From Finland to Siaya: Rare migratory birds put Usalo on the Map

When 72-year-old fisherman Walter Tende went to check his fishing nets on the shore of Lake Victoria in January 2020, he hoped to get a decent catch.

Instead, what he found would set Usalo village in West Yimbo ward, Siaya County, on the map of global bird migration; a rare fish-eating bird of prey, later identified as an Osprey, entangled and exhausted in his net.

“I had gone to check my nets around midday when I found something strange,” Tende recalls, adding that the bird looked unfamiliar, and it didn’t even try to fly away.

The bird had bruises on its legs and was visibly dehydrated. But what truly caught Tende’s attention was a metal ring on its leg. This was a sign that the bird was part of a scientific tracking study. He immediately alerted officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

Upon inspection, KWS experts discovered the ring bore the number M-68528, confirming the bird had been ringed in Finland, nearly 6,948 kilometres away.

Even though Usalo has never before been recognized as part of the migratory route for birds from the Northern Hemisphere, the Osprey, which breeds in Europe and migrates to Africa during winter, has chosen this place as its stopover.

“We were shocked because the Lake Victoria catchment has never been on the radar for such migratory species. This was an important ecological finding,” said Dr. Patrick Omondi, Director of Research at KWS.

The bird was stabilized by KWS veterinarians but died a few days later.

 At the time, experts like Bernard Amakobe, a bird researcher and expert ringer, said the discovery underscored the importance of Kenya's natural habitats in global migration patterns.

“Birds are sensitive indicators of environmental change. Their presence here may point to shifting ecosystems or new migratory paths,” he noted.

Fast forward to June 4, 2025, five years later, Usalo villagers again woke to a remarkable discovery. A second migratory bird from Finland had landed in the same village, bearing rings with the identification codes M-81516 and C6.U. But this time, the outcome was heartbreaking.

According to Tende, the bird had reportedly been trapped in a fishing net, but before help could arrive, unknown individuals killed it, unaware of its global significance.

“I noticed the rings and remembered the Osprey, but it was too late to save it,” said a saddened Tende.

Nature Kenya officials later confirmed that the bird was part of a research project based in Helsinki, Finland, and had likely followed a similar migratory path as the earlier Osprey.

The officials, who visited the site on Thursday, said the bird’s landing at the same site has indicated that the pattern of arrival is no longer a coincidence, but a sign of an emerging migratory stopover.

“This second landing is significant. It proves the 2020 sighting wasn’t isolated. But it also shows the risks these birds face when they land in unprotected areas," said Richard Kipngeno, a birding officer at Nature Kenya.

Both birds were likely tracked as part of the East African Bird Ringing Association’s transcontinental monitoring efforts.

"Bird ringing using metal or plastic tags helps scientists monitor migration paths, habitats, and the health of ecosystems," explained Kipngeno.

Experts now believe climate change, habitat shifts, and changing wind patterns may be influencing the appearance of European birds in new African locations like Usalo.

According to Kipngeno, the Osprey bird travels at daytime in order to take advantage of thermal currents to fly.

“During the day, they use about 30 per cent of their energy and they always have stopovers during their migration,” he explained.

He added that they sometimes meet challenges like spots being cleared and this makes them use extra energy to look for an alternative stopover.

While Kipngeno noted that favourable conditions make Usalo a good place for Osprey, these migratory miracles could quickly turn into tragedies without action.

“Education is critical in helping communities to understand that these birds are not just visitors, but messengers from far-away lands. Killing one is like destroying a data bank of ecological intelligence," he said.

For Tende and the residents of Usalo, these winged visitors have sparked both wonder and responsibility.

“I always thought all birds belonged to this country, but now I know some fly across oceans and come to us. Maybe we need to protect them,” said Tende.

Local conservation advocates are now pushing for Usalo to be recognized as a migratory bird site, complete with educational outreach, community guides, and protected landing zones.

During a meeting that also saw the handing over of the rings, the locals

With two confirmed landings in five years, both from Finland, Usalo village may no longer be just another quiet fishing community. It could be the unexpected sanctuary that the birds of the North have chosen.

And whether it remains a safe haven or becomes a forgotten way point may depend on how the people of Usalo and the world choose to respond.