visit orphanages and hospitals, clean up their school grounds, and educate peers about HIV/AIDS.

For more inform a ti on, e-mail the Regi onal Coordi-nator at RootsandShoots Mbeya@yahoo.com or visit www.rootsandshoots.org.

What Kids Can Do What Kids Can Do (WKCD) is a U. S . - b a s ednon profit that bri n gs forw a rd the voices and vision of youth. WKCD’s website presents the stories and work of young people, and their teach ers , making a differen ce in the worl d around them . Its non profit publishing arm , Next Gen era ti on Press, i n clu de s youth authors in all of its books.

For more information, e-mail info@what kidscando.org or visit www.what kidscando.org Gazelle Safaris Gazelle Safaris, which generously contributed to the printing of this publication, is based in Mbeya Town and of fers trips to Na ti onal Pa rks like Ruaha and Katavi , in Tanzania’s southwest. They also aim to connect to the Mbeya community with a computer-training center at their office and a program to take students on field trips to view natural areas otherwise inaccessible to youth.

For more information about Gazelle Safaris, visit www.gazellesafaris.com or e-mail info@gazellesafaris.com.

Shinnyo-en Foundation The Shinnyo-en Foundation helps build more caring communities by supporting educational programs that engage and inspire young people in meaningful acts of service. The Foundation’s Six Billion Paths to Peace program focuses on our interconnectedness and the individual contributions we can make to create a more harmonious world.

For more information, visit www.sef.org.

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