Raptors, Relationships & the Ripple Effect

It’s been nearly nine years since I set out to better understand and protect Martial Eagle populations in the Greater Mara. These endangered, regal, bashful, and at times comical eagles have changed the course of my life, teaching me about the ecosystem I love, the Mara-Serengeti, and even more about myself. 

Perhaps most meaningfully, the Martial Eagle has connected me with extraordinary people and organisations, many of whom I now consider dear friends and close partners. My relationship with Angama is a perfect example. 

I was introduced to Nicky and Steve Fitzgerald by Tyler Davis, a kindred spirit and now close friend, at a Bush Dinner.

I arrived in shorts and flip-flops, feet caked in Mara dust, possibly wearing an unpressed collared shirt. Despite my dishevelled state, their warmth and charisma made me feel instantly at home. Titans of the tourism industry, a fact I didn’t fully grasp at the time, they made no show of it. Much to their chagrin, Martial Eagles became the cornerstone of that evening’s conversation. 

I only met Steve a handful of times, but I’ll never forget his gift for candour. He had a way of disagreeing with charm, humour and a twinkle in his eye. That night, he told me, kindly but clearly, that Angama and the Angama Foundation would never support 'research and researcher lifestyles.'

To be fair to Steve, I couldn’t agree more. At the time, it stung. I feared he thought our work lacked meaning or merit. His words still echo in my head several times a year, challenging me to ensure our work always extends beyond data collection. It must make a meaningful impact on conservation and on people’s lives. Thank you, Steve, for setting the bar so high. 

Today, the Angama Foundation has been a dedicated supporter of the Mara Raptor Project for nearly six years. Rather than simply funding Martial Eagle research, Steve would be proud to see Angama’s role in launching a conservation-focused nest monitoring program across the Mara, one that is also nurturing a new generation of Maasai raptor conservation professionals. 

Thanks in large part to Angama, our four-member Maasai team has identified nearly 1,000 raptor nesting sites across the greater Mara, many of which belong to Endangered and Critically Endangered species. In 2025, we have been monitoring about 400 of these, working hand in hand with local management to ensure their protection.

If you spot a green hard-top Land Cruiser with a Mara Raptor Project sticker, it’s likely Dennis Kipelian behind the wheel, our nest monitoring conservation officer, and one of four team members supported by the Angama Foundation. Stop and say hello because he has recently found a Critically Endangered White-headed Vulture nest and is monitoring it. With fewer than five pairs left in the entire Greater Mara, they are even rarer than the Black Rhino and declining at an even faster rate.