The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued an update on a migratory bird from Russia that was caught after making a surprise landing in Siaya County.
KWS, in a statement on Saturday, November 8, identified the bird caught as an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known as a sea hawk, river hawk, or fish hawk.
According to the service, the bird was entangled in a fishing net on Friday morning. It had a Russian identification tag on its left leg. Bird experts attach these tags and transmitters to gather data for research and conservation efforts.
The fishermen safely extracted the bird from the net and took it to the home of Joanes Oraro in Ugingo Village, Usigu Sub-location, Central Yimbo Location.
“This quickly drew the attention of the community, as reported by Village Elder Mr. Eric Omuok. Responding swiftly, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Siaya team, led by Deputy County Warden Mr. Byatt Shikanga, took immediate action to ensure the bird’s safety. The exhausted feathered traveler from the Palaearctic region was carefully secured and put under expert supervision,” the statement reads in part.
KWS to release bird with Russian identification tag
Under the guidance of Dr. Isaac Lekolool, Head of the KWS Veterinary Department, and Dr. Simon Thomsett, a renowned raptor specialist and rehabilitator, the Osprey was transferred to the Raptor Centre in Soysambu Conservancy.
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It will undergo detailed medical examination, monitoring, and rehabilitation. KWS added that the bird will eventually be released back into the wild “to continue its journey.”
“We wish to thank the community for their vigilance and support, highlighting the crucial role the public plays in wildlife conservation in Kenya, and also acknowledge and appreciate the continued partnership with avian experts at the @museumsofkenya (NMK) and the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust (KBPT),” added KWS.
“This remarkable visitor serves as a vivid reminder of the incredible journeys migratory birds undertake and underpins the global connections that link us through the natural world. We encourage the public to report sick or injured wild animals via our toll-free number 0800 597 000, WhatsApp 0726 610509, or to the nearest KWS station for immediate intervention.”
Ospreys are a type of long-distance migratory bird that breeds in the Northern Hemisphere and flies south for the winter, covering thousands of miles.
According to All About Birds, their migration routes can take them from places like Alaska and Canada down to Central and South America, with some flying over 4,000 miles.
These fish-eating birds of prey often migrate alone, flying over large bodies of water and along coastlines, and can complete their journeys in a matter of weeks. Ospreys are large raptors, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings.
Birds from Finland captured in Kenya
In 2020, another Western Osprey, which had flown over 6,900 kilometres from Finland to Kenya, was also sighted in Siaya. KWS, in a statement on January 23, 2020, said that the bird covered a distance of 6,948 kilometres or 4,317 miles to land in West Imbo Location, Usalu Village, Bondo Sub-County in Siaya County.
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A member of the community, Walter Oloo, spotted the bird on January 20, 2020, and reported to the KWS Siaya County team.
“The bird was caught in a fishing net and seems to have struggled to release itself. It has some bruises on the legs, but it appears healthy, though it has lost some weight and is dehydrated. It was delivered to the KWS Veterinary Department on January 23, 2020. It will be stabilised by administering IV fluids and provided a proper diet, then monitored for a few days before being released back to the wild,” KWS said.
The bird’s origin was established from a ring on its leg whose details showed that it was ringed in Finland (Museum Zool, Helsinki, Finland).
In June 2025, another rare migratory bird was discovered in Usalo village, located in West Yimbo, Siaya County. Local fishermen discovered the bird while casting their nets in Lake Victoria near Usalo Beach.
The bird, believed to be a fish-eating raptor, was unfortunately entangled in their fishing nets and died before they noticed the identification rings fastened to its legs. Similar to the Western Osprey caught in January 2020, the raptor was also fitted with a reference ring from Finland.
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