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Birds that are commonly found in the Wetlands
include the black crake (
Amaurornis flavirostra
), African
jacana (
Actophilornis africana
), little egret (
Egretta
garzetta
), white pelican (
Pelecanus onocrotarus
), spur-
winged plover (
Vanellus spinosus
), wattled plover
(
Vanellus senegalensis
), black-winged stilt (
Himantopus
himantopus
), cattle egret (
Bulbulcus ibis
), fish eagle
(
Haliaaetus vociferoides
), whiskered tern (
Chlidonias
hybridus
), great white egret (
Casmerodius albus
), and
white-faced tree duck (
Dendrocyna viduat
) (Lake
Victoria Basin Commission 2007).
Crop cultivation, particularly maize, sorghum, cassava
and sweet potatoes, is the main economic activity in the
MaraWetlands. In addition, paddy rice and horticultural
crops such as tomatoes, onions and cabbages are also
cultivated. The Wetland soils are very fertile, and as
such little or no fertilizer is used, except for horticultural
crops that use urea. Blue copper and thiodan are used
as pesticides in horticulture, while chemicals such as
Supa Dip, Stelladone and Pour-on (
pyrethrum
) are used
in livestock production – the second most important
economic activity in the Basin. Commonly kept animals
include cattle, goats and sheep.
Bulrush is used for thatching and making mats, while
papyrus is also used for making mats. Many medicinal
plants are also found in the swamp and floodplains.