Sandgrouse.

84 Pages·2002·10.6 MB·English

by  Ornithological Society of the Middle East

SANDGROUSE
Volume24(2) 2002
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OFTHE MIDDLE EAST,
CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
OSME
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OFTHE MIDDLE EAST,
CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
OSME
OSMEwasfoundedin1978 Publications
as the successorto the OSMEpublishesascientificjournal, Sandgrouse,containing
Ornithological Societyof papers,newsandfeaturesonallaspectsofMiddleEastern
Turkey. Itsprimaryaims are: ornithology. Published twiceyearly,itisissuedfree to
Tocollect,collate, and members. FurthercopiesareavailableforsalefromOSME.
publishdataonallaspects Meetings
ofthebirdsofthe AnAnnualGeneralMeetin:gisheldinLondonatwhichguest
MiddleEast. speakersprovidenewperspectives onornithologyinthe
Topromoteaninterest region. Therearealsooccasionalspecialmeetings,some
inornithologyandbird takingplaceoutsidetheUK.
conservationthroughoutthe
Projects
MiddleEast.
OSME organisesfieldexpeditions tocollectdataonbirdsin
Todevelopproductive little-knownpartsofthe regionandinareaswhereOSMEcan
workingrelationships assistbyteamingupwithlocalgroups.
withothergovernmental
andnon-governmental TheConservation&ResearchCommitteegrantsfundsto
organisationswithan valuablefieldprojects and deskstudieswhichfurther
interestinconservation knowledgeandconservationofbirdsintheregion. Grants
and/ornaturalhistory havebeenawarded toover45projectssincetheConservation
intheregion. &ResearchFundwas setup in 1982.
Vice Presidents:
MEMBERSHIP ImadAtrash DrSaeed Mohamed
OSMEisopentoall, SherifBahaElDin DrOmarAl-Saghier
anditsmembership B. Behrouzi-Rad DrYossi Leshem
spansover40countries. DrGhassan&MrsMona
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Ramadan-Jaradi
Individual Council as atAugust 2002:
£15(UKaddress) D. Balmer R.P.Martins
£20 (Europe) Publicity&Displays TurkeyBirdReport(co-opted)
£20 (SurfacemailoutsideEurope)
£25 (AirmailoutsideEurope) K. [email protected] A.J. [email protected]
Chairman
Institutions S. [email protected]
£30 (Add£5forAirmail) C. G. Bradshaw&-c&[email protected] Secretary
Conservation Research
[email protected]
WritetotheMembership S. [email protected] Sales &Distribution (co-opted)
Secretaryattheaddressbelow
foramembershipformdetailing R.Daniel [email protected]
methodsofpaymentandalso Librarian Treasurer&Membership
ratesforFamily, Supportingand
Lifemembership.Foranyother A. Grieve
&
informationontheSociety, Advertising Website
writetotheSecretaryat
thesameaddress.
& 2002OrnithologicalSocietyoftheMiddle
East,CaucasusandCentralAsia c/o THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE SG192DL, UK
ISSN0260-4736Registeredcharityno282938 OSME Website-http://www.osme.org
Contents
Sandgrouse 82 OSMENews
Volume 24 (2) 84 NewsandInformation
87 RequestsforInformation
Editor PapersandNotes
Guy M. Kirwan 88 Identification,plumages,taxonomyandbiologyofArabian
WarblerSylvialeucomelaena HadoramShirihai,GabrielGargallo,
Features Editor AndreasHelbig,AlanHarrisandDavidCottridge
Situation Vacant
105 ThediscoveryofabreedingcolonyofJouanin'sPetrelBulweria
Assistant Editor fallaxonSocotra,Yemen NadimMofiamedAbdullahTaleb
Situation Vacant
109 CurrentstateoftheGreatBustardOtistardawintering
populationinsouthUkraine YurtyAndryushchenko
EditorialCommittee
Michael Blair, 117 ObservationsonthebreedingbiologyandpopulationofSocotra
Paul Goriup, CisticolaCisticolahaesitatus KarelStastnyandVladimirBejcek
MikeJennings,
122 ThecaptiveoriginofbirdspeciesinKuwait GeorgeGregory
Rodney Martins,
Peter L. Meininger 130 AgeatfirstbreedingofLammergeierGypaetusbarbatus
& DrStephen Newton StavrosXirouchakisandCostasGrivas
135 ThefirstbreedingrecordofStriatedHeronButoridesstriatus
PhotographicEditor
inIsrael ReuvenYosef,MartinRydberg-Hedaen,
Paul Doherty LynetteMitchellandHenkSmit
Design &Production 136 Thefirstrecords,includingbreeding,ofBlack-wingedKite
Harry I. Scott ElanuscaeruleusinIraq MudhafarA.Salim
138 InterspecificinteractionbetweenLammergeierGypaetusbarbatus
Identification Consultants
andBlackVultureAegypiusmonachus:predationor
C. G. Bradshaw, kleptoparasitism? AntoniMargalidaandRafaelHeredia
Arnoud B. van den Berg
& Steve Madge 140 MelanisticLevantSparrowhawkAccipiterbrevipesinsouth-west
Bulgaria BorisP.Nikolov
141 Anu—nusualrecordofaEuropeanBee-eaterMeropsapiasterfrom
Eilat insideaTigerSharkGaleocerdocuvier ReuvenYosef,
DavidZakai,MartinRydberg-HedaenandRubenNikolajsen
142 SecondbreedingrecordofGreatSpottedCuckooClamator
glandariusinEilat ReuvenYosef
144 ThefirstMongolianTrumpeterFinchBucanetesmongolicusin
Armenia RoyBeddard,VasilAnanianandMarkFinn
147 Furthersignificantbirdrecordsfromsouth-eastIran
DamianNowakandKonradAliSachanowicz
149 Photospot
BirdsofBirecik Guy.M.Kirwan
154 Reviews&RecentLiterature
156 AroundtheRegion DawnBalmerandKeithBetton
CoverPhotograph:
Red-tailedWheatearOenanthe
xanthoprymnatakenbyTim
Loseby.
SI
Sandgrouse24(2):2002
F NEWVICE PRESIDENTS
OSME has appointed three new Vice
Presidents. Eachwill serve a termofup to ten
years. Theyareprofiledbelow.
Imad Al-Atrash is Executive Director of the
Palestine Wildlife Society and is the BirdLife
International representative in the Palestine
region. Hehasbeen closely involved in many
projects. These include monitoring Important
Bird Areas, conserving the Wadi Gaza
wetland, and the Migratory Birds Know No
Boundariesproject,tomentionjustafew.
Dr Mona Ramadan-Jaradi is currently co-
authoring an Arabic dictionary ofbird names
AGM DATE AND VENUE and a field guide to the birds of protected
2003
areas in Lebanon. She is an ornithological
The 2003 OSME Summer Meeting will be held researcher at the Lebanon National Council
on Saturday 19 July in central London. A new for Scientific Research. Her fieldwork
venue has been chosen for the event, the head includes surveys in the UAE and Lebanon
officeoftheAssociationofBritishTravelAgents, since 1984. Sheisalsoabirdtourorganiser.
68-71 Newman Street, London W1P 3AH. This
promises to be a special meeting as OSME Ghassan Ramadan-Jaradi is a professor at
celebratesits25thanniversary;afullprogramme the Lebanese University of Natural Science
ofspeakerswillbepublishedinthespring. and Secretary General of the National MAB
Committee. He is also a Member of the
COUNCIL CHANGES Lebanon Biodiversity National Steering
There have been several changes on OSME's Committee and the Lebanon Coordinator of
Council. Firstly, after five years as Chairman, BirdLife International. He has been involved
Andrew Grieve has been succeeded by Keith in bird projects and surveys in France, the
Betton (see Sandgrouse24: 68). Andrew hasbeen UAE and Lebanon since 1972, and has
active in OSME since 1996, and apart from his published several key papers, together with
arduous duties as Chairman he has found time his wife, including an updated checklist of
to develop the Society's website into a thebirdsofLebanonin 1999.
tremendous source of information on birding
within the region. We are very grateful to him PROPOSED OSME SURVEYS IN SYRIA
for his cont—ribution to OSME's profile in the With the rediscovery of a population of Bald
MiddleEast andmorerecently—CentralAsia. Ibis Geronticus eremita in spring 2002 (see
News and Information, this issue), Syria is
After two years as Secretary, Owen Roberts very much in the ornithological headlines.
has also stood down, and he is replaced by Preceding this exciting find, OSME was
Steve Parr. Many people will have met Owen already planning field work in Syria in 2003
at our various events, particularly in his to study several aspects of this country's
previous role as Membership Secretary. We relativelyunknown avifauna. Recentvisitsby
are fortunate thatboth Andrew and Owen are OSME members have revealed severe
not leaving Council, so we will still have degradation of some IBAs and recent range
accessto theirtalents. expansions by Mesopotamian species such as
Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris and White-
Due to pressure of work, Derek Moore has cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys. In
found it necessary to resign from Council. addition to collecting systematic data on
Many people will know Derek from his those IBAs, identified by recently visiting
successful initiatives to raise the profile of birders as still being of ornithological value,
birding in Cyprus, particularly with his the field work will aim to identify further
Birdwatchers guide to the birds ofCyprus, co- areas of conservation value and assess the
authoredby Bill Oddie. Hopefully, we will see distributions of those species of conservation
himreturntoCouncilwhenheislessbusy. concern in the country. Data will be
82
OSMENews
published in Sandgrouse and made available SUMMER MEETING
to those with an interest in the conservation The 2002 OSME Summer Meeting and AGM
of Syria's wildlife. Visits are likely to take was held on 13 July in London and was
place in January-February 2003 and, later, in attended by around 50 people, including
the spring. Part-funding arrangements are members fromKuwait, SaudiArabia, Turkey
currently being investigated. Anyone and UAE. As well as leading the AGM, the
interested in taking part or who wishes to retiring Chairman, Andrew Grieve,
contribute directly to funding this field work, presented his final quiz; a wonderful mix of
or has ideas on available sources should MiddleEasttrivia!
[email protected].
NEW OSME COUNTRY CONTACTS Talks form the main part of the Summer
Meeting. Andrew Lassey started by
OSME is pleased to announce the 'Unravelling identification problems in the
appointment of Thomas Spencer as the Middle East', a talk that proved enthralling
Country Contact in Kuwait. Anyone visiting and highlighted the many difficulties of
Kuwait is welcome to contact him for advice identifying Tittle brown jobs' in the region.
on local birding. Thomas Spencer, c/o New Use of biometrics has helped enormously to
EnglishSchool, P. O. Box 6156, Hawalli32036, differentiate some of the many subspecies
Kuwait. E-mail: [email protected]. that occur in the region, but Andrew
BOOKS FORYOUNG BIRDERS suggested that birders could also contribute
toknowledgebytakingdetailedfieldnotes.
IN CYPRUS
OSME has donated £200 for 20 copies of the Bob Scott, dressed in local costume, followed
new Turkish field guide (see Sandgrouse 24: by taking 'The Silk Road to Uzbekistan',
5-6) for use in schools in northern Cyprus. introducingusto the diverserange ofhabitats
Thefieldguideswillbe distributedbyKuskor and birds to be found in this under-watched
(the North Cyprus Society for the Protection country. As well as many interesting birds,
of Birds and Nature) as part of their schools Uzbekistan has a rich flora and Bob showed
education programme. Unfortunately, there photos of the beautiful irises and orchids to
are no young Turkish Cypriot birdwatchers, befoundthere.
and, untilnow, amajor difficultyinrecruiting
anyhasbeen the lack ofa modern field guide OSME was particularly pleased to welcome
in Turkish. The new field guide is published Dr Can Bilgin from Turkey who spoke about
byDHKD and distributionofthesebookswill a recently inaugurated ringing scheme. From
be coordinated by OSME's Country Contact, a positionwherejust a few ringers visited the
PeterFlint. country, a fully-fledged scheme now
regularly operates at up to five sites. Much
OSME /NHBS AWARDS emphasis is being placed on the education
More awards have been made for active and training of young people, which bodes
birders in countries where there is no access wellforthefutureofringinginthecountry.
to good bird books. Through the generous
sponsorship of the Natural History Book FollowingtheTurkishtheme,GeoffandHilary
Service, OSME hasbeen able to sendbooks to Welch concluded the meeting with a talk on
Sadegh Sadeghi-Zadegan in Iran. Further their recent work in the same country. Geoff
requests for books have also been approved has been assisting researchintowoodland and
for Elena Kreuzberg-Mukhina in Uzbekistan bird communities. Through extensive field
andTamerAlbayrakinTurkey. work, they have documented new breeding
species (Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata)
CAN YOUTRANSLATE and range extensions (Pale Rock Sparrow
GERMAN INTO ENGLISH? Carpospiza brachydactyla). Hilary has been
involved in a project in which birds are just
In advance of OSME's planned field work in one of many biological groups being
Syria, we are currently translating into English studied—the scale of projected field work is
the excellent book, Die Vogel Syriens: eine impressive and will doubtless produce many
Ubersicht. If you are prepared to help us with furtherinterestingobservations.
thisplease contactKeithBetton on +44 (0) 1252
724068orbye-mail:[email protected]. Dawn Balmer
S3
Sandgrouse24 (2):2002
OSME/ OMANTRAVEL TOUR OF Accommodation throughout the tour is in
OMAN, MARCH 2003 comfortable hotels with half-board (except
As members will know from the extensive Muscat-buffetbreakfast only), picnic lunches
reportsinAroundtheRegion,Omanisrichin in the field, tax and all service charges
birds. Not only are there many exciting and included. Transport is by air-conditioned
vehicles (generally minibus, with 4x4 Land
little-known resident species, but this
Cruiser or equivalent as required).
fascinating country lies on one of the most
Comprehensive information packs and a
important routes for migratorybirdsbetween
fully personalised support service will be
Eurasia and Africa, with March being at the
peak of this migration. A visit to Oman is an provided in advance to all customers
bookingthe tour.
unforgettable experience, set in this
wonderful corner of Arabia with its deserts, OSME's Conservation Fund will benefit
mountainsanddramaticcoastlines.
financially from every place booked on the
tour, so apart from enjoying some great
LedbyRichardPorter and supportedbylocal
guides, this special OSME / Omantravel birding, you will be supporting Middle East
birdconservation.
itinerary provides the opportunity to
experience many of the region's specialities
byvisiting avariety ofhabitats and sites with Thetourdatesare 1-15March2003. Fulldetails
theirmany species ofherons,waders, raptors, are available from Omantravel, 5 Mandeville
sandgrouse, larks, wheatears and warblers. Close, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 2BD. Tel:
We will search for the rare Verreaux's Eagle [phone]. Fax: +'44 (0) 1235 200282.
Aquila verreauxii, Hume's Tawny Owl Strix E-mail:[email protected].
butleri and Yemen Serin Serinus menachensis,
andmanyotherMiddleEasttargetspecies.
KTFWS INFOmATION
rV
-A- ^1 I ^ » w ^ _r*S comviledbvGuvM.Kirwan
The aim ofthis section is to inform readers about welcome and there is no registration fee. For
events in the OSME region. It relies on members further information contact Xaver Monbailliu
and others supplying relevant news and byfax([phone]) ore-mail(medmaraxm®
information. Ifyouhaveanythingconcerningbirds, wanadoo.fr).
conservation or development in the OSME area
pleasesendit toNewsandInformation, OSME,c/o AZERBAIJAN
TheLodge, Sandy,BedfordshireSG192DL, U. K.
The Azerbaijan Centerfor the Protection of
wThriistes-eucptioonfitshneoptroijnetcetnsdecdoanscearndeefdi.niMtiavenryepoofrttoher Bhtitrpd:s//hwawsw.raezceenrtilbyiredsst.aobrlgi/sheendg/ae_woe_bnassi.thet:
projects are sponsored; such support is appreciated ml, which has pages devoted to the following
butisnotgenerallygivenacknowledgementhere. topics: rare birds, birdwatching areas,
GENERAL ecological problems, general characteristics,
MEDMARAVIS Conference The Mediterranean and contacts. The site is in three languages:
Russian, English and Azeri. (Source: Jevgeni
Marine Bird Association (MEDMARAVIS) is
holding its next conference, entitled 'Oil Shergalinin Utt April2002.)
pollution and conservation of biodiversity7, at CYPRUS
Porto Torres, in Sardinia (Italy), on 17-22
October 2002. The conference is being run in Threat to new Ramsar site Despite protests
cooperation with the International Fund for from the Cyprus government, environmen-
AnimalWelfareandAsinaraNational Park. All talists and local people concerned by reports
those with an interest in this subject are of microwave emissions, the British Ministry
84 GuyM. Kirwan
News &Information
of Defence is proceeding with the construction IRAN
of a huge new aerial on the edge of Akrotiri Addition to the list ofMiddle East Birding
Salt Lake, an internationally important Organisations We have been informed of an
migrationhotspotintheeasternMediterranean additional body working with birds in Iran,
(see Sandgrouse 23: 86). The 200-metre-wide supplementing the information presented in
array strung between 100-metre masts will the last Sandgrouse (24: 9-12). Dr Jamshid
complement an existing structure about one Mansoori, Ornithology Unit, Department of
quarter of its size in an area already saturated the Environment, P. O. Box 5181, Tehran
by antenna and aerials ofmanytypes (the total 15875, Islamic Republic of Iran. Tel:/Fax: +98
surface covered by aerials on the western side 21 8071665. E-mail: [email protected].
ofAkrotiriis more than 1 km2). Apart from the (Source: MazyarZagrosiin litt.June2002.)
negative visual impact upon an extremely
interesting habitat between the wetland of SYRIA
Phassourireedbeds andmeadowsandAkrotiri Discovery ofa breedingcolony ofBaldIbis A
reedbeds and lake, local ornithologists are small colony of Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita
concerned at the dangers posed by the (seven individuals) was detected within
extensive network of wires to migrating and Palmyrean desertic steppe during spring
roosting birds, mainly waders and wildfowl. 2002. Three pairs are presently engaged in
The new site will block airspace between the raising their chicks. The finding was made
salt lake and the Phassouri area, thus causing within the framework of a project of interna-
significant mortality to waterfowl moving tional cooperation entitled Range rehabili-
between the two areas at night. New, inexpe- tation and establishment of a wildlife reserve
rienced, migrants arriving at the salt lake from in the Syrian steppe (GCP/SYR/009/ITA).
thewest, willbe 'welcomed'by steelmeshes of The project, funded by Italian sources, is
more than 300 metres in combined length implemented by FAO to assist the efforts of
(PLUTO I and II). Finally, the impact of the the Syrian government Ministry of
huge electromagnetic fields on bird movement Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) to
and orientation is not fully understood but promote and implement natural resource and
should notbe under-estimated. Weekly counts
biodiversity conservation within the country.
ofbird killshavebeenmade since Februaryby The discovery was made at the end of an
the Game Fund and the Sovereign Base extensive two-year programme of wildlife
Administration, but have been hampered by surveying and reconnaissance, aimed at
thelimitedtimeavailable. Itisbelievedthatthe producing a biodiversity inventory for Al
number of dead birds found does not truly
Talila Reserve, the first Syrian protected area.
reflect the kills. During the weeklong gap The project technical group responsible for
betweentheone-hoursearches,foxesandother the surveys comprises Associate Professional
predators remove many carcasses. The area Officer, Gianluca Serra and two nationals
searchedisafractionoftheentireantennaesite, from MAAR, Ghazy Al-Qaim and Mahmoud
giving a very conservative estimate of the true Abdullah. The possible presence of Bald Ibis
totals. The refusal of the U. K. government to within the Palmyrean desertic steppe was
recognise the full environmental threat to this suspectedbySerra frominformationcollected
importantwetlandsitedoesnotassistthecause through standard questionnaires completed
of those striving to stop the traditional, by Bedouin nomads and local hunters (an
although illegal, liming and netting in the run- important contribution was made by a
up to E. U. accession. The Sovereign Base Palmyrean hunter, Adib Assad). A
Administration have proposed Akrotiri Salt guard/ranger trainee has been appointed to
Lake and P—hassouri Marsh for Ramsar guard the nesting site 24 hours a day and to
designation as a site of international collect data on the breeding cycle. (Source:
importance for waterbirds—making the impact GianlucaSerra in litt. May2002.)
of the aerials on birds of extreme concern.
Although the Sovereign Base Administration
TURKEY
wishes to exclude the aerial farm, and other
significant areas, from the proposed Ramsar Giant leap in revising Turkish population
site, onewonders ifthepresence oftheseaerial estimates A first draft of revised Turkish
towers is compatible with the site's Ramsar breedingbird population estimates and trends
designation. (Source: Judy Dawes and David was presented for comment at the Fifth
Whaleyinlitt.August2002.) Turkish Bird Conference, in Samsun, on 19-23
GuyM. Kirwan 85
Sandgrouse24(2):2002
April 2002. Turkish ornithologists have informationconcerningover200reportedseal
reviewed alargebodyofrecentinformationto sightings, between 1993 and 1997, but most
provide draft revised population estimates of fishermen had made only single observations
breeding birds for the BirdLife International duringthatfive-yearperiod!
Birds in Europe II (BiEII) project. These draft
estimates were presented and circulated for Indeed, from the information that we had
comment at the conference. Much interestwas gathered, it was clear that the Mediterranean
generated among the 150 participants and Monk Seal had been reduced from relative
many valuable comments were received. The abundance to virtual extinction within a
revision will soon be accompanied by human lifetime. Its distribution ranged from
winteringpopulation estimates, and is already Igneada in the western Black Sea to Yakakent
a vast improvement on previous data, thus in the east (though its easternmost
lavingafirmerfoundationfortheconservation appearance was at Mersin village, Ordu).
of Turkish birds. (Source: http://www. Older fishermen informed us of herds of
biodiversity.org/ simplifv/ev.php?URL_ID= monk seals emerging from caves when
2112&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION disturbed, andofmalesengaginginterritorial
=201&reload=1022146683.) disputes that occasionally lasted several
hours. In contrast to the Aegean coast, our
Witnessing the Monk Seal's extinction in the research in the Black Sea demonstrated that
Black Sea AlongTurkey's BlackSea coast,the habitat destruction and disturbance by
existence of the Mediterranean Monk Seal tourism had played a negligible role in the
Monachus monachus was but a myth to those decline of the seal. The dominant factor was
ofus interested in the species for manyyears. direct persecution. Historically, local people
When Gokhan Tiire informed me of a live exploited seals for theirblubber and skin, and
animal captured near Eregli, I could only the animals were also targeted by fishermen
imagine the incredible scenes of local men while bounty-hunting dolphins during the
tryingto catchitinside adarkcaveatthebase 1970s. Both dolphins and seals were regarded
of the cliffs. In 1988, during a long-term as thefisherman's archenemy, damagingnets
survey at Eregli, we found Siikrii Aydin, a andstealingfish.
fishermen known locally as the 'bear catcher'
because ofthemanysealshehad sold to fairs, Between Akcakoca and Sinop, villagers
travelling shows and zoos. From his reminis- reminisced as to how they or their forebears
cences, we were able to trace two seals that had boiled seals to produce lighting oil,
had reached Ankara Zoo, in 1957 and 1961. sometimes also selling the pelts to companies
Our interviews also indicated a substantial in larger cities for leather manufacture. In
reductionin the frequency ofseal sightings in neighbouring mountain villages, poverty
the late 1980s. Another survey, in 1994, during the 1940s and 1950s had driven
demonstrated that the species was extinct inhabitants to hunt monk seals to produce
around Eregli. Despite this setback, we still 'carik', a primitive yet durable shoe made
wanted to know the species' status along the either of ox or seal skin. Seal skin was also
restofTurkey's centralBlackSeacoast. processed to make harnesses for oxen used in
ploughing. Live seal captures brought
Subsequent surveys, in 1993, 1995 and 1997, additional profit to a few enterprising
covered the coast between Akcakoca and fishermen. Before he died in 1996, Aydin
Trabzon, and aimed to locate any viable seal reported capturing at least21 seals, although I
population that might respond to urgent suspectitwasmanymore. Another fisherman,
conservation efforts. Though we discovered Tunc, claimedthathe andAydinhadcaptured
c. 50 caves along unspoilt cliffs that appeared dozens,andperhapsevenasmanyas 100seals
suitable for breeding or resting, over the between Igneada and Doganyurt, fulfilling
courseofseveralmonths wefailedtofindany orders received from fairs, zoos and showmen
trace of the seal. Apart from this, what between 1948and 1973.
shocked us most was the scarcity of fish
observed during our periods underwater. It Though our surveys failed to uncover any
appeared unlikely that the disappearance of trace ofthe species, itwas of some comfort to
the seals and plunging fish stocks were learn of fishermen sightings until 1997. In the
unrelated. During interviews with 150 local years that followed we still expected to
people, mostly fishermen, we obtained receive news of additional observations. As
86 GuyM. Kirwan
—
News &Information
time passed, however, our disappointment sell their boats. The monk seal's probable
and unease intensified: not a single seal extinction in the Black Sea is a milestone in
observation was reported in the years the history of the species yet the event,
following, even from the Cide, Doganyurt however tragic, calls for far more than sorrow
and Sinop coasts from where the majority of or regret. The same events are now unfolding
sightings had been obtained in 1993-1997. in the Marmara, the Aegean and eastern
Finally, when I drove from Sinop to Akcakoca Mediterranean Seas. Is it not time that
in July 2001 for a monk seal television governments finally recognised that monk
documentarv, a week of surveys among old seals are true ecological indicators of the
friends confirmed the lack of sightings, no health of the sea upon which we all depend?
incidences of damage to the stationarynets of (Source: Cem Orkun Kirac, abridged version
fishermen and no half-chewed turbot catch of his editorial in The Monachus Guardian,
simple but effective indications of the species' November2001.)
—
presence in short, no proof of a live monk
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
sealinthelastfouryears!
The evidence at our disposal strongly Corrections to Middle East Birding Contacts
and Organisations The Environmental
suggests that the Mediterranean Monk Seal
may have become extinct throughout the Research and Wildlife DevelopmentAgency's
Black Sea. Given the scale of marine traffic telephone number is [phone] (fax: 971
2 6810008). Those given in Sandgrouse 24
through the Bosphorus, and the handful of
seals in the Sea of Marmara (another sub- (9-12) only apply to the National Avian
Research Center. The Emirates Natural
population that is teetering on the brink of History Group (Al Ain) is actually the Al Ain
extinction) natural recolonisation of the Black Natural History Group (and completely
Sea appears doubtful. It is unlikely that the separate from the Emirates Natural History
species' loss from the Black Sea will be met Group). The new contactfor the Emirates Bird
wreigtrheta.nyAtnhidngvebtu,tisfiloennlcye ofroratbhreiefhisshtroruigcaolf RCehcaoirrdmsanCEoBmRmCi,ttce/eo Pi.sO.SiBmooxn45A5s5p3i,naAlblu,
record, it is important to acknowledge how Dhabi, UAE. His e-mail is
apathy, indifference, lack of judgement and
[email protected]. (Source: Simon
ecological awareness all conspired to bring
about its demise. During the late 1970s, the Aspinall in litt. June 2002.)
Ministry of Agriculture supplied fishermen
with ammunition to hunt dolphins, despite
REQUESTS
knowledge thatthe alreadv endangeredmonk
seal was a common victims of these bullets. INFORMATIfOor N
Despite numerous resolutions urging action,
relevant government departments, univer-
sities and XGOs did little or nothing to
address thespecies' darming decline.
Jordanringingscheme
When I first became acquainted with the In September 2001, the Jordanian ringing
species, I remember being impressed by scheme, usingJordanian rings, officially started.
expertopinion describing its ecological role in A permanent ringing station was established
the marine environment. The monk seal was near Hashemite University. Numbers of
at the head of the food chain; it was an passerines have been caught, including rarities
'indicator' species, whose increase or decline such asMarshWarblerAcrocephcduspalustris as
,
would reveal the health of the marine well as the more expected Orphean Warbler
ecosystem. Can itbe that government officials Sylvia hortensis, Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza
and academics read such information but caesia and Masked Shrike Eanius nubicus.
didn't really believe it? Perhaps the ecologists Volunteers are required for autumn 2002 and
were being alarmist again? If so, perhaps it is shouldbe abletospendatleasttwoweeks atthe
time thev looked again. The monk seal in the station, andhave sufficientexperienceofringing
Black Sea is gone. The marine ecosystem is fromatleastone othercountry. Accommodation
collapsing. Fish stocks have hit rock bottom, is free. For details contact Dr Fares Khoury,
unable to withstand the pressures of Dept. of Biological Sciences, Hashemite
industrialfleets. Many artisanalfishermen are University, P. O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115,
virtually destitute and many are desperate to Jordan.E-mail:a\ijordai^[email protected].
GuyM. Kirwan S7
Sandgrouse24(2): 88-104 2002
Identification, plumages, taxonomy
and biology of Arabian Warbler
Sylvia leucomelaena
HADORAM SHIRIHAI, GABRIEL GARGALLO, ANDREAS HELBIG,
ALAN HARRIS AND DAVID COTTRIDGE
The following text is reprinted (with minor edits for Sandgrouse style) from Sylvia
warblers by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo and Andreas Helbig, illustrated
by Alan Harris, and photographic editingby David Cottridge, with permission of
the publishers, Christopher Helm, London. In the book, the product of over 15
years extensive museum and field research, the authors advocate the recognition
of several new 'species' of Sylvia, based on a comprehensive review of
DNA
morphology, vocalisations and research into the genus. The extract that
appearshere concerns ArabianWarbler; only the sections dealingwith moult, age
and sex are omitted. Areview oftheworkappeared in Sandgrouse23: 152.
GENERAL.WFormerly known as RNed Sea Warbler due to its range, this species
breeds in and S Arabia, and Somalia north through the Rift Valley and
its margins to the southern end of the Dead Sea. It is virtually restricted to dense
Acacia stands in savanna-like habitat, particularly ofA. tortilis and A. raddiana, in
park-like woodland formations with sparse lower scrub, chiefly in low-lying
open desert and its fringes, semi-desert, or at higher elevations (even temperate
summits above 3000 m in SW Saudi Arabia). Essentially resident, with some
dispersal, throughout its range. Migrant and wintering EasternOrpheanWarbler
Sylvia [hortensis] crassirostris and other Eurasian Sylvia occur within its range, but
the breeding ranges of only two, Afrotropical, Sylvia partially overlap with
Arabian Warbler, namely Yemen Warbler S. buryi, in SW Arabia, and apparently
BrownSylvia S. lugens, in SE Sudan.
Systematics. The taxonomic position ofArabian Warbler has longbeen contro-
versial; itbeing unclearwhetheritwasbest assigned to Parisoma or Sylvia. Recent
DNA
studies have demonstrated that the species is closely related to Eastern and
Western Orphean S. [hortensis] hortensis and Yemen Warblers (Shirihai et al.
submitted, Helbig et al. submitted). Although S. leucomelaena is not much more
genetically divergent from Eastern and Western Orphean Warblers, than the
latter are from each other, it does not belong to the same superspecies (contra
Hall & Moreau 1970, Erard et al. 1997). It differs from both Orphean Warblers in
numerous features: smaller size, dark iris, unique eye-ring with well-spaced,
large white feathers, proportionately longer tail with distinct oval-shaped white
tips to outer rectrices, tail-pumping action, poorly developed sexual
dimorphism, distinctjuvenile plumage and vocalisations.
Four rather subtle subspecies are recognised, based on slight variation in
upperparts coloration, amountofwhite inrectrices—anWd size.
S. I. leucomelaena (Hemprich—and Ehrenberg, 1833) and SArabia.
S. /. negevensis Shirihai, 1988 AravaValley, Israel/J—ordan. N
S. I. somaliensis (Sclater and M—ackworth-Praed, 1918) Djibouti and Somalia.
S. I. blanfordiSeebohm, 1878 Eritrea, Sudan andnorth to Gebel Elba, Egypt.
88 Hadoram Shirihai, GabrielGargallo,AndreasHelbig,AlanHarrisandDavidCottridge