For the love of birds he tells their stories

“When a male weaver bird wants to win a female, he builds several nests.

Then he makes some noise to invite the targeted female to come and inspect his architectural work.

In case the female likes one of the nests, she spreads some soft grass that acts as a mattress for the couple.

But if she does not like any, she flies away. In anger, the disappointed male destroys his nests and rebuilds others”.

These are the kind of stories that you will find David Ole Naso telling tourists at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Never mind that Ole Naso has not gone to school beyond form one, he can express himself fully in good English and tell interested tourists all they want to know about birds.

Ole Naso, 35, has mastered all the 450 species of birds in this park and will tell almost every bit of each species. From the birds’ lifestyle, feeding habits, breeding; he knows all aspects.

Born at Ilng’arua village in Baringo, Ole Naso had always wanted to study up to the university level and pursue his dream career as conservationist.

However, lack of school fees made him drop out of Ng’ambo High School barely before he had completed one year in form one.

But this did not deter Ole Nasu from pursuing his dream career in nature conservation.

Living around lakes Baringo and Bogoria, he came to love birds and keenly observed how they lived.

So when he dropped out school, he invested his time in reading any material about birds that he came across.

VOLUNTEER GUIDE

Unlike some of his age mates who joined the illegal and dangerous business of cattle rustling, Ole Nasu volunteered to work as a tour guide for visitors along lakes Baringo and Bogoria.

“Even as I guided visitors, I took time to observe more and more birds and would later research about them,” says Ole Nasu.

It was while guiding tourists that he was noticed by officers from Nature Kenya who later trained him in conservation, especially of birds.

Nature Kenya is a society that specialises in the study and conservation of nature.

It also enhances Kenya’s biodiversity and promotes conservation of key species and habitats.

Through the trainings, Ole Nasu participates in counting birds every time there is a census.

BIRDS’ BEHAVIOUR

“I can also tell the behaviour of birds, when they migrate from different lakes in Kenya and when they are expected back.

I can also tell why they have to keep moving and which flight paths they use,” narrates Ole Nasu

His first job was in 2007 when he worked as a monkey chaser for two years.

He was later employed by Sarova Lion Hill Lodge as a guests’ usher who doubled up as a tour guide.

Ole Nasu, who has never worn a pair of trousers, believes that people from minority communities and poor backgrounds should always strife to achieve their dreams even when they get little or no education.

“In My Ilchamus community I am much respected because I am doing better than local professionals, mainly teachers and police officers,” said the father of three.