Princess Takamado’s birdwatching visit to Kakuzi’s Murang’a orchards highlighted migratory birds and habitat conservation. (Photo: capitalfm.africa)
Japan’s Princess Takamado photographed a Eurasian Bee-eater and an Osprey during a visit highlighting bird conservation at Kakuzi’s Murang’a orchards.
Japan’s Princess Takamado spotted and photographed two migratory bird species during a birdwatching visit to Kakuzi Plc’s orchards in Murang’a County, according to Capital FM.
The princess, who serves as honorary president of BirdLife International, visited the agricultural estate while in Kenya for the organisation’s second Global Flyways Summit. Her sightings included the Eurasian Bee-eater and the Osprey.
The excursion combined wildlife photography with discussions on habitat protection, sustainable farming and the international cooperation needed to safeguard birds along their migration routes.
Migratory birds sighted at the orchards
Capital FM reported that the two migratory species breed in Europe before travelling to Africa during the September-October migration season. Princess Takamado photographed them in their natural habitat during the estate tour.
She was guided by Simon Odhiambo, Kakuzi’s executive head of corporate affairs and a local birder, as she travelled through the company’s macadamia and avocado orchards.
The visit also offered opportunities to photograph resident birdlife. Species recorded during the outing included Hinde’s babbler, Purple-crested turaco, Senegal Lapwing, Pygmy Kingfisher and African Paradise Flycatcher.
Kakuzi links bird diversity to habitat protection
Welcoming the princess, Kakuzi Managing Director Chris Flowers attributed the presence of both migratory and native birds to the company’s sustainable agriculture practices and protection of its water catchment area.
Flowers said bird diversity within the estate had continued to increase, with birds using its orchards, forest areas and other habitats. He described that trend as an indication of the company’s environmental conservation efforts, noting that bird populations can help indicate the health of an ecosystem.
He also presented habitat protection at Kakuzi as part of the wider effort to conserve global flyways, the routes birds follow between breeding and non-breeding areas.
According to Flowers, the company’s membership of Nature Kenya, the East Africa Natural History Society, supports its conservation work. He said the collaboration reflects shared goals around biodiversity, natural habitat protection and responsible environmental management, alongside sustainable agriculture.
International cooperation remains central
Princess Takamado highlighted the cross-border nature of migration, noting that birds link regions stretching from Asia to Africa and from the Arctic to the tropics.
Referring to the Nairobi Flyways Declaration, she said protecting migratory birds requires countries and institutions to coordinate their efforts. She welcomed the involvement of scientists, conservation organisations and the financial sector, describing their cooperation as an important development for conservation.
The visit took place against a wider backdrop of pressure on migratory bird populations. The State of the World’s Birds report, cited by Capital FM, indicates that 45 per cent of migratory bird species are declining and that one in nine faces the threat of extinction.
The report also identifies birds dependent on marine environments, forests and coastal wetlands as particularly vulnerable. Seabirds and shorebirds are among the groups facing the greatest threats, underscoring the habitat protection concerns discussed during the Murang’a visit.
