INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIRD PRESERVATION/ INTERNATIONAL WATERFOWL AND WETLANDS RESEARCH BUREAU/ INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST GROUP ON STORKS, IBISES AND SPOONBILLS NEWSLETIER Volume 4, Number 1 May, 1991 LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS conservation of the Waldrapp Ibis must be assuring the survival of the remaining wild Important developments continue for the population, despite the immense political, legal conservation of Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills. We and socio-economic problems encountered so are very pleased with the level of far. The creation and long-term management of communication and the sharing of information a self-sustaining captive population should within the group. This is making us increasingly assured. effective in our efforts. The June meeting will be 1mportant. With this newsletter, we will begin Plans to organize a Populat1on V1abil1ty Analysis producing two newsletters a year. We had for this species are forthcoming The goals are expected that if we sent out two newsletters, to bring together all the available mformation, each would be a little slimmer. But there seems evaluate risks of extinction, discuss alternative to be as much news as ever. We hope that this scenarios and organize actions to reduce the risk will increase our commun1cation in a timely of extinction. fashion. 2. Two large projects to protect the Greater A few developments should be Adjutant Stork Leptoptilos dubius are getting highlighted: started in India. A nation-wide study will be carried out under Asad Rahmani of the Bombay 1. A great deal of attention has surrounded the Natural History Society. A more localized effort Waldrapp Ibis Geronticus eremita which is now is being carried out by P.C. Bhattacharjee and P. all but extinct in Turkey and doing poorly in Saikia in Assam where most birds occur. This Morocco (see article in this newsletter), while involves a large public education effort which the species has reproduced well in captivity. A has already had strong positive effects. June meeting is planned to bring together all interested parties to discuss strategies for wild 3. A conference to discuss conservation of storks and captive birds. In preparation, a few of the and cranes in the Soviet Far East and China will key people gathered for an informal discussion be hosted by the Soviet Union at the Chingansky on 20 March, 1991 hosted by Dr. Christian Natural Reserve in 1992. This will increase the Schmidt of Zurich Zoo. Specialists represented at communication and cooperation among this meeting included Prof. Ellen Th'aler, Karin researchers and conservationists in preserving Pegararo, Udo Hirsch, Cindy Tomlinson and Ralf the species in these areas. Massanes. The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust was represented by Dr. David Waugh; Koen 4. While we have tried to facilitate conservation Brouwer represented the ICBP!IWRB Specialist efforts for the most endangered of the storks, Group. ibises and spoonbills, there are many species that deserve more attention. Th1s includes SIS (and its sponsoring organizations) species of ibis that are poorly understood and believes that highest priority for the whose status is almost unknown. With1n the hope to increase our attention to these species. Table 1. Numbers of European Wh1te Stork nests 1n four We hope to evaluate their situation and to regions of the Araks Valley in the Armenran Republ1c. facilitate protective measures as needed. Reg1on 1970 1974 1978 1981 1986 1988 5. Finally, the SIS Bibliography will shortly be sent to the printer. We continue to add to the Hoktembnan 3 13 15 15 19 25 computer file and will continue to need copies of your articles. We will let you know as the Echm1adzin 0 2 5 11 16 27 method of distributing the bibliography is worked out. Masis 7 17 22 53 62 65 As you become aware of conservation Arazdaian 0 0 18 27 33 39 problems, please let us know. In the ways that are available to us, we would like to help your TOTAL 10 32 60 106 130 156 conservation efforts. -- Malcolm C. Coulter, Koen Brouwer on telegraph poles and on iron and concrete supports of high voltage wires, 179 (29%.) were EUROPEAN WHITE STORKS AND on traditional structures (buildings, churches, OTHER CICONIIFORMES IN THE trees), and 111 (18%) were on modern buildings. ARMENIAN REPUBLIC Large colonies, up to 70 nests, are found at railroad stations. The large and massive nests The European White Stork Ciconia ciconia are constructed from dead grape vines and also population in the Armenian Republic has many man-made items: paper, cellophane, increased over the last 20 years. In 1988, the rubber, animal skins, wire, etc. total population in Armenia was estimated at 668 pairs. Storks are found in many parts of the The storks eat primarily aquatic prey: fish country. In the higher regions, small numbers of (Carassices carassices, Cyprinus carpio, Rutilus pairs breed. In the Edheknadzors region of the rutilus), amphibians (Rana ridibunda, Hyla eastern Araks River valley (above 1000 m), eight arborea) and reptiles (Tatrix natrix, Natris nests were found; and in the high regions of the tesselata). In addition, large numbers of insects north (above 2000 m) 25 nests were counted in (Gryl/otolpa gryl/otolp2) have been regurgitated the village of Kalinio and four in the village of by storks chicks in April. Ghukasian. But the most important area for White Storks is the Araks River Valley, in areas The storks have few natural enemies and that border Turkey. are legally protected from hunting or destruction of their nests. Perhaps most In six regions of this valley (Araks, Ararat, important, the birds are highly valued for Masis, Artasbiat, Echmiadzin and bringing happiness by the Armenian people Hoktemberian), 631 nests were counted. who ensure that they are protected. However, Although this is an arid region, it has been there have been cases of young found dead in developed for agriculture and aquaculture. the nests. These chicks may have died from Eighty percent of the area is cultivated with pesticide poisoning. grapes and other fruit, and there are 2500 ha of artificial ponds used for fish culture. The storks Other members of the Ciconiiformes are live well in association with the human less common. The Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus development. In four regions of the Araks valley, is found in the Araks River valley and in Sedan they have increased from 10 pairs in 1970 to 156 Lake. In the Araks valley, they nest in mixed pairs in 1988 (Table 1). colonies with Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides and Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, but not The storks formerly built their nests in more than five to eight pairs of ibises per colony. trees, on buildings and on the cupolas of the The Eurasian White Spoonbill Platalea churches. With recent development in the area, leucorodia are also found in small numbers in storks are increasingly using the modern the Araks valley and on Lake Sedan. structures. Among 616 nests, 326 (53%) were 2 Conservation measures for Jhanjimukh area, 11 were observed on 1 5 the European White Stork January, 1990; five were observed on the same day in Missamari. In order to ensure adequate nesting places for the storks, the establishment of Threats nesting platforms on the corners of sloping roofs is recommended. These should be constructed Habitat alteration and destruction, in such a way that they do not impede the flow hunting and extensive fishing in the wetlands of water from the rooves. A few of these are the major factors that have led to decline of platforms have already been erected and proven ibises and spoonbills. Most of the wetlands have successful. become shallower and many of the permanent wetlands have become temporary wetlands. lt will also be important to establish a Bird The grasses and aquatic weeds have increased, Preserve for the protection of storks and other reducing the feeding areas. The increase of waterbirds away from the artificial fish-breeding grasses and aquatic weeds have drastically ponds. The most promising area for the preserve reduced the feeding areas. The nesting and is the south of the Ararat Valley in the Araks roosting trees within the wetlands are also River Valley System, on the border with Turkey. increasingly being lost. In addition the In this area there are 1500 ha of ponds that construction of embankments along rivers for could become a promising preserve. protection against flooding has been detrimental to permanent wetlands. --M. S. Adamian The meat of ibises is preferred above that STATUS OF IBISES AND of other animals, and these birds are sought by SPOONBILLS IN ASSAM hunters over other species. Three species of ibises and one species of Conservation measures spoonbill (Family Threskiornithidae) are found in India. These are the White Ibis Threskornis As of 1990, no conservation measures aethiopica, Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa, Glossy have been implemented for these species Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and the Eurasian White Within 30 years three of the four species have Spoonbill Platalea leucorodi~. All have been been eliminated from the region, and the Glossy recorded in Assam. The first two species are Ibis is presently at great risk. Immediate resident and breed in Assam; the populations of protection, scientific investigations and an the other two species include residents and non­ increase in public awareness of the needs for breeding birds from outside the region. From conserving these species are needed. 1986 through 1990 we surveyed wading birds in Assam. We covered the wetland sanctuaries and The management practices in sanctuaries national parks as well as all the wetlands outside and national parks have neglected wetland birds the natural reserves. while the rich mammalian fauna have received have received a great deal of attention and We recorded only Glossy Ibises among the concern from the authorities.