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close| Location | Kenya, Eastern Province |
| Central coordinates | 37o 29.00' East 0o 54.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A4i, A4iii |
| Area | 100,000 ha |
| Altitude | 1,050 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box for key species. Masinga is notable mainly for its waterbirds, with breeding colonies of cormorants and Anhinga rufa. The terrestrial avifauna is not particularly diverse, but the threatened and restricted-range Turdoides hindei has been recorded in Acacia thickets 100–200 m from the eastern shores of the reservoir (and see Mwea National Reserve, IBA KE032). Regionally threatened species include Anhinga rufa (Masinga is one of the few known Kenyan nesting sites; 94 birds were counted in February 1999, with 228 altogether on the five Upper Tana dams); Casmerodius albus (260 in March 1995); and Polemaetus bellicosus (status unknown).
Site description This is by far the largest reservoir of the five impoundments along the upper Tana river, and abuts on the eastern side with Mwea National Reserve (IBA KE032). Masinga dam, which is managed by the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority, was completed in 1981. The valley that it drowned has a highly convoluted shoreline and contains a number of sizeable islands. The maximum depth is c.50 m, near the dam wall. Because of periodic draw-down and flooding, the shoreline is bare ground with a mosaic of deposited silt, pebbles and mud. Further from the water, a narrow strip of grass gives way to open Acacia–Commiphora bushland. The area is semi-arid with an annual rainfall of between 250 and 500 mm.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow-necked Spurfowl Francolinus leucoscepus | resident | 1999 | - | - | Least Concern | |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | winter | 1995 | 2,150 individuals | - | Least Concern | |
| White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus | winter | 1995 | 2,120 individuals | - | A4i | Least Concern |
| White-bellied Go-away-bird Corythaixoides leucogaster | resident | 1999 | - | - | Least Concern | |
| Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar Caprimulgus donaldsoni | resident | 1999 | - | - | Least Concern | |
| Abyssinian Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor | resident | 1999 | - | - | Least Concern | |
| Hinde's Pied-babbler Turdoides hindei | unknown | 1999 | unknown [units unknown] | - | Vulnerable | |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | winter | - | 20,000 individuals | unknown | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Artificial wetlands | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| water management | - |
Other biodiversity The dam supports substantial populations of Hippopotamus amphibius and Crocodylus niloticus. There is no information on other fauna or flora.
Management considerations Subsistence fishing is widespread in the dam, and poorly regulated. Gill-net fishing is a major threat to diving birds, particularly Anhinga rufa—the 1995 survey found three that had been entangled in fishermen’s nets. The dam was built in part to provide irrigation water for agriculture, but poor land-use in cultivated areas nearby is leading to siltation and eutrophication from fertilizer run-off. The waterbird nesting colonies need regular monitoring, and any conservation plan for Anhinga rufa should focus on Masinga as a key site.
References Nasirwa (1997), Nasirwa et al. (1995a,b), Oyugi and Owino (1998a,b, 1999).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Masinga reservoir. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
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