University of Groningen
Coping with uncertainty
Mwangi, Joseph
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Mwangi, J. (2019). Coping with uncertainty: Adapting to stochasticity in an unpredictable tropical
environment. University of Groningen.
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Acknowledgement
During a PhD, a lot of people form the core plot and backbone of the story and even many more play support roles. To believe you can mention and acknowledge all their contribution is just but a futile attempt. However, to all of you, even you reading this acknowledgement, thank you for being part of the story. Now, a few words to the many friends and colleagues, without whom this journey would have remained nothing but a distant dream.I dare to start with my family, for without them, even the academic journey would not have started. My lovely wife Cate, Thank you for everything. No words can express who you have been to me and our kids, Leslie and Seline. You allowed me to pursue my dream despite it taking me so far from home. You willingly took all the tasks and the many responsibilities that come with being a parent. Thank you for your support these past five years of my study. Certificates and other outputs may bear my name, but the accomplishments are as much mine as they are yours. I am truly blessed to have you as my life partner. My two lovely kids’ thank you for always welcoming me with a smile every single day. And for the first question every time I arrived in the Netherlands,
Daddy utarudi lini?
Now pertaining to my academic journey. First, I would like to thank my promoter, Prof Irene. My PhD journey was ignited by our meeting at a small office in one of the corners at the National Museums of Kenya. I talked so much that I almost thought I'd chased you away. Poured my heart out and probably narrated my lifetime. I am glad you still gave me an opportunity to join your group and together we fundraised for my PhD. I am so lucky that you were my mentor and supervisor during my PhD. Your insights, critical thinking and clarity during our discussions made it so much easier to develop my scientific thinking. Although my smile briefly disappeared every time I received a repainted draft, I enjoyed every moment of our discussions. Beyond the supervision, I am very grateful to you for being a friend. Studying so far away from my family was a big challenge, but you were always there to advise me and bore with me when my academic outputs were on a slump. Thank you for going out of your way to help ensure I finished my PhD. I look forward to our continued collaboration.
I would like to pay special gratitude to my reading committee Prof J. Komdeur, Prof W. Cresswell and Prof. H. Olff. I am indebted to the three of you for taking the time to read my thesis.
Special thanks go to Kedong management, Amos and Oscar for giving us access to the site. It was a lovely place to conduct our field work. Thank you also for allowing us set our weather stations and for making sure it’s safe free of any disturbance. I also wish to express my gratitude to the late Sarah Higgins who gave us a home to stay during the early day’s fieldwork and for hosting visiting colleagues. Your passion for conservation and dedication towards rehabilitation of birds of prey was a motivation and inspiration to many. Although you were promoted to glory, your spirit lives on.
I would also like to thank my colleagues in Irene's group, and fellow office mates for the many stimulating discussions and lab lunch meetings we had. Sincere apologies for the nagging quick questions, and intruding your work stations. Maaike, Pieter, Nathan, Henry, Chima, Lucie, Marco, Morine, Arne, Kevin, Juan and the many visiting researchers, masters and bachelors Acknowledgements
137
Acknowledgement
During a PhD, a lot of people form the core plot and backbone of the story and even many more play support roles. To believe you can mention and acknowledge all their contribution is just but a futile attempt. However, to all of you, even you reading this acknowledgement, thank you for being part of the story. Now, a few words to the many friends and colleagues, without whom this journey would have remained nothing but a distant dream.I dare to start with my family, for without them, even the academic journey would not have started. My lovely wife Cate, Thank you for everything. No words can express who you have been to me and our kids, Leslie and Seline. You allowed me to pursue my dream despite it taking me so far from home. You willingly took all the tasks and the many responsibilities that come with being a parent. Thank you for your support these past five years of my study. Certificates and other outputs may bear my name, but the accomplishments are as much mine as they are yours. I am truly blessed to have you as my life partner. My two lovely kids’ thank you for always welcoming me with a smile every single day. And for the first question every time I arrived in the Netherlands,
Daddy utarudi lini?
Now pertaining to my academic journey. First, I would like to thank my promoter, Prof Irene. My PhD journey was ignited by our meeting at a small office in one of the corners at the National Museums of Kenya. I talked so much that I almost thought I'd chased you away. Poured my heart out and probably narrated my lifetime. I am glad you still gave me an opportunity to join your group and together we fundraised for my PhD. I am so lucky that you were my mentor and supervisor during my PhD. Your insights, critical thinking and clarity during our discussions made it so much easier to develop my scientific thinking. Although my smile briefly disappeared every time I received a repainted draft, I enjoyed every moment of our discussions. Beyond the supervision, I am very grateful to you for being a friend. Studying so far away from my family was a big challenge, but you were always there to advise me and bore with me when my academic outputs were on a slump. Thank you for going out of your way to help ensure I finished my PhD. I look forward to our continued collaboration.
I would like to pay special gratitude to my reading committee Prof J. Komdeur, Prof W. Cresswell and Prof. H. Olff. I am indebted to the three of you for taking the time to read my thesis.
Special thanks go to Kedong management, Amos and Oscar for giving us access to the site. It was a lovely place to conduct our field work. Thank you also for allowing us set our weather stations and for making sure it’s safe free of any disturbance. I also wish to express my gratitude to the late Sarah Higgins who gave us a home to stay during the early day’s fieldwork and for hosting visiting colleagues. Your passion for conservation and dedication towards rehabilitation of birds of prey was a motivation and inspiration to many. Although you were promoted to glory, your spirit lives on.
I would also like to thank my colleagues in Irene's group, and fellow office mates for the many stimulating discussions and lab lunch meetings we had. Sincere apologies for the nagging quick questions, and intruding your work stations. Maaike, Pieter, Nathan, Henry, Chima, Lucie, Marco, Morine, Arne, Kevin, Juan and the many visiting researchers, masters and bachelors
Acknowledgements
138
students who joined at various time. In a special way, I would like to express my gratitude to Maaike. Where do I begin! ;-) You made my stay in the Netherlands always feel like home. From the early days, you helped me understand the Netherlands culture. The many discussions we had from naming in our different cultures to the way people relate to each other. Your invitations whenever you had an informal activity enriched my understanding of the Netherlands so much and broke the monotony of always engaging in academics. Beyond your friendship, you were a great office mate. More than any PhD student could ask for. Your guidance in statistics, in R and in the lab was pivotal to finishing my PhD. You were always there whenever I got stuck and for that, I will be forever grateful. I am so humbled that you also accepted to be part of my last PhD ceremony as my Paranymp. You have been a true sister. Asanti sana na Mungu akubariki
Henry, you cleared the path for me and laid a foundation that I built my research on. Together with Irene, you started such an amazing team. I started my study when you were in the thick of things, but you always answered the queries I had. It was so smooth transitioning to my project. Thank you for everything. Congratulations on your PhD Daktari.
Chima, my collabo, together we’ve walked our PhD journeys and it’s an honour that we get to defend the same day. You are such an amazing person and a great friend. The many insightful discussions we had helped bring so much clarity during analysis, writing and tackling the many reviewer comments on the mysterious tropical system. I have learnt so much from you my friend. You are a professor in the making. Keep up with the energy and never-ending constructive critique of current established ‘hypotheses’ for lack of a better word.
Bakari my brother, when we met many years ago, we never imagined together we would find ourselves in a new continent, so different from home that at first even shopping at the supermarket was always an adventure. It was so good having you around. The many barbecues we had even during winter and the frequent social gathering with your friends shortened the long stays away from home. I wish you all the best as you plan to delve into the academic life of pursuing a PhD.
Mi amigo y compañero en el crimen Juan Diego. It was great meeting you and knowing you as a colleague and a friend. You brought so much warmth into our group. Sincere gratitude for the many times you invited me to share dinner with your family. They always brightened my stay and kept the family connect even when I was so far from home. Olivia, thank you for always welcoming me. For the smiles, and the lovely food. And for sharing your home. Marcos and Laura, your invite to join your “games” was always a welcome distraction from the serious discussions we were having with Papi. You reminded me so much about my kids.
Lucie, thank you for being like family when I came to the Netherlands. You were a great office mate. Thank you for the wonderful times during barbecues and the once in a while dances. The many social events and demystifying the Dutch culture from a visitor perspective. Thank you for your constant encouragement and motivation during the early days of my PhD when nothing seemed to be moving. Our trip to the Alps is still my highlight for the stay in Europe. It was so great visiting France, tasting the awesome cheese and most of all visiting your parents. What an experience it was. I am yet to find better tasting Champagne than the one we had at your place. Looking forward to receiving you in Kenya someday. Welcome to the land of Hakuna Matata.
I would like to thanks our research team; Mwangi, Paul, Peter, Bakari, Ciiku, Ken, Kamau, without whom this work would not have completed. Besides the core research time, many more contributed to our amazing fieldwork; Dominic, Maaike, Irene, Claudia, Arne, Otau, Jimmy, Gitogo, Pieter and many more that I might have forgotten to mention. As the Kikuyu saying goes "Kamuingi koyaga ndiri”. The team spirit, dedication and willingness to the project was nothing
short of exceptional. Not even one day did you let me down, nor did you let me feel the weight of the field work on my shoulders. Together we walked the journey and this thesis and other outcomes are as much my accomplishment as they are yours. Paul Kimani, since we met when I was starting my MSc field work in Kinangop, you were always eager to learn. Now you’re a fully fledged ringer and an expert in the field. Your knack for combining science and business remains a mystery. Mwangi, my namesake, few words can describe your contribution to our Lark project. From being my stand-in manager and assistant when I was away to you being our field mechanic. Your drive and ability to think outside the box whenever we were faced with a challenge was always inspiring. And for the “Karofo” reke icio ciume nene. Peter Kinyanjui, I am so happy about the progress you have made. You were always a man of few words, but very thoughtful. Your intriguing questions always made for a good discussion. I see you going far my friend and wish you all the best in your academic journey. Naomi Wanjiku “Ciiku”, when you joined our team, you brought so much laughter with your never-ending jokes. You fitted seamlessly like you were part of the original fabric. Your energy in the field was always a big motivation for all of us. Tirelessly, you tracked birds with a smile on your face. How blessed we were that you were part of the field team. Mary Mwangi, you joined the team for only one year correcting data for your masters. Thank you for your constant encouragement especially when fixing equipment late in the night after a tiring field day. Congratulations on your masters. You fully deserve it for you are such a hard working lady. I am proud of you for how far you've come since our early days at Moi University during our bachelors. A great career waits.
Corine, what would we do as PhD students without you? You epitomize the power of a woman in ways that are difficult to comprehend. You are always there to provide us with direction and advice whenever we are stuck or unsure of who to turn to. I am so grateful for the major role you played when I was requesting an extension and also during my last visit to finish writing my thesis. We as PhD students are truly blessed to have you as our coordinator.
I would also like to acknowledge the Animal ecology group and later the Behavioural and Physiology group for the scientific discussions and the critical feedback that I received during my presentations: Janne, Yvonne, Maaike, Quigqing, Jelle, Long, Lei, Frank, Pieter, Lucie, Raymond, Jelmer, Richard, Marco, Raymond, Christiaan, Joost, Jeroen, Sjouke, Hacen, Martijn, Simon, Blanca, Juan, Inger, Marion, Rienk, Reinaldo, Michela, Jesse, Kat, Berber, Seyed, Christina, Yoran, Claudia, Henry, Chima, Arne, Kevin, Ruth, Annelies, Georgette, Yoran, Marijn and anyone I may have forgotten. It was always great to have you all during the coffee breaks and the social events at the Biotop. Special mention to Ruth for the help and guidance analyzing vegetation index images, Marco for the assistance in the lab and Yoran for translating my short thesis summary to Dutch.
Special gratitude to Joyce and Ingeborg, for the assistance with the many queries and administrative assistance. Thank you, Roos and Allert, for welcoming me to Nioz for the brief visit. I am so glad Roos that the visit bore fruit and we managed to publish the nest survival paper. Behind the scenes, was the amazing team from the research and volarisation office. Thank you for administering my NFP scholarship. Wiebe, together with your colleagues, past and present, Gonny, Eric and Esme; you always made sure my finances were in order, my travel and my visa arrangements. I am very grateful to you all for such a smooth stay in the Netherlands.
The badminton crew, Juan Diego, Christina, Weiteng, Jing, Yang, and the many who joined later. What a good time we had. The games were always refreshing and filled with laughter. You are all amazing people and it was beautiful sharing the fun moments with you guys.
Acknowledgements
139 students who joined at various time. In a special way, I would like to express my gratitude to
Maaike. Where do I begin! ;-) You made my stay in the Netherlands always feel like home. From the early days, you helped me understand the Netherlands culture. The many discussions we had from naming in our different cultures to the way people relate to each other. Your invitations whenever you had an informal activity enriched my understanding of the Netherlands so much and broke the monotony of always engaging in academics. Beyond your friendship, you were a great office mate. More than any PhD student could ask for. Your guidance in statistics, in R and in the lab was pivotal to finishing my PhD. You were always there whenever I got stuck and for that, I will be forever grateful. I am so humbled that you also accepted to be part of my last PhD ceremony as my Paranymp. You have been a true sister. Asanti sana na Mungu akubariki
Henry, you cleared the path for me and laid a foundation that I built my research on. Together with Irene, you started such an amazing team. I started my study when you were in the thick of things, but you always answered the queries I had. It was so smooth transitioning to my project. Thank you for everything. Congratulations on your PhD Daktari.
Chima, my collabo, together we’ve walked our PhD journeys and it’s an honour that we get to defend the same day. You are such an amazing person and a great friend. The many insightful discussions we had helped bring so much clarity during analysis, writing and tackling the many reviewer comments on the mysterious tropical system. I have learnt so much from you my friend. You are a professor in the making. Keep up with the energy and never-ending constructive critique of current established ‘hypotheses’ for lack of a better word.
Bakari my brother, when we met many years ago, we never imagined together we would find ourselves in a new continent, so different from home that at first even shopping at the supermarket was always an adventure. It was so good having you around. The many barbecues we had even during winter and the frequent social gathering with your friends shortened the long stays away from home. I wish you all the best as you plan to delve into the academic life of pursuing a PhD.
Mi amigo y compañero en el crimen Juan Diego. It was great meeting you and knowing you as a colleague and a friend. You brought so much warmth into our group. Sincere gratitude for the many times you invited me to share dinner with your family. They always brightened my stay and kept the family connect even when I was so far from home. Olivia, thank you for always welcoming me. For the smiles, and the lovely food. And for sharing your home. Marcos and Laura, your invite to join your “games” was always a welcome distraction from the serious discussions we were having with Papi. You reminded me so much about my kids.
Lucie, thank you for being like family when I came to the Netherlands. You were a great office mate. Thank you for the wonderful times during barbecues and the once in a while dances. The many social events and demystifying the Dutch culture from a visitor perspective. Thank you for your constant encouragement and motivation during the early days of my PhD when nothing seemed to be moving. Our trip to the Alps is still my highlight for the stay in Europe. It was so great visiting France, tasting the awesome cheese and most of all visiting your parents. What an experience it was. I am yet to find better tasting Champagne than the one we had at your place. Looking forward to receiving you in Kenya someday. Welcome to the land of Hakuna Matata.
I would like to thanks our research team; Mwangi, Paul, Peter, Bakari, Ciiku, Ken, Kamau, without whom this work would not have completed. Besides the core research time, many more contributed to our amazing fieldwork; Dominic, Maaike, Irene, Claudia, Arne, Otau, Jimmy, Gitogo, Pieter and many more that I might have forgotten to mention. As the Kikuyu saying goes "Kamuingi koyaga ndiri”. The team spirit, dedication and willingness to the project was nothing
short of exceptional. Not even one day did you let me down, nor did you let me feel the weight of the field work on my shoulders. Together we walked the journey and this thesis and other outcomes are as much my accomplishment as they are yours. Paul Kimani, since we met when I was starting my MSc field work in Kinangop, you were always eager to learn. Now you’re a fully fledged ringer and an expert in the field. Your knack for combining science and business remains a mystery. Mwangi, my namesake, few words can describe your contribution to our Lark project. From being my stand-in manager and assistant when I was away to you being our field mechanic. Your drive and ability to think outside the box whenever we were faced with a challenge was always inspiring. And for the “Karofo” reke icio ciume nene. Peter Kinyanjui, I am so happy about the progress you have made. You were always a man of few words, but very thoughtful. Your intriguing questions always made for a good discussion. I see you going far my friend and wish you all the best in your academic journey. Naomi Wanjiku “Ciiku”, when you joined our team, you brought so much laughter with your never-ending jokes. You fitted seamlessly like you were part of the original fabric. Your energy in the field was always a big motivation for all of us. Tirelessly, you tracked birds with a smile on your face. How blessed we were that you were part of the field team. Mary Mwangi, you joined the team for only one year correcting data for your masters. Thank you for your constant encouragement especially when fixing equipment late in the night after a tiring field day. Congratulations on your masters. You fully deserve it for you are such a hard working lady. I am proud of you for how far you've come since our early days at Moi University during our bachelors. A great career waits.
Corine, what would we do as PhD students without you? You epitomize the power of a woman in ways that are difficult to comprehend. You are always there to provide us with direction and advice whenever we are stuck or unsure of who to turn to. I am so grateful for the major role you played when I was requesting an extension and also during my last visit to finish writing my thesis. We as PhD students are truly blessed to have you as our coordinator.
I would also like to acknowledge the Animal ecology group and later the Behavioural and Physiology group for the scientific discussions and the critical feedback that I received during my presentations: Janne, Yvonne, Maaike, Quigqing, Jelle, Long, Lei, Frank, Pieter, Lucie, Raymond, Jelmer, Richard, Marco, Raymond, Christiaan, Joost, Jeroen, Sjouke, Hacen, Martijn, Simon, Blanca, Juan, Inger, Marion, Rienk, Reinaldo, Michela, Jesse, Kat, Berber, Seyed, Christina, Yoran, Claudia, Henry, Chima, Arne, Kevin, Ruth, Annelies, Georgette, Yoran, Marijn and anyone I may have forgotten. It was always great to have you all during the coffee breaks and the social events at the Biotop. Special mention to Ruth for the help and guidance analyzing vegetation index images, Marco for the assistance in the lab and Yoran for translating my short thesis summary to Dutch.
Special gratitude to Joyce and Ingeborg, for the assistance with the many queries and administrative assistance. Thank you, Roos and Allert, for welcoming me to Nioz for the brief visit. I am so glad Roos that the visit bore fruit and we managed to publish the nest survival paper. Behind the scenes, was the amazing team from the research and volarisation office. Thank you for administering my NFP scholarship. Wiebe, together with your colleagues, past and present, Gonny, Eric and Esme; you always made sure my finances were in order, my travel and my visa arrangements. I am very grateful to you all for such a smooth stay in the Netherlands.
The badminton crew, Juan Diego, Christina, Weiteng, Jing, Yang, and the many who joined later. What a good time we had. The games were always refreshing and filled with laughter. You are all amazing people and it was beautiful sharing the fun moments with you guys.
Acknowledgements
138
students who joined at various time. In a special way, I would like to express my gratitude to Maaike. Where do I begin! ;-) You made my stay in the Netherlands always feel like home. From the early days, you helped me understand the Netherlands culture. The many discussions we had from naming in our different cultures to the way people relate to each other. Your invitations whenever you had an informal activity enriched my understanding of the Netherlands so much and broke the monotony of always engaging in academics. Beyond your friendship, you were a great office mate. More than any PhD student could ask for. Your guidance in statistics, in R and in the lab was pivotal to finishing my PhD. You were always there whenever I got stuck and for that, I will be forever grateful. I am so humbled that you also accepted to be part of my last PhD ceremony as my Paranymp. You have been a true sister. Asanti sana na Mungu akubariki
Henry, you cleared the path for me and laid a foundation that I built my research on. Together with Irene, you started such an amazing team. I started my study when you were in the thick of things, but you always answered the queries I had. It was so smooth transitioning to my project. Thank you for everything. Congratulations on your PhD Daktari.
Chima, my collabo, together we’ve walked our PhD journeys and it’s an honour that we get to defend the same day. You are such an amazing person and a great friend. The many insightful discussions we had helped bring so much clarity during analysis, writing and tackling the many reviewer comments on the mysterious tropical system. I have learnt so much from you my friend. You are a professor in the making. Keep up with the energy and never-ending constructive critique of current established ‘hypotheses’ for lack of a better word.
Bakari my brother, when we met many years ago, we never imagined together we would find ourselves in a new continent, so different from home that at first even shopping at the supermarket was always an adventure. It was so good having you around. The many barbecues we had even during winter and the frequent social gathering with your friends shortened the long stays away from home. I wish you all the best as you plan to delve into the academic life of pursuing a PhD.
Mi amigo y compañero en el crimen Juan Diego. It was great meeting you and knowing you as a colleague and a friend. You brought so much warmth into our group. Sincere gratitude for the many times you invited me to share dinner with your family. They always brightened my stay and kept the family connect even when I was so far from home. Olivia, thank you for always welcoming me. For the smiles, and the lovely food. And for sharing your home. Marcos and Laura, your invite to join your “games” was always a welcome distraction from the serious discussions we were having with Papi. You reminded me so much about my kids.
Lucie, thank you for being like family when I came to the Netherlands. You were a great office mate. Thank you for the wonderful times during barbecues and the once in a while dances. The many social events and demystifying the Dutch culture from a visitor perspective. Thank you for your constant encouragement and motivation during the early days of my PhD when nothing seemed to be moving. Our trip to the Alps is still my highlight for the stay in Europe. It was so great visiting France, tasting the awesome cheese and most of all visiting your parents. What an experience it was. I am yet to find better tasting Champagne than the one we had at your place. Looking forward to receiving you in Kenya someday. Welcome to the land of Hakuna Matata.
I would like to thanks our research team; Mwangi, Paul, Peter, Bakari, Ciiku, Ken, Kamau, without whom this work would not have completed. Besides the core research time, many more contributed to our amazing fieldwork; Dominic, Maaike, Irene, Claudia, Arne, Otau, Jimmy, Gitogo, Pieter and many more that I might have forgotten to mention. As the Kikuyu saying goes "Kamuingi koyaga ndiri”. The team spirit, dedication and willingness to the project was nothing
short of exceptional. Not even one day did you let me down, nor did you let me feel the weight of the field work on my shoulders. Together we walked the journey and this thesis and other outcomes are as much my accomplishment as they are yours. Paul Kimani, since we met when I was starting my MSc field work in Kinangop, you were always eager to learn. Now you’re a fully fledged ringer and an expert in the field. Your knack for combining science and business remains a mystery. Mwangi, my namesake, few words can describe your contribution to our Lark project. From being my stand-in manager and assistant when I was away to you being our field mechanic. Your drive and ability to think outside the box whenever we were faced with a challenge was always inspiring. And for the “Karofo” reke icio ciume nene. Peter Kinyanjui, I am so happy about the progress you have made. You were always a man of few words, but very thoughtful. Your intriguing questions always made for a good discussion. I see you going far my friend and wish you all the best in your academic journey. Naomi Wanjiku “Ciiku”, when you joined our team, you brought so much laughter with your never-ending jokes. You fitted seamlessly like you were part of the original fabric. Your energy in the field was always a big motivation for all of us. Tirelessly, you tracked birds with a smile on your face. How blessed we were that you were part of the field team. Mary Mwangi, you joined the team for only one year correcting data for your masters. Thank you for your constant encouragement especially when fixing equipment late in the night after a tiring field day. Congratulations on your masters. You fully deserve it for you are such a hard working lady. I am proud of you for how far you've come since our early days at Moi University during our bachelors. A great career waits.
Corine, what would we do as PhD students without you? You epitomize the power of a woman in ways that are difficult to comprehend. You are always there to provide us with direction and advice whenever we are stuck or unsure of who to turn to. I am so grateful for the major role you played when I was requesting an extension and also during my last visit to finish writing my thesis. We as PhD students are truly blessed to have you as our coordinator.
I would also like to acknowledge the Animal ecology group and later the Behavioural and Physiology group for the scientific discussions and the critical feedback that I received during my presentations: Janne, Yvonne, Maaike, Quigqing, Jelle, Long, Lei, Frank, Pieter, Lucie, Raymond, Jelmer, Richard, Marco, Raymond, Christiaan, Joost, Jeroen, Sjouke, Hacen, Martijn, Simon, Blanca, Juan, Inger, Marion, Rienk, Reinaldo, Michela, Jesse, Kat, Berber, Seyed, Christina, Yoran, Claudia, Henry, Chima, Arne, Kevin, Ruth, Annelies, Georgette, Yoran, Marijn and anyone I may have forgotten. It was always great to have you all during the coffee breaks and the social events at the Biotop. Special mention to Ruth for the help and guidance analyzing vegetation index images, Marco for the assistance in the lab and Yoran for translating my short thesis summary to Dutch.
Special gratitude to Joyce and Ingeborg, for the assistance with the many queries and administrative assistance. Thank you, Roos and Allert, for welcoming me to Nioz for the brief visit. I am so glad Roos that the visit bore fruit and we managed to publish the nest survival paper. Behind the scenes, was the amazing team from the research and volarisation office. Thank you for administering my NFP scholarship. Wiebe, together with your colleagues, past and present, Gonny, Eric and Esme; you always made sure my finances were in order, my travel and my visa arrangements. I am very grateful to you all for such a smooth stay in the Netherlands.
The badminton crew, Juan Diego, Christina, Weiteng, Jing, Yang, and the many who joined later. What a good time we had. The games were always refreshing and filled with laughter. You are all amazing people and it was beautiful sharing the fun moments with you guys.
Acknowledgements
139 students who joined at various time. In a special way, I would like to express my gratitude to
Maaike. Where do I begin! ;-) You made my stay in the Netherlands always feel like home. From the early days, you helped me understand the Netherlands culture. The many discussions we had from naming in our different cultures to the way people relate to each other. Your invitations whenever you had an informal activity enriched my understanding of the Netherlands so much and broke the monotony of always engaging in academics. Beyond your friendship, you were a great office mate. More than any PhD student could ask for. Your guidance in statistics, in R and in the lab was pivotal to finishing my PhD. You were always there whenever I got stuck and for that, I will be forever grateful. I am so humbled that you also accepted to be part of my last PhD ceremony as my Paranymp. You have been a true sister. Asanti sana na Mungu akubariki
Henry, you cleared the path for me and laid a foundation that I built my research on. Together with Irene, you started such an amazing team. I started my study when you were in the thick of things, but you always answered the queries I had. It was so smooth transitioning to my project. Thank you for everything. Congratulations on your PhD Daktari.
Chima, my collabo, together we’ve walked our PhD journeys and it’s an honour that we get to defend the same day. You are such an amazing person and a great friend. The many insightful discussions we had helped bring so much clarity during analysis, writing and tackling the many reviewer comments on the mysterious tropical system. I have learnt so much from you my friend. You are a professor in the making. Keep up with the energy and never-ending constructive critique of current established ‘hypotheses’ for lack of a better word.
Bakari my brother, when we met many years ago, we never imagined together we would find ourselves in a new continent, so different from home that at first even shopping at the supermarket was always an adventure. It was so good having you around. The many barbecues we had even during winter and the frequent social gathering with your friends shortened the long stays away from home. I wish you all the best as you plan to delve into the academic life of pursuing a PhD.
Mi amigo y compañero en el crimen Juan Diego. It was great meeting you and knowing you as a colleague and a friend. You brought so much warmth into our group. Sincere gratitude for the many times you invited me to share dinner with your family. They always brightened my stay and kept the family connect even when I was so far from home. Olivia, thank you for always welcoming me. For the smiles, and the lovely food. And for sharing your home. Marcos and Laura, your invite to join your “games” was always a welcome distraction from the serious discussions we were having with Papi. You reminded me so much about my kids.
Lucie, thank you for being like family when I came to the Netherlands. You were a great office mate. Thank you for the wonderful times during barbecues and the once in a while dances. The many social events and demystifying the Dutch culture from a visitor perspective. Thank you for your constant encouragement and motivation during the early days of my PhD when nothing seemed to be moving. Our trip to the Alps is still my highlight for the stay in Europe. It was so great visiting France, tasting the awesome cheese and most of all visiting your parents. What an experience it was. I am yet to find better tasting Champagne than the one we had at your place. Looking forward to receiving you in Kenya someday. Welcome to the land of Hakuna Matata.
I would like to thanks our research team; Mwangi, Paul, Peter, Bakari, Ciiku, Ken, Kamau, without whom this work would not have completed. Besides the core research time, many more contributed to our amazing fieldwork; Dominic, Maaike, Irene, Claudia, Arne, Otau, Jimmy, Gitogo, Pieter and many more that I might have forgotten to mention. As the Kikuyu saying goes "Kamuingi koyaga ndiri”. The team spirit, dedication and willingness to the project was nothing
short of exceptional. Not even one day did you let me down, nor did you let me feel the weight of the field work on my shoulders. Together we walked the journey and this thesis and other outcomes are as much my accomplishment as they are yours. Paul Kimani, since we met when I was starting my MSc field work in Kinangop, you were always eager to learn. Now you’re a fully fledged ringer and an expert in the field. Your knack for combining science and business remains a mystery. Mwangi, my namesake, few words can describe your contribution to our Lark project. From being my stand-in manager and assistant when I was away to you being our field mechanic. Your drive and ability to think outside the box whenever we were faced with a challenge was always inspiring. And for the “Karofo” reke icio ciume nene. Peter Kinyanjui, I am so happy about the progress you have made. You were always a man of few words, but very thoughtful. Your intriguing questions always made for a good discussion. I see you going far my friend and wish you all the best in your academic journey. Naomi Wanjiku “Ciiku”, when you joined our team, you brought so much laughter with your never-ending jokes. You fitted seamlessly like you were part of the original fabric. Your energy in the field was always a big motivation for all of us. Tirelessly, you tracked birds with a smile on your face. How blessed we were that you were part of the field team. Mary Mwangi, you joined the team for only one year correcting data for your masters. Thank you for your constant encouragement especially when fixing equipment late in the night after a tiring field day. Congratulations on your masters. You fully deserve it for you are such a hard working lady. I am proud of you for how far you've come since our early days at Moi University during our bachelors. A great career waits.
Corine, what would we do as PhD students without you? You epitomize the power of a woman in ways that are difficult to comprehend. You are always there to provide us with direction and advice whenever we are stuck or unsure of who to turn to. I am so grateful for the major role you played when I was requesting an extension and also during my last visit to finish writing my thesis. We as PhD students are truly blessed to have you as our coordinator.
I would also like to acknowledge the Animal ecology group and later the Behavioural and Physiology group for the scientific discussions and the critical feedback that I received during my presentations: Janne, Yvonne, Maaike, Quigqing, Jelle, Long, Lei, Frank, Pieter, Lucie, Raymond, Jelmer, Richard, Marco, Raymond, Christiaan, Joost, Jeroen, Sjouke, Hacen, Martijn, Simon, Blanca, Juan, Inger, Marion, Rienk, Reinaldo, Michela, Jesse, Kat, Berber, Seyed, Christina, Yoran, Claudia, Henry, Chima, Arne, Kevin, Ruth, Annelies, Georgette, Yoran, Marijn and anyone I may have forgotten. It was always great to have you all during the coffee breaks and the social events at the Biotop. Special mention to Ruth for the help and guidance analyzing vegetation index images, Marco for the assistance in the lab and Yoran for translating my short thesis summary to Dutch.
Special gratitude to Joyce and Ingeborg, for the assistance with the many queries and administrative assistance. Thank you, Roos and Allert, for welcoming me to Nioz for the brief visit. I am so glad Roos that the visit bore fruit and we managed to publish the nest survival paper. Behind the scenes, was the amazing team from the research and volarisation office. Thank you for administering my NFP scholarship. Wiebe, together with your colleagues, past and present, Gonny, Eric and Esme; you always made sure my finances were in order, my travel and my visa arrangements. I am very grateful to you all for such a smooth stay in the Netherlands.
The badminton crew, Juan Diego, Christina, Weiteng, Jing, Yang, and the many who joined later. What a good time we had. The games were always refreshing and filled with laughter. You are all amazing people and it was beautiful sharing the fun moments with you guys.
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Maxwell and Lisbeth, thank you for providing me with an escape away from the buzzing city of Groningen. It was always a highlight visiting you and your family. For the four years, I have been in the Netherlands; you always made me feel at home.
Kirsten, since we met in Kenya, you’ve been awesome. The many invites to your home, dinner with your family both at home and in town, and the social drinks with Maaike. Thank you for your never-ending smile. And for the Groningen book that makes it so easy to tell stories of where I study. I am very grateful to you for accepting to be my paranymph and for translating my thesis summary to Dutch. I hope that your future plans come to fruition and you visit Kenya with your family. It would be so great hosting you. Karibuni sana nyumbani.
And last but definitely not least, I want to thank all those people who were there for me and my family when my daughter got sick. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. You gave us a shoulder to lean on and travelled with us during these challenging times. I can never be able to thank you enough but I pray that you find favour in God in all your endeavors. Maxwell and Lisbeth, thank you for providing me with an escape away from the buzzing city of Groningen. It was always a highlight visiting you and your family. For the four years, I have been in the Netherlands; you always made me feel at home.
Kirsten, since we met in Kenya, you’ve been awesome. The many invites to your home, dinner with your family both at home and in town, and the social drinks with Maaike. Thank you for your never-ending smile. And for the Groningen book that makes it so easy to tell stories of where I study. I am very grateful to you for accepting to be my paranymph and for translating my thesis summary to Dutch. I hope that your future plans come to fruition and you visit Kenya with your family. It would be so great hosting you. Karibuni sana nyumbani.
And last but definitely not least, I want to thank all those people who were there for me and my family when my daughter got sick. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. You gave us a shoulder to lean on and travelled with us during these challenging times. I can never be able to thank you enough but I pray that you find favour in God in all your endeavors.
Acknowledgements
140
Maxwell and Lisbeth, thank you for providing me with an escape away from the buzzing city of Groningen. It was always a highlight visiting you and your family. For the four years, I have been in the Netherlands; you always made me feel at home.
Kirsten, since we met in Kenya, you’ve been awesome. The many invites to your home, dinner with your family both at home and in town, and the social drinks with Maaike. Thank you for your never-ending smile. And for the Groningen book that makes it so easy to tell stories of where I study. I am very grateful to you for accepting to be my paranymph and for translating my thesis summary to Dutch. I hope that your future plans come to fruition and you visit Kenya with your family. It would be so great hosting you. Karibuni sana nyumbani.
And last but definitely not least, I want to thank all those people who were there for me and my family when my daughter got sick. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. You gave us a shoulder to lean on and travelled with us during these challenging times. I can never be able to thank you enough but I pray that you find favour in God in all your endeavors. Maxwell and Lisbeth, thank you for providing me with an escape away from the buzzing city of Groningen. It was always a highlight visiting you and your family. For the four years, I have been in the Netherlands; you always made me feel at home.
Kirsten, since we met in Kenya, you’ve been awesome. The many invites to your home, dinner with your family both at home and in town, and the social drinks with Maaike. Thank you for your never-ending smile. And for the Groningen book that makes it so easy to tell stories of where I study. I am very grateful to you for accepting to be my paranymph and for translating my thesis summary to Dutch. I hope that your future plans come to fruition and you visit Kenya with your family. It would be so great hosting you. Karibuni sana nyumbani.
And last but definitely not least, I want to thank all those people who were there for me and my family when my daughter got sick. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. You gave us a shoulder to lean on and travelled with us during these challenging times. I can never be able to thank you enough but I pray that you find favour in God in all your endeavors.
