Ornithology Section

The Department of Ornithology is the centre for Ornithological research in Kenya.  The Department?s activities fall into three main areas: curation, research and training.
 
Curation

The Department takes care of the regional reference collection of study skins (and other specimens such as nests and eggs). Some of the 35,000 or so skins date from the last century but they are still in good condition! Looking after the skins and making sure that they are properly catalogued is a major task. The collection is used extensively by scientists interested in bird taxonomy and distribution, and also by artists and birdwatchers.

Research.

The Department focuses on research and monitoring related to bird conservation. The monitoring programme is an area where birders can become actively involved (see below). Our research focuses particularly on threatened species, the effects of habitat fragmentation and land-use changes (for example, in the Taita Hills forests and Kinangop Plateau grasslands), and sustainable use of birds (for instance, through gamebird shooting).

The Department?s varied monitoring work includes:
TheNest Record Scheme of East Africa
The African Water bird Census
National Bird map Monitoring Important Bird Areas

Training, education and public awareness:-Fundamentals of Ornithology, Nairobi Ringing Group

Many students spend time as interns in the department, and department scientists supervise the research of many Kenyan postgraduate students who are working on birds. The Department works closely with Nature Kenya and its Bird Committee, as well as bodies such as Kenya Wildlife Service, the Forest Department and the Public Universities. Internships are awarded competitively ? contact the department for an application form

DEPARTMENT'S AFFILIATION POLICY, 2002
The Department of Ornithology operates under affiliation guidelines laid down by the National Museums of Kenya.   

    1.Purpose

The National Museums of Kenya benefits significantly from the collaborative efforts and expertise of individuals not regularly in full employment. This may come from students on attachment on professionals with a keen interest in the activities of the Museum. By their expertise they are able to benefit the departments by training departmental staff, acquiring specimens for the collections and research material, donor funding and others.

Their contribution is evaluated by the Head of Department. By making affiliate appointments, NMK demonstrates its recognition of the major contributions by individuals and establishes a basis for preferential use of NMK facilities as deemed appropriate and according to NMK rules and regulations. 
The categories of affiliate appointments are:
Research associate, Visiting research associate, Student attachment &Volunteer.  

    2. Policy

The criteria and procedures for appointments, the rights, responsibilities, policies and regulations applying to appointees are given below.
Appointments and Regulations for Affiliates

Affiliate appointments are honorary and are restricted to individuals who are not regularly employed by the NMK. Affiliate appointees may receive compensation from contractual agreements with the institution from which they receive financial return.
The categories of affiliate appointments  are as follows:

• Research associate
• An individual whose primary association with NMK is research-oriented, who is publishing in          established journals, who is prepared to take an active part in the NMK?s research program on a   professional level and whose material obtained in connection with this work should be contributed to the NMK?s collections. Research associates may work at the NMK or elsewhere. 
• Visiting research associate.
  A scholar or researcher, usually with the qualifications of a research associate, from another         institute spending a limited time utilizing the collections and facilities at the NMK may have the title visiting research associate conferred to the period of tenure. 
  
• Student on attachment.
  A student who is working closely with the NMK in the pursuit of their thesis/dissertation work and/or working on other NMK projects. A student fellow is expected to be supervised by a full‑time NMK staff member, who will provide the interface for the use of NMK resources.  Optimally, the supervisor should be a member of the student's graduate committee, often as major advisor. If the student is stationed at an institute outside the NMK (e.g. Mpala Ranch, KWS) he/she should follow the general objectives as set for the NMK. The specific objectives are to be worked out in collaboration with the HOD and the staff member following the student?s application. The objective of this procedure is to give a clear image of the NMK to collaborating institutes. If the student is donor funded, he/she may be required to set aside some funds/material for the department with whom he/she is working.For instance:  if a student will collect material for the collections, the necessary space for storage should be catered for in a budget line: ?collection development?. It is advisable that such budget lines are discussed in detail at departmental level before the start of the collaboration.  
• A volunteer is temporarily attached to a department where he/she receives training in specific      techniques and may, depending upon his/her qualifications, assist a research scientist /technician in their work. A volunteer works on a voluntarily basis and does not receive financial compensation when at the offices of NMK. 

    3. Selection

•  Appointment to any of the affiliation categories are initiated by staff of the department or other unit of the NMK that encompasses the relevant area of specialization.
• Associate appointments are subject to the approval of the head of Department and respective    Director who will forward their recommendations to the Director General, NMK.
  
• All proposals for affiliate appointment must be approved by the Director General before they become effective.
  
• Upon final approval, a letter will be sent by the Director General informing the person of the title  conferred and the head of Department responsible for the affiliation. The affiliate will sign the    affiliation forms and follow conditions set herein during the period of his affiliation.  

    4. Term

• Visiting research associates.
• The term of appointment for visiting research associates shall begin upon confirmation and shall be in line with particular needs of the associates.
• Research associate
  Appointments are valid for a period of one year renewable or according to the stipulations set out in the appointment letter following the various types of agreements, requests or MoU?s. They usually start with the calendar year. Affiliate reappointment is at the discretion of the NMK, and    appointments may be terminated at any time by the NMK. Affiliate appointments are reviewed     annually by the Head of the Department and Director for Research and Collections as part of their annual reports.
  
• Student attachment.
  The term is determined by the attachment letter provided by the administration after consultation with the Head of Department.
  
• Volunteers are attached for a period of three months. Head of Departments can request for a longer period following the needs of their department. Their term is stipulated in a letter by the   administration. 

       5. Affiliates benefits and privileges

• Affiliates accepting an appointment or reappointment will use the honorary title in the best
• interest of the NMK and its reputation.
• Affiliates may use their NMK titles in dissemination of research results; however, the NMK bears no responsibility for their action in so doing.
  
• Upon approval of the head of Department, affiliates may use NMK letterhead for Correspondence pertaining to their work for the NMK, provided copies of such correspondence are filed in the office of the responsible unit.     
• Affiliates may be given privileged access to collections, use of research facilities and equipment on a continuing basis, and other privileges normally reserved for staff. These privileges are granted only at the discretion of the responsible head of Department and may be revoked at any time at the request of the responsible person with whom the associate is working. 
• The Director of Research and Collections or Director General will be informed immediately.  The other requirements of the unit, the nature of material or facilities that an appointee may wish to use, and the performance of the affiliate are factors that may influence a decision relative to such privileges.
• Any privileged access is provided with the understanding that such access will not be used for any commercial purpose, including any form of paid consulting that is not administered by the NMK, without prior approval by the Head of Department (and other officials, as appropriate).
  
• Affiliates are not generally issued with keys to NMK buildings, but may be in special circumstances (e.g., their primary research office or laboratory is at the NMK).
  
• An Affiliate may not have authority over a member of the NMK staff.
  
• An Affiliate may loan material for scientific study following standard loan procedures and in collaboration with the appropriate person dealing with that part of the collection.
  
• Any publication following this affiliation will be acknowledged by citing the address of NMK as the associate address. At least two reprints or copies will be provided for  NMK (one for the general library, one for the Department)
  
• Affiliates will be provided with a NMK Identity Card valid for the period of their affiliation. The card states their title and department of affiliation.