The Beliefs of Local Communities towards the Conservation of Birds

The community guides beliefs attached to different birds provides a practical index of the diversity and condition of an ecosystem on a site-by-site basis using birds as indicators. It is believed that protecting and managing such sites will result in the conservation of some of the most sensitive, fragile and ecologically rich habitats in the world. However, acceptance of the community guides beliefs concept and, thus, site conservation action, by local communities is dependent on their perception of the importance of birds with regard to some aspects of their livelihood. The study was undertaken to examine the community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya within Maasai, Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley and Coastal regions. Results obtained from a google form questionnaire survey, suggest that the response with high proportion was from Western community or locality where people lived.


Introduction
Birds play a significant role in the lives of people across virtually all communities and continents. In most communities, significant beliefs have developed in relation to birds, usually as a result of direct and regular contact with specific bird species, especially in cases where such birds possess prominent visual, auditory or behavioral characteristics. In turn, these beliefs, which are usually constructed through a process of social interaction, give rise to a variety of practices and behaviours that center around these bird species [1][2][3]. These practices and behaviours range from actual uses, such as making use of birds for more symbolic purposes as is the case in art such as painting, dancing, or sculpture. The consequences of these beliefs could vary from being inimical and destructive to the species, to being of no consequence or even to having a protective influence on the conservation of the species [4][5][6][7]. Conversely, traditional beliefs may also lead to the protection of certain species by specific cultures in the form of food taboos.
The bird historically occurred in all southern and east-African countries south of the equator from the southern parts of Kenya, all the way down to South Africa and west into Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola [8][9][10][11][12]. The species' conservation status is affected by biological factors [13,14]. In addition to these biological factors, the species has now disappeared from large parts of its historical range and is mainly restricted to protected areas, probably as a result of such anthropogenic threats as habitat destruction, direct

Sample-size and Sampling Design
Considering the prevalence of community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya located within Maasai, Coastal region, Rift-Valley, Western and Nyanza communities, the sample-size came to be 37. According to Taylor et al. (2018) [20], descriptive technique, and descriptive statistics were applied to carry out analyze responses. Furthermore, descriptive technique enables to analyze data obtained throughout google sheet questionnaire. Research design implemented for this study. Researcher applies survey research-design via google sheet to obtain primary-data. Qualitative technique, enables to obtain comprehensive data about prevalence of community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya.

Study Instruments Used
A predesigned, pretested, semi-structured google form questionnaire was used for collecting socioeconomic details and information regarding community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. Socioeconomic details mainly comprised data on subject's age, gender and area of residence. Google form questionnaire was used for obtaining information about community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. The community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya was recorded as reported by the study participants.

Data Collection
The google form questionnaire was used as the data collecting tool. The responses were discussed and modified to ensure standardization. Participants were provided with the information sheet in English language and they were explained about the study, its objective, procedure, and their rights. The participants refusing to participate were categorized as 'non-respondents'. The study was conducted in compliance with 'Ethical Principles and confidentiality of each participant was ensured. The researcher shared his identity with the participants.

Data Analysis
Researcher applies frequencies, and percentages, to perform analysis, and to get vital facts about community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. Qualitative tools, such as charts, and tables, enables to analyze data effectively and leads to obtain valuable facts. As well, averages, and percentages, facilitates to investigate data successfully and leads to obtain valuable realities about community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. Data was entered in SPSS (version 25) for statistical analysis. Wherever applicable, proportion, descriptive statistics and custom tables were generated.

Results
A total of 37 community guides in Maasai, Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley and Coastal communities in Kenya were eligible for the study. Thus, the response rate in the present study was 100%.

Sociodemographic Profiles
The sociodemographic profiles of the study participants are shown in section A. 29.7% of the respondents were above 35 years Most of the respondents were male (68%). Majority of the community guides had their education up to university level that is 54.1%. Most respondents (30%) were from western community.

Section A: Key Sociodemographic Profile of the Respondents (n=37)
From the findings in, 68% of the respondents were male while 27% of the respondents were female and the nonresponse was 5%. This indicates the findings was gender biased. Since a larger proportion of male respondent to the google form questionnaire as compared to the female. The study findings revealed that Avitourism and biodiversity of birds habitat conservation was highly promoted and marketed by male tour guides in the community ( Figure 2).

Figure 2. Gender of the respondent
The study findings revealed that 29.7% of the respondents were above 35 years, 24.3% of the respondents were between 21-25 years. 21.6% of the respondents were between 31-35 years, 13.5% was the non-response rate and finally 10.8% of the respondents were between 26-30 years. From the above findings, it was clearly found that most of the responses were from community members above 35years. The study findings revealed that Avitourism and biodiversity conservation was promoted and marketed mostly (29.7%) by tour guides in the community who were at their prime age (35 years). Youths were the main promoters of Avitourism and biodiversity birds habitat conservation which resulted to popularity of Avitourism in the Kenya communities ( Figure 3).  From the study findings it was indicate that most (54.1%) of the community's members in Kenya had an education up to university level. Also 29.7% of the community's members in Kenya had an education up to middle level college. And finally, 5.4% of the community's members in Kenya had an education up to secondary level and primary level respectively. The study findings also revealed that Avitourism and biodiversity conservation was highly promoted and popularized by learned and highly educated tour guides in the community who had their education up to the university level this was a good indication that Avitourism and biodiversity of birds habitat conservation was popular and constructive as productive and knowledgeable tour guides were involved in this study ( Figure 4).

Figure 4. Education level (%)
From the study findings, most of the responses (30%) was from western community, 24% of the responses was from Nyanza community, 19% of the responses was from Coastal community, 16% of the responses was from Rift Valley community and finally 11% of the responses was from Maasai community. Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's conservation was highly promoted and popularized in Western community this was a good indication that Avitourism and biodiversity habitat conservation was popularized in Western community boosting their economical life aspects ( Figure 5).
An analysis was performed and it was found out that, 59.9% of the community guide strongly considered birds to be very important to their community, 34.2% of the community guide considered birds to be very important to their community and 8.1% of the community guide strongly did not considered birds to be very important to their community. Moreover13.9% of the community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals,52.8% of the community guide considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals, 13.9% of the Missing community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals, 22.2% of the community guide were neutral that birds helped the community undertake rituals, 8.3% of the community guide did not considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals and 2.8% of the community guide strongly did not considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals.

Figure 5. Respondent's community
Also 56.8% of the community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community tell when rain season was on undertake rituals, 35.1% of the community guide considered that birds helped the community tell when rain season is on undertake rituals, 5.4% of the community guide were neutral that birds helped the community tell when rain season is on undertake rituals and 2.7% of the community guide strongly did not considered that birds helped the community tell when rain season is on undertake rituals. 44.4% of the community guide strongly considered that birds guided the community when looking for specific items in the forest, 47.2% of the community guide considered that birds guided the community when looking for specific items in the forest and 8.3% of the community guide were neutral that birds guided the community when looking for specific items in the forest. However, 43.2% of the community guide strongly considered that birds warned community members against danger, 40.5% of the community guide considered that birds warned community members against danger, 8.3% of the community guide were neutral that birds warned community members against danger, 5.4% of the community guide did not consider that birds warned community members against danger and 2.7% of the community guide strongly did not consider that birds warned community members against danger.
Apparently 54.1% of the community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community spreading certain tree species, 43.2% of the community guide considered that birds helped the community spreading certain tree species and finally 2.7% of the community guide strongly did not consider that birds helped the community spreading certain tree species. On the other hand, the study findings revealed that Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's habitat conservation was highly promoted and popularized in Kenya communities as it was significant to them in dynamic ways such as telling when rain season was on undertake rituals, warning the community members against danger and spreading certain tree species (Table 1). After the analysis, the findings revealed that, 29.7% of the community guide strongly considered some birds sacred, 43.2% of the community guide considered some birds sacred, 21.6% of the community guide were neutral that some birds sacred and 5.4% of the community guides did not consider some birds sacred. Also 32.4% of the community guides strongly considered birds shaped the community's social lives through stories and legends, 54.1% of the community guides considered birds shaped the community's social lives through stories and legends, 5.4% of the community guides were neutral that birds shaped the community's social lives through stories and legends and 8.1% of the community guides did not considered birds shaped the community's social lives through stories and legends.
Apparently 51.4% of the community guides strongly considered some birds as symbols for bad omen,40.5% of the community guides considered some birds as symbols for bad omen, 2.7% of the community guides were neutral some birds as symbols for bad omen and 5.4% of the community guides strongly did not consider some birds as symbols for bad omen. On the other hand, 40.5% of the community guides strongly considered some birds are for good omen in the community, 48.6% of the community guides strongly considered some birds are for good omen in the community, 8.1% of the community guides were neutral that some birds are for good omen in the community and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not consider some birds are for good omen in the community. 30.6% of the community guides strongly considered some birds for planting season in the community, 50.6% of the community guides considered some birds for planting season in the community, 16.7% of the community guides were neutral that some birds for planting season in the community and 2.8% of the community guides did not consider some birds for planting season in the community.
Moreover 24.3% of the community guides strongly considered some birds are a nuisance to the community, 54.1% of the community guides considered some birds are a nuisance to the community, 16.2% of the community guides were neutral some birds are a nuisance to the community, 2.7% of the community guides did not consider some birds are a nuisance to the community and finally 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not consider some birds are a nuisance to the community. The study findings also revealed that Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's habitat conservation was highly promoted and popularized in Kenya communities as it was important to them in different ways such as some birds were symbols for; bad omen also a nuisance to the community and this helped them in casting away the bad spell. Some birds for planting season in the community among others this attracted the Avitourism activities as well as biodiversity of birds habitat conservation (Table 2). From the findings, it was indicated that, 27% of the community guides strongly considered birds would warn the community against danger, 62.2% of the community guides strongly considered birds would warn the community against danger, 8.1% of the community guides were neutral that birds would warn the community against danger and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds would warn the community against danger, 29.7% of the community guides strongly considered they tell this story to tourists' bird as a guide, 59.5% of the community guides strongly considered they tell this story to tourists' bird as a guide and 10.8% of the community guides were neutral, they tell this story to tourists' bird as a guide. Also 48.6% of the community guides strongly considered birds are used to foretell events or weather, 40.5% of the community guides considered birds are used to foretell events or weather and 10.8% of the community guides were neutral that birds are used to foretell events or weather. Moreover 40.5% of the community guides strongly considered birds are used to determine how healthy the water systems are, 37.8% of the community guides considered birds are used to determine how healthy the water systems are, 16.2% of the community guides were neutral that birds are used to determine how healthy the water systems are and 5.4% of the community guides did not considered birds are used to determine how healthy the water systems are. However, 81.1% of the community guides strongly considered birds are good for tourism, 16.2% of the community guides considered birds are good for tourism and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds are good for tourism, On the other hand 54.1% of the community guides strongly considered birds can sustain tourism, 35.1% of the community guides s considered birds can sustain tourism and finally 10.8% of the community guides were neutral that birds can sustain tourism. The study findings also indicated that Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's habitat conservation was promoted and popularized in Kenya communities as birds sustained tourism, birds was good for tourism, birds was used to determine how healthy the water systems and birds also warned the community against danger. These activities resulted to development of Avitourism industries and biodiversity of birds habitat conservation (Table 3). After the analysis, the findings indicated that, 54.1% of the community guides strongly considered birds can help them earn money, 40.5% of the community guides considered birds can help them earn money, 2.7% of the community guides were neutral that birds can help them earn money, and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds can help them earn money. 48.6% of the community guides strongly considered birds can help them improve their livelihood, 40.5% of the community guides considered birds can help them improve their livelihood, 8.1% of the community guides were neutral that birds can help them improve their livelihood and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds can help them improve their livelihood. 35.1% of the community guides strongly considered birds can helped start and sustain cottage industries, 45.9% of the community guides considered birds can helped start and sustain cottage industries, 16.2% of the community guides were neutral that birds can helped start and sustain cottage industries and 2.7% of the community guides did not considered birds can helped start and sustain cottage industries.
On the other hand 64.9% of the community guides strongly considered birds was important to them through pollen transfer, 32.4% of the community guides considered birds was important to them through pollen transfer and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds was important to them through pollen transfer. However, 54.1% of the community guides strongly considered that they benefit from birds in the forest through tourism and 45.9% of the community guides considered that they benefit from birds in the forest through tourism. Also 35.1% of the community guides strongly considered birds guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection, 54.1% of the community guides considered birds guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection, 8.1% of the community guides were neutral that birds guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection and finally 2.7% of the community guides did not considered birds guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection. The study findings also indicated that Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's habitat conservation was promoted and popularized in Kenya communities as birds helped them; earn money, improved their livelihood, start and sustained cottage industries and guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection (Table 4). The study findings revealed that, 40.5% of the community guides strongly considered birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest, 40.5% of the community guides considered birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest, 16.2% of the community guides were neutral that birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest. Also 21.6% of the community guides strongly considered birds was celebrated in their community, 40.5% of the community guides considered birds was celebrated in their community, 27.9% of the community guides were neutral that birds were celebrated in their community and 8.1% of the community guides did not considered birds was celebrated in their community. Also 37.8% of the community guides strongly considered birds gave them happiness, 48.6% of the community guides considered birds gave them happiness, 10.8% of the community guides were neutral that birds gave them happiness and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not considered birds gave them happiness.
On the other hand, 51.4% of the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's conservation, 35.1% of the community guides considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's conservation, 10.8% of the community guides were neutral that as a guide they are involved in bird's conservation and 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not consider that as a guide they were involved in bird's conservation. Apparently 56.8% of the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's habitat conservation, 27% of the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's habitat conservation, 13.5% of the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's habitat conservation and finally 2.7% of the community guides strongly did not consider that as a guide they were involved in bird's habitat conservation. The study findings also indicated that Avitourism and biodiversity of bird's habitat conservation was promoted and popularized in Kenya communities as birds; guided them to locate fruits in the forest, were celebrated in their community and the community tour guides were also involved in bird's habitat conservation (Table 5).

Discussion
The study found that a total of 29.7% of the respondents were above 35 years, most of the respondents were male (68%). Majority of the community guides had their education up to university level that is 54.1% and most respondents (30%) were from western community. The study found that the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's habitat conservation, the community guides strongly considered that as a guide they were involved in bird's conservation, the community guides considered birds was celebrated in their community, the community guides considered birds gave them happiness, the community guides considered birds can helped start and sustain cottage industries, the community guides strongly considered birds was important to them through pollen transfer, the community guides strongly considered that they benefit from birds in the forest through tourism, the community guides considered birds guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection, the community guides strongly considered birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest, the community guides considered birds guided them to locate fruits in the forest, The community guides strongly considered birds would warn the community against danger, the community guides strongly considered they tell this story to tourists' bird as a guide the community guides strongly considered birds are used to foretell events or weather, the community guides strongly considered birds are used to determine how healthy the water systems are, the community guides strongly considered birds are good for tourism, the community guides strongly considered birds can sustain tourism, the community guides strongly considered birds can help them earn money, the community guides strongly considered birds can help them improve their livelihood, The community guides considered some birds for planting season in the community, the community guides considered some birds are a nuisance to the community, the community guide strongly considered that birds warned community members against danger, the community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community spreading certain tree species, the community guide considered some birds sacred, the community guides considered birds shaped the community's social lives through stories and legends, community guides strongly considered some birds as symbols for bad omen, community guides strongly considered some birds are for good omen in the community, community guide strongly considered birds to be very important to their community, community guide considered that birds helped the community undertake rituals, community guide were neutral that birds helped the community undertake rituals, community guide strongly considered that birds helped the community tell when rain season is on undertake rituals.

Strengths and Limitations
The strength of the study lies in being a community-based study with a considerably high participation rate. Also, this is probably amongst the few studies among community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. The study had its limitations too. Primary-data, took time and efforts to obtain outlooks from 37 respondents at Maasai, Western, Rift valley, Nyanza and Coastal communities. Time limitations, was the major challenges, to submit the whole research on time In the present study, community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya and the scale used did not consider other aspects which probably have a bearing on birds' belief, Therefore, these aspects would need to be explored more, along with the dynamics of intra-familial birds' beliefs. The sample-size was calculated considering a non-response rate but during the data collection, the non-response rate was present. This might reduce the precision of the findings. Also, the primary reason for non-response was that the respondents were pre-occupied community guide work.

Community Guides Roles in Avitourism and Conservation
This study findings, revealed very important and critical roles performed by community guides in five provinces (Western, Nyanza, Mombasa, Narok and Rift Valley) of Kenya was a measure of Avitourism and conservation practices by conserving and protecting birds which in turn benefitted them in numerous ways in terms of; undertaking rituals with the help of birds, under the guidance of birds the community members were able to locate specific items in the forest. On the other hand, birds; also warned community members against danger, guided them while locating fruits in the forest, were celebrated in their community and the community tour guides were also involved in bird's habitat conservation, earn money, improved their livelihood, start and sustained cottage industries and guided them to locate nesting bees for honey collection. Furthermore, aligned with the international trend, conservationists became more aware of the critical need to ensure benefits to and the inclusive participation of local communities in conservation (Brooks & Thompson (2001) [21]; Berkes (2004) [22]; Sanderson et al. (2005) [23]). The only quantitative study to date on Avitourism to South Africa conservatively estimated that by 1997 between 11,400 and 21,200 birdwatchers spent USD 12-26 million annually in the South African economy [24]. Similarly in Kenya as evidenced in South Africa by (Turpie & Ryan 1998) [24], birdwatchers spent huge amount of money annually boosting the Kenya economy to drastically grow besides creating employment to Kenyans in the tourism, hospitality and hotel management sectors.

Conclusion
This study explored the community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya. Themes emerged from the data, and indicated that the community guides beliefs attached to different birds in Kenya was primarily viewed as an omen or signifier of death, loss and destruction, as a protective influence, as an enabler of altered perceptions and remote viewing, and as a timekeeper in relation to seasonal and daily changes.

Data Availability Statement
The data presented in this study are available in article.

Funding
The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Declaration of Competing Interest
The author declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this manuscript. In addition, the ethical issues, including plagiarism, informed consent, misconduct, data fabrication and/or falsification, double publication and/or submission, and redundancies have been completely observed by the author.