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• Web site Manager. Responsible for mainte- If you are interested in any of the above nance, updating, and facilitating the positions, please contact the Chairman, Geoff development of the OSME web site. Welch, at [email protected]. • Librarian. Responsible for maintaining OSME’s small collection of reference liter- Feeling lucky? ature, mostly difficult to obtain journals In order to raise funds for both the core oper- and unpublished papers and reports, and ation of OSME and the Conservation and for dealing with occasional requests for Research Fund, thanks to the generosity of information or access to the library from several sponsors, especially Opticron who members. have donated a telescope and tripod kit, • Events Coordinator. This is a new position OSME is running a major raffle in 2009 with and the postholder will be responsible for some excellent prizes and we hope that mem- coordinating all aspects of OSME’s atten- bers will support us by buying tickets dance at key events, currently the Summer themselves and selling them to friends and Meeting and the BirdFair, such as liaising colleagues! Unfortunately, under UK Gaming with venue organisers, arranging staffing legislation, raffle tickets can only be sold in rotas etc. the UK so we apologise to all of our overseas • Fund- raising Officer. This is a new position members that they are unable to participate, and the postholder will be responsible for though those with access to a UK bank seeking core funding for the day to day account are able to buy tickets. A book of tick- operation of the Society, for the ets is enclosed with this copy of Sandgrouse Conservation and Research Fund and for (UK addresses only) and extra books can be any specific projects that OSME may obtained from Chris Lamsdell, 4 Hardings develop in the future. Close, Iver, Bucks SL0 0HL, UK.

NEWS & INFORMATION Dawn Balmer (compiler)

ARMENIA Armenia are sought and details should be sent to Valentin Ilyashenko at Atypical cranes discovered [email protected]. In May 2008, Russian ornithologist VY Ilyashenko visited a small colony of Common EGYPT Cranes Grus grus in southwestern Armenia, near the border with Turkey and Georgia. He Wind farm proposals in the migra- discovered these cranes had clear morpholog- tion bottleneck of Zait bay ical differences from typical Common Crane. Plans for a huge wind farm with 3000 MW The main differences are a white spot behind output in the area of Zait bay, on the west side the eye and lack of red ‘crown’. The taxonom- of the southernmost gulf of Suez, have been ic status of these cranes is currently being amended following a feasibility study that assessed. A female was ringed with a white indicated heavy migration of soaring in plastic ring with black number 210 on the both autumn and spring. The German right leg and standard metal ring A223099 on Development Bank (KfW) commissioned the the left leg. Birdwatchers are asked to look study which recorded 145 000 soaring birds in carefully at migrating and wintering the autumn and 179 000 in the spring. An Common Cranes in the Middle East for unexpectedly large percentage of birds were colour- rings. Records of nesting or wintering observed flying at or below 200 m or even cranes from Turkey, , Georgia and resting on the ground. An alternative propos-

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al was put forward whereby construction will not only create a number of large new would be limited to the least critically sensi- Protected Areas in the steppe zone of tive areas in the north of the area. The German Kazakhstan, most of which are IBAs, but also Development Bank adopted the alternative improve the management of existing sites and plan and the Egyptian authorities agreed to develop and apply concepts for a “landscape the new plan. The KfW is now in control of the level management approach” outside the situation and searching for a viable alternative Protected Areas network. Large parts of this site. (Contributed by Dr Gudrun Hilgerloh) project will be implemented by ACBK, under contract from UNDP. (Contributed by Michael KAZAKHSTAN Brombacher, ACBK/RSPB) World Heritage Site designated in First Annual ACBK Student Nature Kazakhstan Conservation Club Network Two of Central Asia’s most important steppe- Conference, Karaganda, 22–24 wetland Important Areas (IBAs), November 2008 Tengiz-Korgalzhyn and Naurzum have been This event brought together more than forty recognised as a World Heritage Site. The students and advisers from ACBK’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Committee Nature Conservation Clubs and key staff from announced in July 2008 that they were to ACBK (Plate 1). The conference covered three include the territory of “Saryaka— Steppe and main areas: the development of Clubs over Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan” into the list of the past two years; the implementation of four UNESCO natural World Heritage Sites. The GEF Small Grant projects on the Tengiz- Korgalzhyn and Naurzum nature “Conservation of pilot Important Bird Areas reserves, the two sites forming Saryaka, are (IBAs) by specially trained students and local located in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan and communities”; and participation by students are two of the most important IBAs in Central in ACBK and other scientific projects. Since Asia. Both are crucial migration stop- over April 2007 ACBK has established Clubs in sites for several million birds each year on the universities and other institutes of higher edu- African-Eurasian flyway. They also hold large cation throughout Kazakhstan and these now breeding populations of many globally threat- have more than 130 members. Clubs are pro- ened species. Naurzum is particularly vided with up to date literature, optical and important for Lesser White- fronted Goose field equipment and there is an ongoing pro- Anser erythropus (Vulnerable), Red- breasted gramme of training courses and field camps Goose Branta ruficollis (Endangered) and the to increase the students’ capacity for carrying Critically Endangered Siberian Crane Grus out routine systematic monitoring and leucogeranus. The Tengiz- Korglazhyn is used awareness- raising of their local IBAs. This by an estimated 2 million waterbirds during first conference highlighted the importance of migration, and is also a key site for global breeding populations of Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus (Vulnerable), Black- winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni (Near Threatened) and Sociable Vanellus gregarius (Critically Endangered). (Source: BirdLife International) Significant funding obtained for Steppe conservation At the end of October 2008, the GEF Council approved a 24 million US$ project (with 2.2 million US$ GEF funding) on steppe conser- vation and management in Kazakhstan. This Plate 1. ACBK Students’ conference participants. © project is part of the Altyn Dala initiative and Zhana Aksartova/ACBK

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this initiative for the future conservation of Salam@jssd- jo.org regarding securing permits biodiversity in Kazakhstan and its organisa- to visit the observatory. JSSD has an official tion was supported by the Van Tienhoven agreement with all parties in Aqaba to facili- Foundation and RSPB. (Contributed by Edith tate entrance procedures for visitors. Mayer & Geoff Welch) SOCOTRA (YEMEN) LEBANON World Heritage Site Report on Climate Change The Socotra archipelago was recently added The Society for Protection of Nature in to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Natural Lebanon in partnership with Indyact has Sites. Many international organisations developed a project funded by the British including BirdLife have long campaigned for Embassy. The aim of the project was to devel- the Socotra Conservation and Development op a preliminary scientific report highlighting Programme’s submission for this prestigious the expected impact of climate change on bio- designation. This designation is a culmination diversity in Lebanon, and identifying of the process which began when Socotra was indicator species for monitoring. The report declared a UNESCO Man and Biosphere ‘Effect of Climate Change on Biodiversity in reserve in 2003. Socotra is of universal impor- Lebanon’ can be downloaded from tance because of its rich and distinct flora and www.spnlb.org/publications.php. fauna and high level of endemism. 37% of Socotra’s 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile ISRAEL species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world. The site International Spring Migration also supports globally significant populations Festival of land and sea birds (192 bird species, 44 of The 3rd International Spring Migration which breed on the islands while 85 are regu- Festival will be held in Eilat from 23–30 lar migrants), including a number of March, 2009, which is the peak week of Israel’s threatened species. (Source: Birdlife spring migration. For more information about International) the festival, please check the website: www.eilatbirdsfestival.com. SYRIA IRAN Website of Palmyra Society for the Guide to Birds of Iran updated Protection of Environment and The second edition of the book Guide to the Wildlife operational birds of Iran prepared by Dr Jamshid Mansoori Palmyra is famous for its magnificent Roman has been published. The new edition is fully ruins but the area also has some of the best revised with corrections to species status and birding in the Middle East; huge numbers of distributions incorporated, species list re- migrants pass through each season and acces- ordered, new species added (new total 514), sible highlights include the relict colony of new photos and the book is lighter and small- Geronticus eremita and er than the first edition. Talila, Syria’s first nature reserve. However, as roads improve and the human population expands into the desert, there is intense pres- sure on the local wildlife, with increasing Visiting Aqaba Bird Observatory grazing, hunting and water abstraction all For those who are interested in getting more degrading the environment. As a result, con- information regarding the Aqaba Bird cerned Palmyrians formed Syria’s first local Observatory, you can refer to the Jordan conservation society, the Palmyra Society for the Society for Sustainable Development’s web- Protection of Environment and Wildlife, in site, www.jssd- jo.org, or you can email autumn 2006. It has wide- ranging objectives Aqaba@jssd- jo.org, info@jssd- jo.org or including making local people more aware of

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the environment and involving them in con- servation activities. Its website, www.palmyrasociety.org, has just been set up with support from an OSME grant; its aims are to raise international interest in the area and to develop ecotourism. Anyone visiting Syria should find information useful for their trip; it is hoped to develop a gallery of photos of local birds and a database of records from the area. Local conservationists, trained dur- ing the Bald Ibis project, can be contacted via the Palmyra Society website; they will assist visitors to see the charismatic birds of the area such as Northern Bald Ibis, Griffon Vulture Plate 3. Launch of of Syria, January 2009. Gyps fulvus, Namaqua Dove Oena capensis, Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens and 12 tect threatened birds in the country, and gives species of lark including Hoopoe Lark opportunity for the growing conservation Alaemon alaudipes. Visitors can meet Haian efforts in Syria.” Dr Akram Darwish (Vice Dukhan, secretary of the Society, at the Chair of SSCW). Palmyra Tourist Office. “This is the first comprehensive fully illus- Birds of Syria trated field guide to birds of Syria that is Arabic field guide published in local language as a critical con- published servation tool for conservation in Syria and The first bird book for Syria was launched on the whole of Arabia.” Ibrahim Khader 28 January 2009 (Plates 2 & 3). Written in (Regional Director of Middle East secretariat, Arabic, it has been jointly produced by the BirdLife International). Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife The book was funded by the RSPB (SSCW) and BirdLife International. The guide (BirdLife International Partner in the UK), covers a total of 393 species including Syrian OSME, the SGP (Small Grant Program) in Serin Serinus syriacus (Vulnerable), the Syria, Avifauna- Sweden, the World Bank and Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwing and the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Northern Bald Ibis. This important publica- Foundation. tion will be used to encourage an interest in birds in Syria and provide a reference work Captive breeding proposed for for those engaged in surveys and wildlife con- Palmyra’s Northern Bald Ibises servation programmes. A workshop on the conservation of the “The release of the ‘Birds of Syria’ field Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis has guide gives a significant rise in hopes to pro- concluded that the Palmyra birds should be supplemented with juveniles taken from the expanding semi- wild population at Birecik, Turkey. The meeting was held in September 2008 in Palmyra, Syria, near the site where a relict population of the bird was discovered in 2002. The workshop was organised by the Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife, Syrian Ministry for Agriculture and Agrarian Reform and the General Commission for the Management and Development of al- Badia, with participation and funding from BirdLife International’s Middle East Secretariat, the Royal Society for Plate 2.The newly published Arabic language field guide, Birds of Syria . the Protection of Birds (RSPB, BirdLife in the

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UK), and Germany’s Hanns Seidel the Conservation of Nature in Jordan have Foundation. been carrying out monthly counts that will The proposed captive Northern Bald Ibis provide essential baseline data. The Syrian aviary will be established within the Talila Society for the Conservation of Wildlife plans Wildlife Reserve, part of the al- Badia desertic to open the first ecotourism lodge in Syria in steppe rangelands east of Palmyra, managed 2009, in Jabbul village right on the edge of the by the Syrian government and funded by wetland. This important development will act UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and as a focus for study and conservation of the others to restore the species to ecological site and allow birders to link up with ecogu- health. The aim of the workshop was to iden- ides from the town of Jabbul. Visitors will tify the main problems affecting the Bald Ibis support the development of ecotourism in breeding colony, to propose practical solu- Syria; contact details will soon be available. tions to these problems, and, develop and endorse a national Action Plan for Northern TURKEY Bald Ibis conservation. Chris Bowden of the RSPB explained that captive breeding was a Poison blamed for deaths of last resort, as there is no guarantee of suc- Northern Bald Ibises cess following a total breeding failure at the Three Critically Endangered Northern Bald colony in the past year. “If fewer than two Ibises were found poisoned in October 2008 in pairs attempt to breed next year, we will hit a remote Jordanian desert, hundreds the emergency button. The Birecik birds are of kilometres from their breeding grounds in genetically similar, and so are the obvious Turkey. The three birds were being tracked by source for supplementation”. satellite after leaving Birecik, south- eastern Juvenile birds would be taken from Birecik Turkey, where one of only four colonies of to form a captive breeding colony, using Bald Ibis remains. The birds were found 32 adapted compounds that were previously km from the Jordanian capital, Amman. used for captive breeding of Arabian Oryx. Autopsies have ruled out electrocution and The project will draw on expertise from shooting. Scientists are investigating the around the world, including Doga Dernegi source of the poison and believe it may have (BirdLife in Turkey), and the Konrad Lorenz been laid by chicken farmers in order to kill Forschungsstelle in Grünau, Austria, where a rodents. “The deaths are heartbreaking but semi- wild colony has been established. The they may not have died in vain. They came Syrian government, local Bedouins, former from a semi- captive population and the fact hunters and others are firmly committed to that they left the colony proves they haven’t the survival of the Palmyra colony. (Source: lost their migratory instincts”, said Jose BirdLife International) Tavares, the RSPB’s (BirdLife in the UK) Country Programme Officer for Turkey. “The Developments at Sabkhat al- Jabbul birds flew via Palmyra in Syria, where a tiny Sabkhat al- Jabbul is the most important wet- colony hangs on, which means birds we land in Syria and its only Ramsar site, of great release from Turkey next year could join the importance for its birds at all times of the year. group in Syria.” Breeding species include Greater Flamingo RSCN and BirdLife in the Middle East are Phoenicopterus roseus, Iraq Babbler Turdoides cooperating with specialist labs in Jordan to altirostris and White- headed Duck Oxyura leu- identify the poison. Based on the results, they cocephala, tens of thousands of duck winter will take this up with the Ministries of the and vast numbers of waders pass through on Environment and Agriculture to try and con- migration. Though it is nominally protected, trol use of this poison. Sharif Al Jbour of there is still heavy pressure from hunting and BirdLife in the Middle East, who found the the possible construction of a chemical works dead birds, said: “We know where the adults on its north side might cause disastrous pollu- go but it’s crucial we follow the young birds’ tion. Much of the Sabkhat is inaccessible and migration route so that we can protect them in there are very few data from many areas; but winter and help them return to Turkey and in 2008 surveyors from the Royal Society for Syria to breed.” To solve the riddle, more

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Turkish birds will be tagged next year by Sooty Falcon tracked to Madagascar Czech expert Lubomir Peske. These birds will A Sooty Falcon Falco concolor has been tracked be followed to see if they join and boost the from the UAE to its wintering areas in numbers of the tiny colony in Palmyra. The Madagascar by the Environment Agency- Abu tracking project has boosted hopes for the Dhabi (EAD). This is the first satellite tracking Northern Bald Ibis in the Middle East with of Sooty Falcon anywhere in the world. EAD conservationists now more optimistic that fitted the Sooty Falcon with a satellite trans- they can re- establish a completely wild popu- mitter at its nest on islands in the Sila lation in Turkey. (Source: Birdlife peninsula, Abu Dhabi emirate. The bird International) departed the UAE in October and was record- ed flying over Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Tanzania and Mozambique before crossing into Madagascar, its final destination for the New website winter, a journey of 6700 km. Sooty Falcon has UAE birding has a new website, recently been upgraded to Near Threatened www.uaebirding.com, and includes an inter- owing to concerns that its population may be active discussion- forum, a news page with much smaller than previously thought, and in RSS feed and a new photo section. decline. A recent EAD breeding survey (Contributed by Tommy Pedersen) revealed a fall of 64% since 1994. They report- ed that the species had disappeared from Migratory birds of prey to be several former nesting locations, and only six protected known breeding pairs remain. EAD scientists New measures to protect over 70 species of believe that the loss may be a result of distur- migratory raptors from threats such as habitat bance from development and human loss and degradation, persecution, accidental presence during the nesting season. The UAE killing, and climate change were agreed in Sooty Falcon population is now critically close Abu Dhabi in October 2008 at a meeting to extinction and requires immediate conser- organised by the Environment Agency of Abu vation action. BirdLife believes this Dhabi under the United Nations Convention monitoring will provide useful information to on Migratory Species. This was the second of help conserve this species. (Source: BirdLife two meetings, the first was in October 2007 International) (see Sandgrouse 30 (1): 10). Following a joint initiative by the governments of the United OTHER NEWS Arab Emirates and United Kingdom, a Memorandum of Understanding has been Zoology in the Middle East concluded that will coordinate the protection Three recent issues of this excellent journal of migratory birds of prey and owls found in have included features on birds. Volume 43 Europe, Africa and Asia. The new measures has a paper on the status of Great Bustard Otis will ensure that signatories focus particular tarda in Kurdistan Province, Iran, based on conservation efforts on critical ‘bottleneck’ data from 1975–2005. In 2005, only 10 Great sites, including those identified as Important Bustards were recorded in the whole Bird Areas by BirdLife, where large numbers province. The authors concluded that without of raptors concentrate while on migration effective conservation measures, it seems from breeding grounds in the north to winter- inevitable that the species will become extinct ing ones in the south. Furthermore, signatory in the province, and perhaps the whole of countries will investigate and attempt to solve Iran. Another paper analyses feeding special- problems likely to be caused by human activ- ization of urban Long- eared Owls Asio otus in ities, and assist the recovery and , Israel. 13 species of bird were the re- introduction of bird populations where most common prey group with House they have declined. (Source: BirdLife Sparrows Passer domesticus and Blackcaps International) Sylvia atricapilla being the most frequent prey species. Another paper reports on the feeding ecology and behaviour of Northern Bald

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Ibises in Syria. Taking data from four breed- verlag.de. Copies are also available from ing seasons, 2002–2004 and 2006, the home OSME Sales. (Contributed by Keith Betton) range used by the birds was estimated to be up to c450 km². In particular, the ibises were The Phoenix found to feed on larvae of Eastern Spadefoot The latest issue (number 25, January 2009) Toads, together with ground beetles and runs to 24 pages and includes articles on a grasshoppers. A ground mantis and an iso- wide variety of topics. Suspicions that pod, as well as lizards, may possibly be Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis is breeding important components of the diet. in northern Oman are discussed following Volume 44 includes a paper on the breed- observations around Jebel al Akhdar in 2008. ing status of the Red- billed Tropicbird There is an update on the reintroduction of Phaethon aethereus on Jarnein island in Abu Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii to Dhabi emirate. In March 2007, extensive Abu Dhabi and also a Sooty Falcon survey in searches and mapping of tropicbird nests Oman in 2008. Accidental electrocutions of were carried out and 217 nests were recorded. birds in Saudi Arabia are summarised as well. Nearly 40% were with grown- up chicks while An interesting assessment is made of the final nearly 28% had adult birds, either incubating history of the last Arabian Ostrich with a or tending downy chicks. Another paper dis- review of some questionable records. As cusses food diversity and niche- overlap of always there is an update on the Arabian sympatric tits in the Hyrcanian plain forests in Breeding Bird Atlas, and there are reviews of Iran. Gizzard contents of 241 specimens of various publications on the region and short Great Parus major, Blue Cyanistes caeruleus and notes on interesting sightings, including Coal Tits Periparus ater were collected so that breeding of Spanish Sparrows Passer hispan- the percentages of grit, plants and iolensis in Bahrain. materials could be estimated and the plant One issue of Phoenix is published each and invertebrate species consumed identified. year. The subscription costs £25 for five issues The re- introduction of the Ostrich Struthio and should be payable to ABBA/Phoenix at camelus in Mahazat as- Sayd Protected Area in the following address: M C Jennings, Warners central Saudi Arabia is also reported. As the Farm House, Warners Drove, Somersham, syriacus race became extinct in the wild during Cambridgeshire PE28 3WD, United the mid-20th century, the most closely related Kingdom. (Contributed by Keith Betton) subspecies, camelus, was chosen for the rein- troduction. In 1988/9 a few individuals were Wildlife Middle East— new issue obtained from Sudan from a private collec- The latest issue of Wildlife Middle East was tion, and, in 1994, a few birds were published in June 2008 and can be down- translocated into a 25 ha fenced enclosure. loaded from www.wmenews.com. The The estimated population in Mahazat as- Sayd editors are keen to encourage contributions is now between 125 and 150 individuals. from the Middle East, particularly Iran, Syria, Volume 45 includes details of the first sur- Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey, , Kuwait, vey of Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii colonies Iraq and Oman, for future issues. Please con- at Kleidhes islands, Cyprus. Breeding num- tact the editors with any ideas that you may bers were assessed during spring 2007. The have ([email protected]). colony on Kasteletta was small, holding six nests, and was abandoned early probably Central Asia Important Bird Area because of the presence of a much larger inventories published Yellow- legged Gull Larus michahellis colony. After three years of intensive research, field- The colony on Zinaritou had 43 nests and a work, data collation and analysis, the first high breeding success. Another paper reviews national IBA inventories for Kazakhstan (Plate year- to- year variation in clutch size and 4), Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were breeding success of Little Egrets Egretta launched at BirdLife International’s Global garzetta at lake Poyrazlar in north- west Turkey Partnership Meeting in Buenos Aires, between 2002–2005. Further details of Zoology Argentina, in September 2008 (Plate 5). in the Middle East are at www. kasparek- Together the inventories, published in both

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ning long term protection of the rich biodiver- sity of the region. Copies of the inventories are available from the Natural History Book Service, www.nhbs.com. (Contributed by Geoff Welch) The Phoenix: broader scope With the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Arabia (http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/arabian.birds) effectively completed, the scope of Phoenix is to be broadened to accommodate papers on, for example, migration, notes on winter visi- tors or other non breeding groups, conservation or wider issues relevant to Arabian ornithology. News on breeding birds and their habitats is still welcomed. Contributions should be sent to the editor, Mike Jennings, at [email protected]. Welcome AviCA The worldwide database for bird observa- tions, www.worldbirds.org, developed by BirdLife International and the RSPB, has recently been extended to include Central Plate 4. The first national IBA inventory for Kazakhstan, Asia. It is now possible to collect and analyse Important Bird Areas in Kazakhstan. observations on frequency, distribution and the migration of birds and to look at long- term changes at the national, regional and international scale. AviCA can be accessed centrally via www.worldbirds.org/centralasia or separately for each country: www.avica.uz (Uzbekistan) www. avi- ca.org (Turkmenistan) www.worldbirds.org/v3/centralasia.php?c=1 (Kazakhstan, soon www.avica.kz) www.worldbirds.org/v3/centralasia.php?c=2 (Kyrgyzstan) Plate 5. Central Asia IBA inventories launch in www.worldbirds.org/v3/centralasia.php?c=3 Argentina, September 2008. From left to right, Vitaliy (Tajikistan). Gromov (Director ACBK), Mike Rands (Director and Chief Executive, BirdLife International), Eldar Rustamov The AviCA database currently contains (IBA Coordinator, Turkmenistan), Sergey Sklyarenko (IBA 241 species that have been observed during 68 Coordinator, Kazakhstan) and Roman Kashkarov (IBA expeditions in Central Asia and has 42 regis- Michael Brombacher Coordinator, Uzbekistan). © tered users who have reported 1160 observations. So if you have observations English and Russian, document 219 sites of from Central Asia, don’t leave them languish- international importance: 121 in Kazakhstan, ing in your notebook, sign up, log on and 48 in Uzbekistan and 50 in Turkmenistan. make a valuable contribution to nature con- Publication of these inventories has filled an servation. (Contributed by Anna Ten & Jens important gap in BirdLife’s global network of Wunderlich, Uzbekistan IBA Project) IBAs. As well as providing information on the conservation importance of the sites, the inventories provide a valuable tool for plan-

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