The Babbler 14

The Babbler June, 2005 Number 14

* Welcome

Jonathan C. Eames

* Features

The State of Nepal's birds The grubby, dog-eared books that built a conservation movement

* Regional news 1.

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BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Office signs MoU with the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia BirdLife International greets Vietnam’s Prime Minister at the National Environmental Congress, Hanoi Vietnam's national parks and nature reserves receive ambitious new support BirdLife supports protected area financial sustainability initiative Black-faced Spoonbill symposium in Seoul, South Korea

* Rarest of the rare

Grey-crowned Crocias

* Project updates Cambodia activities Vietnam activities Myanmar activities

* Spotlight Organization Ornithological Society of Vietnam

* Publications Chim Viet Nam

* Book reviews

Conservation of Primates in Vietnam

* Staff news * From the Archives BirdLife International in Indochina #4/209, Doi Can, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: + 84 4 722 3864 Fax: + 84 4 722 3835 Email: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn www.birdlifeindochina.org The Babbler is compiled and edited by Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh. If you have any contribution or suggestion for the next issue, please contact Hanh@birdlife.netnam.vn by 1st September.

BirdLife International in Indochina Welcome to issue 14 of The Babbler. This past quarter has been one for consolidation of activities across our programme and developments in this quarter have been somewhat mixed.

In Myanmar we have been going through a difficult patch as regards getting the Lenya National Park gazetted. The efforts of my colleagues in Yangon have focused on trying to get the establishment of the national park back on the government agenda. My colleagues have recently traveled to Myeik to meet high ranking government officials and we are exploring other avenues of communication, to try and reach the highest levels of government. As a result we have elected not to try and implement any further conservation activities on the ground during this past dry season until we have reaffirmed clear support from the highest levels. I would like to stress that we see this as merely a setback and I am sure there will be many more along the way until we have and expanded Lenya National Park established. Convincing any government in the region that it should forego the opportunity of clearing the forest and planting oil palm is very difficult. BirdLife Indonesia continues its struggle to achieve similar lowland forest conservation goals.

There has been mixed news too regarding the final approvals and implementation of the CEPF profile for the Indochina region. It seems a new donor has now been identified but there is also a suggestion that there will be a new review process initiated which may effect when and how the fund comes on line for this region.

Happily I can now report that the project agreement with the World Bank for the medium-sized GEF project for Chu Yang Sin National Park has now been signed and implementation will begin in the next quarter.

From an ornithological perspective the most interesting development of the last quarter is that Dr Martin Gilbert from WCS and colleagues have now affixed three satellite transmitters to vultures in Cambodia and we report on this in further detail inside. We are also proud to announce that we are the first recipients of a World Bank field guide grant, to have published a second printing with funds raised from the sales from the first print-run.

Jonathan C. Eames Programme Manager BirdLife International in Indochina

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Source: World Birdwatch, March 2005

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Source: World Birdwatch, March 2005

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Regional news BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Office signs MoU with the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia The recent Memorandum of Understanding signing between the BirdLife International - Cambodia Programme Office and the Ministry of Environment was done on May 4, 2005 and represents the formal collaboration between BirdLife International and the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia.

This relationship paves the way for joint implementation of conservation activities in any of the country's formal protected areas which fall under the management responsibility of the Department of Nature Conservation and Protection under the Ministry of Environment.

Photo and text by Sean C. Austin BirdLife International in Indochina - Cambodia Programme

BirdLife International greets Vietnam’s Prime Minister at the National Environmental Congress, Hanoi

BirdLife staff greet the Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mai Ai Truc. Photo: Nguyen Duc Tu

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Vietnamʹs National Parks and Nature Reserves Receive Ambitious New Support On 10 May the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development launched an ambitious new initiative to help conserve Vietnam’s threatened natural forests and biodiversity. The launch of the Vietnam Conservation Fund (VCF) signals a new approach to forest biodiversity conservation in Vietnam. The VCF will provide small grants and technical support for up to 50 high priority national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam. The focus of support will be on strengthening protected area management boards and supporting greater involvement of local people in protected areas planning and management – key forest policy objectives in Vietnam.

The VCF is being supported with major grants from the Royal Netherlands Government (US$ 6 million) through the Trust Fund for Forestry (TFF) and the Global Environment Facility (US$ 9 million) and will be implemented by Forest Protection Department, as part of an overall World Bank supported project, Forest Sector Development Project (FSDP).

In launching the Fund, Mr Ha Cong Tuan, Director of MARD’s Forest protection Department said: “The VCF represents a vital new opportunity to strengthen the management of Vietnam’s Special Use Forests and to enable forest protection and management board staff at the site level to work more effectively with local people to conserve our forests. We welcome the support of the Global Environment Facility, the Netherlands Government and World Bank. ” Mr Klaus Rohland, the World Bank country director said that “This is the latest and most ambitious effort to stem the continuing degradation of natural forests and the gradual loss of Vietnam’s rich biodiversity heritage. Most of Vietnam’s protected areas are located in the uplands in Vietnam, where poverty is often most prevalent and where forests can play an important part in local livelihoods. The World Bank believes that Vietnam’s protected areas can only be managed effectively with the active participation of local people and we are therefore pleased to support this ambitious new initiative” From the World Bank in Hanoi - May 10, 2005

BirdLife supports protected area financial sustainability initiative The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently developing a full-sized Global Environment Facility (GEF) project entitled Financial Sustainability for National Systems of Protected Areas. This project will take an integrated approach to enhancing financial sustainability for protected areas, linking "bottom up" site-based interventions (such as aligning conservation goals and spending priorities; defining cost-effective management approaches; and developing innovative funding sources) with "top down" national-level regulatory and institutional strengthening. To accomplish this, the project will take a multi-sector approach, working with an appropriate array of government agencies and private sector partners whose decisions and activities influence the finances of protected areas.

With a number of pioneering financing initiatives for protected areas, such as the Vietnam Conservation Fund, coupled with a high potential for hydropower and tourism development, Vietnam presents many opportunities to develop innovative approaches to sustainable protected area financing. Consequently, Vietnam has been selected as one of six countries to participate in this project, and BirdLife International has been invited to facilitate project preparation activities in the country.

Activities completed to date include a review of protected area financing in Vietnam, which identified key constraints and opportunities. This review drew heavily on the detailed financing studies conducted by IUCN and others under the Vietnam PARC Project. BirdLife will continue to facilitate project design during the second half of 2005, culminating in a national workshop, where stakeholders will have an opportunity to review and comment on proposed project interventions for Vietnam.

Through supporting the preparation of this project, BirdLife hopes to contribute to the financial sustainability of Vietnam’s protected area system, and maintain its irreplaceable biodiversity values.

Text by Jack Tordoff - BirdLife International in Indochina

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Black‐faced Spoonbill symposium in Seoul, South Korea From 30 May to 6 June 2005, Nguyen Duc Tu participated in the 2005 International Symposium on the Black-faced Spoonbill: last decade and future decade in Seoul, South Korea.

Conservationists from the range states including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Mainland China, and Japan, and the IUCN/BirdLife Species Specialist Group all participated.

Discussion at the two day symposium focused on research, international cooperation and the role of community participation in the conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill.

Although the fact that the total number of Black-faced Spoonbill seems to have gradually increased in recent years, the conservation of this species in all range states still faces a number of challenges, especially habitat loss due to large scale developments in its breeding, passage and wintering ranges. In the symposium, Nguyen Duc Tu gave a presentation on "Awareness and community issues for Black-faced Spoonbill conservation in Vietnam" that highlighted the obstacles to the conservation of this species in Vietnam.

The delegates were also invited to take part to an international joint survey of Udo Island and the Han River tidal flats inside the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, and Sokdo and Bido Islets off the Han River Estuary.

Adult black-faced spoonbills and their chicks at Sokdo islet. Photo: Nguyen Duc Tu

Photo and text by Nguyen Duc Tu, BirdLife International in Indochina - Vietnam Programme

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Rarest of the rare

EN - Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis 2004 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Endangered 2004 IUCN Red List justification This species is recently known from only three sites and is inferred to have a very small, declining range as a result of the destruction and degradation of its montane evergreen forest habitat. It therefore qualifies as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family TIMALIINAE Species name author Gyldenstolpe, 1939 Taxonomic sources Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993) Identification 22 cm. Slim babbler with slaty-grey crown, blackish mask and boldly blackish-streaked flanks. Dull rufous upperparts with blackish-brown streaks and faint, pale shaft streaks on crown, nape and mask. White rest of underparts.

Mostly slaty-grey, white-tipped tail, mostly grey greater coverts and secondaries and white-fringed, blackish primaries.

Juvenile has browner crown with broader buffish streaks, duller head-sides, smaller flank-streaks, browner greater coverts and secondaries and narrower, white tail feather tips. Voice Song is loud wip'ip'ip-wiu-wiu-wiu-wiu-wiu-wiu-wiu (usually 7-8 wiu notes). Hints Listen for song in montane forest.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

350 km2

Yes

Range & population Crocias langbianis is endemic to the Da Lat plateau, southern Vietnam, where it is known from the Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces. Previously known from only five specimens collected at two localities in 1938-1939, it was rediscovered 1994

by Jonathan C. Eames and Nguyen Cu. It appears to be very locally distributed and is considered fairly common only at Chu Yang Sin National Park, one of three sites with recent records.

Grey-crowned Crocias near Cam My, Da Lat. Photo: Richard C. Craik Ecology It is resident in closed-canopy, tropical montane evergreen forest from 900-1,700 m (most recent observations come from a narrow altitudinal band from 910-1,130 m). Generally encountered in singles, pairs, and occasionally small groups of up to five, it is arboreal and forages with mixed-species flocks for invertebrates, particularly caterpillars, primarily in the outer canopy of broadleaved evergreen trees.

Threats A government resettlement programme has greatly increased human pressure on the Da Lat plateau EBA, exacerbating problems of forest degradation and fragmentation through logging, shifting agriculture, coffee plantation, fuelwood-collection and charcoal production. Frequent use of fire to clear land for cultivation prevents evergreen forest regeneration and promotes unsuitable fire-climax pine-dominated woodland. These activities threaten all known sites for the species. On Mount Lang Bian all land below 1,500 m is now logged or under cultivation. At Chu Yang Sin National Park, a road has been constructed that virtually reaches the 900 m contour.

Conservation measures underway It occurs in one protected area, Chu Yang Sin National Park, which was included in the list of protected areas endorsed by the Government of Vietnam for establishment in 1986. The final boundaries of the

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protected area have yet to be been agreed. However, this site is currently under less pressure from logging and hunting than most other areas on the Da Lat plateau. BirdLife will shortly begin a major new project at this site.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further surveys in areas likely to support the species. Gazette an extension to, and initiate management activities in, Chu Yang Sin National Park. Establish further protected areas containing populations of the species. Minimize further immigration into Lac and Krong Bong districts. Promote sustainable management of charcoal production on Mount t Lang Bian and Ho Tuyen Lam and promote ecotourism there.

Project updates BirdLife Cambodia Wetland IBA Management and Conservation IBA management and conservation The implementation of management and conservation activities at wetland IBAs in southern Cambodia have been the responsibility of Seng Kim Hout, BirdLife Project Officer and Tan Thara, Assistant BirdLife Project Officer. Both officers were assigned in 2003 by the Forestry Administration (FA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to collaborate with the BirdLife International Cambodia Programme Office on IBA conservation activities. The BirdLife Programme is implementing its country-wide activities in five priority IBAs with Site Support Groups (SSG) established to initiate to work at the site level. These SSGs are comprised of government technical officers (forestry and fisheries), heads of communes and villages, local police, soldiers, and villagers.

IBA conservation work is underway at the following sites: Boeung Prek Lapouv area (IBA KH039, 10,787 ha) in Borey Chulsa and Koh Andeth districts of Takeo province.

Kampong Trach area (IBA KH040, 1,108 ha) in Kampong Trach district of Kampot province.

Stung/Chi Kreng/Kampong Svay (IBA KH016, 53,543 ha) in Stung, and Kampong Svay districts of Kampong Thom province and Chi Kreng district of Siem Reap province.

Western Siem Pang area (IBA KH008, 138,137 ha) in Siem Pang district, Stung Treng province.

Sekong River (IBA KH009, 14,116 ha) in Siem Pang and Sesan districts, Stung Treng province.

Western Siem Pang IBA KH008 Sekong River IBA KH009

Stung Chikreng IBA KH016

Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA KH039

Kampong Trach IBA KH040

Map showing IBA representation and conservation activities in Cambodia.

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14 BirdLife International in Indochina Activity Summary Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA (KH039) Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA is a seasonally inundated wetland in south east Cambodia which is arguably the second most important non-breeding site for the Eastern Sarus Crane (Grus antigone sharpii). This wetland area also supports a wide diversity of other bird species. To date 58 bird species have been recorded from Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA. Due to the international importance of this site it was proposed by the Forestry Administration and BirdLife in 2002 as a Sarus Crane Conservation Area. It is anticipated that formal recognition will be achieved by end 2005.

The Sarus Cranes visit this area during the dry season (December-April/May) whereas during remaining rainy months, the Cranes fly north to breed in the dry forest areas. Some seasons Sarus Cranes migrate away from Boeung Prek Lapouv earlier or later depending on the water depth and supply of suitable food.

The annual peak number of Sarus Cranes is in December-January. During the 2004-2005 feeding season, the number of Sarus Crane counted was 235 birds in November, 219 birds in December, and 254 birds in January. The actual number was likely higher than the numbers observed because some Sarus Cranes often feed behind the tall grasses and scrub and could not be sighted. The Cranes feed in many scattered flocks when water level is high during November-January.

When water concentrates in low-lying areas from the end of January, Sarus Cranes feed in congregations in areas dominated by Water Lily. Roots of Water Lily and Chinese Water Chestnut are the main food source of Sarus Cranes in this area. It is important to note that during 2004-2005 feeding season many juvenile Sarus Cranes were observed feeding with adults and the a record 35 Glossy Ibises was also sighted.

Ten Site Support Group members were recruited in early 2003 by the BirdLife International Cambodia Programme to work in this IBA. These local stakeholders play an important role in education and awareness raising activities, illegal activity prevention, and wildlife recording and monitoring, particularly for bird diversity.

Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA in the wet and dry seasons. Photo: Seng Kim Hout

Due to the internationally important non-breeding population of Sarus Cranes at Boeung Prek Lapouv, the Forestry Administration (FA) proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in 2002 that this site be protected as a Sarus Crane Conservation Area. The proposal is now under consideration in MAFF. As part of the review process, a committee from various institutions including the FA, Fisheries Department, Agricultural Extension Department, Agronomy and Land Improvement Department, Statistics and International Cooperation Department and the Takeo Provincial Agricultural Department visited the area in January 2004 to evaluate and assess the socioeconomic conditions in the area. Further to this, in March 2005, His Excellency Lim Sokun, MAFF Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Men Phymean, Director of the Wildlife Protection Office, and Seng Kim Hout, BirdLife counterpart conducted an additional site visit to meet with provincial and district officials to elicit comments, recommendations, and local support regarding the protected area proposal.

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15 BirdLife International in Indochina During this lengthy evaluation and protected area review process, additional threats have been occurring in Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA such as continued land encroachment into the area for dry season rice fields and canal digging to control water resources. In May 2005, Mr. Nuon Vanhan, Chey Chouk Commune Chief (and current SSG member), decided to dig a new canal to the formerly abandoned Dey Leuk village in the center of the IBA. His purpose was to bring water to recent settlers (22 houses reconstructed in early May 2005) in this village in order to encourage continued resettlement and develop the capacity for cultivating dry season rice fields. His canal digging activity was stopped by the other SSG members. After discussion and consultation, it was decided not to renew the contract of Mr. Nuon Vanhan as an example to other SSG members and local community members.

Site Support Groups in Boeung Prek Lapouv continue to work in close collaboration with Fisheries Officers based in Borey Chulsar district and officials at the provincial level to mitigate these on-going threats, however, there is great pressure on the area's resources. The proposal of a formally protected Sarus Crane Conservation Area is in progress with a final signature and approval by the Prime Minister Hun Sen expected by end 2005.

Kampong Trach IBA (KH040) This IBA, perhaps the next most important Crane area, is located only 30 km from Boeung Prek Lapouv and exists under very similar conditions. It is a seasonally inundated wetland with scattered Melaleuca scrub, and is home to an annual dry season (October-May) non-breeding population of Sarus Cranes. Cranes are the most significant and recognized species in this area. During national surveys to identify Cambodia's IBAs, 48 Sarus Cranes were sighted here. In March 2004, BirdLife staff counted counted 126 Sarus Cranes feeding and roosting near the army border checkpoint where the SSG members are based.

Eight Site Support Group members were selected from local communities to work toward protecting this area and involving the greater participation in bird and site conservation efforts. These individuals represent local communities, local government and administration, and conservation officers from the Cambodia Programme Office.

Sarus Cranes dispersing in Anlung Prinh IBA. Photo: Seng Kim Hout

Stung Chikreng IBA (KH016) in Siem Reap province This IBA is covered by a semi-natural grassland within the Tonle Sap inundation zone. In the wet season, farmers produce deepwater rice in most parts of the IBAs and in the dry season this area generates a mosaic of tall and short grasses mixed with some patchy and dense scrub. The seasonally inundated grasslands of this IBA hold some of the highest populations of breeding Bengal Floricans globally. Moreover, this IBA provides feeding areas for a number of

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16 BirdLife International in Indochina other large waterbirds dispersing from Tonle Sap breeding colonies, including Painted Storks, Black-headed Ibises, Lesser and Greater Adjutants, Spot-billed Pelicans, and Asian Openbills. Sarus Cranes are also present in this area in small scattered flocks during the dry season.

After a stakeholder workshop was held in Siem Reap provincial town to inform and educate lcoal authorities about BirdLife International and it's proposed conservation efforts, SSGs were selected and established to undertake wider site management activities such as biodiversity monitoring, conservation awareness raising, illegal activity prevention, and environmental education (especially to school children). During a recent field survey in January 2005, around 300 Painted Storks were recorded in Chikreng IBA in Siem Riep province. Furthermore, SSG members said that many Spotbilled Pelicans roost on palm trees which are not far away from the villages. SSG members conducted a field trip in December 2004 and observed a wide diversity of globally threatened and near-threatened waterbird species including 74 Sarus Cranes, 515 Painted Storks, 176 Spot-billed Pelicans and 289 Black-headed Ibises.

Painted Storks feeding in Chikreng IBA. Photo: Seng Kim Hout

Conservation education, awareness raising, and illegal activity prevention Education and awareness raising activities have been conducted by SSG members including the commune and village heads and the patrol teams in nearby communities. The emphasis is on conservation knowledge, biological diversity, environmental protection, and other fundamental issues such as communal development and health and food security.

BirdLife staff have also conducted these activities at the IBAs through the distribution of posters, leaflets, writing books, and information signboards. In December 2004, BirdLife staff introduced a conservation programme in local schools to raise awareness with children. The project reached 64 6th graders (30 girls) and 57 5th graders (29 girls) in local schools in and around several of the wetland IBAs. A number of gifts were provided to those students showing particular interest and enthusiasm.

In addition to bird surveys and monitoring, the prevention of illegal and environmentally harmful activities has been conducted by members of the IBA Site Support Groups. Hunting, trapping, and poisoning of birds and use of illegal fishing gear has declined noticeably since the initiation of conservation activities in these IBAs. Expansion of rice fields and land encroachment are issues which often occur in these IBAs given that there is still virtually no proper land management planning. It is therefore critical that whenever possible, these priority IBAs become designated as formal protected areas and receive adequate support for site protection and management.

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Education and awareness raising related to wildlife conservation and protection. Activities conducted with school children in Chey Chouk commune, Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA.

Awareness raising on wildlife conservation and protection, conducted with school children in Kampong Krasaing commune, Stung Chikreng IBA

Awareness raising activities conducted with school children in Kampong Trach district, Kampot province

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18 BirdLife International in Indochina Activities at the BirdLife Office In addition to working in the field, a lot of activities have been occurring in the central Phnom Penh office to support IBAs management and conservation and ensure that site implementation is successful. This work includes the preparation of a one-year workplan for each IBA, education posters and leaflets; conservation signboards, children's writing books and T-shirts, and monthly reports and Babbler articles, etc.

Paintings by Mr. Tan Thara for conservation T-shirts and information brochures

Writing book covers for distribution in schools and in local communities

Leaflets produced from conservation signboards posted at Boeung Prek Lapouv IBA

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19 BirdLife International in Indochina Future objectives for wetland IBA conservation at the Cambodia Programme Office • Promote Boueng Prek Lapouv IBA to be formally designated as a Sarus Crane Conservation Area by Prime Ministerial Sub-decree.

• Initiate pilot activities that focus on eco-tourism opportunities at Beoung Prek Lapouv • Conduct continued education and awareness raising activities in selected IBAs • Work with local communities to remove the invasive Mimosa pigra plant species in Boeung Prek Lapouv and Anlung Prinh IBAs. • Continue to implement site management activities (patrols, law enforcement, wildlife monitoring, etc.) in the selected IBAs • Undertake socio-economic surveys in Kampong Trach IBA and explore the possibility of proposing this area as an adjacent Sarus Crane Conservation area Photo and text by Mr. Seng Kim Hout - BirdLife International Cambodia Programme BirdLife Activities in Cambodia are currently supported by Danida through the Royal Danish Embassy, Phnom Penh, and The John D and Catherin T MacArthur Foundation.

Project launch: Integrating watershed and biodiversity management in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak province, Vietnam

Project launch meeting. Photo: Dang Ng. Hong Hanh

This five-year GEF/WB-funded project is executed by the BirdLife in collaboration with Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, with the goal of conserving biodiversity attributes of Chu Yang Sin National Park in the long term within a wider framework of integrated watershed and biodiversity management. The total GEF grant is USD 973,000. Following the long-waited approval by the Prime Minister, the project launch meeting was held at the World Bank, Hanoi on May 31, 2005 with the participation of representatives of relevant parties, including World Bank, Da Lak Provincial People's Committee, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak, Department of Planning and Investment of Dak Lak, Chu Yang Sin National Park and BirdLife International (the grant recipient).

Photo on the left: Jonathan C. Eames, Representative and Programme Manager, BirdLife International in Indochina and Rakesh Nangia, World Bank Acting Country Director signing the agreement.

Photo on the right: Phillip Brylski, World Bank Country Section Coordinator, Environment and Social Development and Pham Tuan Anh, Vietnam Programme Manager, BirdLife International in Indochina at the agreement signing ceremony.

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Hon Ba Nature Reserve lies within Da Lat Plateau EBA Birds recorded at Hon Ba on 10 June 2005

A short visit to Hon Ba on 10 June by Richard Craik and Jonathan Eames turned up some familiar and distinctive bird species and sub-species of the Dalat Plateau Endemic Bird Area.

Hon Ba proposed nature reserve in Khanh Hoa Province is centred on a ridge of mountains extending eastwards from the southern Annamite chain, 60 km from the popular beach resort of Nha Trang. Hon Ba was proposed as a nature reserve following a biodiversity survey by the Vietnam-Russian Tropical Centre in 2003. The site supports a large area of undisturbed primary forest which includes the conifer Fokienia hodginsii, and several endemic species of butterfly and a new species of lizard were discovered by the joint Vietnamese-Russian team.

A newly surfaced road has recently been completed to the top of Hon Ba mountain with a view to opening the area to tourism. A two-storey wooden house has been constructed on the foundations of a former field research station once used by the celebrated Dr Alexander Yersin, who was stationed at the Nha Trang’s Pasteur Institute before the Second World War. The surfaced road ends abruptly in front of the wooden house and from here a well-defined trail leads into the forest and along the ridge.

At around 1,500 metres above sea-level, Hon Ba is at the same altitude as Dalat, and the avifauna reflects this. Dalat Plateau specialities found included the robinsoni subspecies of Black-headed Sibia, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-headed Parrotbill (subspecies maragritae with the black crown), Black-hooded and White-cheeked laughingthrushes and a confiding pair of Short-tailed Scimitar Babblers. Bar-backed Partridge, Indochinese Green Magpie, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Shortwing, White-tailed Robin and Chestnut-fronted Shrike Babbler were among some 40 or so bird species recorded during a morning’s birding.

Gibbons were heard calling from the nearby slopes sporadically throughout the morning.

Bar Backed Partridge Grey Capped Woodpecker Golden Throated Barbet (h) Red Headed Trogon White Throated Kingfisher Vernal Hanging Parrot Germain’s Swiftlet Barred Cuckoo Dove Spotted Dove Black Eagle Asian Fairy Bluebird Lesser Racket Tailed Drongo Greater Racket Tailed Drongo Indochinese Green Magpie Large Cuckoo Shrike Rufous Browed Flycatcher Grey Headed Flycatcher Large Niltava (h) Pale Blue Flycatcher Lesser Shortwing (h) White Tailed Robin

Yellow Billed Nuthatch Swallow sp.

Sooty Headed Bulbul Mountain Bulbul (h) White Tailed Warbler (?)

Grey Cheeked/White Spectacled Warbler (?)

Grey Bellied Tesia (h) Black Hooded Laughingthrush White Cheeked Laughingthrush Short Tailed Scimitar Babbler Chesnut Fronted Shrike Babbler Mountain Fulvetta (h) Black Headed Sibia Grey Headed Parrotbill White Bellied Yuhina Buff Bellied Flowerpecker Mrs Gould’s Sunbird Streaked Spiderhunter

Text by Richard C. Craik, Photo: J. C. Eames

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First Ramsar site designated in the Union of Myanmar

The Union of Myanmar became the 143rd Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention in December 2004, and designated its first Ramsar site: Moyingyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, a site for threatened waterbirds including Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri and Sarus Crane Grus antigone. (www.ramsar.org)

Moyingyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary at dusk. Photo: J. C. Eames

Spotlight organization Ornithological Society of Vietnam The first annual meeting of the Ornithological Society of Vietnam occurred on 27 November 1966. At this meeting the officers of the society were elected. These included Vu Ngoc Tan, a veterinarian by profession who was elected President. Philip Wildash, Proconsul at the British Embassy in Saigon and author of Birds of South Vietnam was elected Vice President. The first General Secretary was Dr Bui Thi Lang PhD, Head of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Saigon [University]. Vu Dinh Long was elected Secretary and Tran Kim Hanh Treasurer. The first issue of the bulletin was published on 30 April 1967. Its contents included a membership list, plus articles on how to enjoy birdwatching, setting mist-nets, a bird ringing report, an account of an ornithological expedition to Con Dao, how to make bird skins, a list of birds collected at Cam Ranh Bay by Jay S Sheppard, and the third systematic list of the birds of South Vietnam. The bulletin lists 68 members of the society, most of whom were Vietnamese. Foreign members included Edward Dickenson one of the authors of the Birds of South East Asia published in 1975. The visit to Con Dao took place between 15-17 October 1967. Although the group searched hard for birds there no noteworthy records in the article. The authors comment on the absence of terns and seabirds which many visitors to the main islands note.

Of note in the list of birds collected by Jay Sheppard at Cam Ranh Bay is Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea. Few other clues to the organization are contained in the first issue of the bulletin, other than the society was introduced to students at University of Hue on 17 November 1966. We would like to hear from any passed members of the society or anyone else who can provide more information about the society and its publications.

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Publications CHIM VIET NAM reprinted Chim Viet Nam by BirdLife International (2004). ISBN: 094688840X. Available from BirdLife email: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn, Internet: www.birdlifeindochina.org

In March 2000 3,000 copies of Chim Viet Nam (Birds of Vietnam) was published with funding from the CY 99 Environment Component of the World Bank/Nertherlands Partnership Programme, through the IUCN Regional Biodiversity Programme for South and South-East Asia.

The book went out-of-print earlier this year but we have now printed a further 3,000 copies with funds raised from the sale of the first print-run. According to Tony Whitten, this is the first time that this has happened under this project. Chim Viet Nam is proudly the first Vietnamese-language field guide to birds of Vietnam, attracting interests of not only bird enthusiasts but also the public, with a wealth of information provided, including over 500 species accounts, a comprehensive checklist of birds of Vietnam, and chapters on bird conservation, bird biology, bird-watching and birds in Vietnamese culture.

Book reviews Conservation of Primates in Vietnam Edited by Tilo Nadler, Ulrike Streicher and Ha Thang Long. 174 pages Copyright © Frankfurt Zoological Society 2004 Vietnam is part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot – one of the world’s richest and most diverse – and is among Asia’s most important countries for biodiversity conservation. What is more, to many primate conservationists, Vietnam is perhaps the highest and most immediate primate conservation priority.

Of the 21 species occurring in Vietnam, four are “Critically Endangered” and four “Endangered”, including several that are literally on the verge of extinction. Indeed, in the 2002 List of the World’s 25 Most Endangered primates, prepared by the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, 20% are Vietnamese species.

In order to develop effective strategies for primate conservation, it is essential that we have a thorough understanding of their taxonomy, distribution and ecology, and that these data be organized in a way that is readily available and useable to a new generation of researchers and conservationists.

This book represents a major new step in this direction, providing as it does a thorough overview of ongoing research, new taxonomic information, reviews of what is known of distribution, status and threats, and a look across the borders of neighboring countries such as China, Laos and Cambodia to get a better understanding of regional distribution patterns and conservation issues. All of this provides the basis for a solid conservation strategy, a process that the authors of this landmark publication begin to undertake.

Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D. President, Conservation International Chairman, IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group

The Babbler - June, 2005

23 BirdLife International in Indochina

Staff news From the BirdLife Asia Division Keiko Suzue Keiko Suzue has joined us in the Tokyo office as the Deputy Head of the BirdLife Asia Division. Suzue-san will be responsible for managing the Tokyo office and Tokyo-based programme, and will be responsible for programme development and fundraising with Japanese-based donors. During the course of 2005/06 she will become increasingly involved in our work in the Asia region.

Simba Chan Simba Chan has joined us in the Tokyo office as a Senior Conservation Officer. He will continue to develop our important Bird Areas work, and our work with the Ramsar Convention and CMS (including the action plans). In collaboration with WBSJ, Simba will also continue his role as the Crane Flyway Officer under the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Strategy.

Simba will also take the lead in developing our programme in north-east Asia, especially with regard to our emerging work in China.

Shigenori Yoshida Yoshida-san has recently retired from BirdLife, after three years working at the BirdLife Asia Division Tokyo office.

Yoshida-san was responsible for administration and finance management in the Tokyo office, and as many of you will know he managed the JFGE bird ecotourism project.

We wish Suzue-san and Simba every success in their positions, and Yoshida-san a long and enjoyable retirement

From the Archives This train derailment occurred on the line between Nha Trang and Phan Thiet in southern Vietnam at the end of December 1910.

The train apparently collided with an Elephant on the line which lost a leg, and which was presumably killed in the accident.

No human casualties were reported.

On 1 January 1911 Ferdinand Duc de Monstpensier supported by local guides and hunters pursued the Elephant herd from the vicinity of the scene of the accident and shot at least one animal. The photograph is one of 136 which appear in En Indo-Chine: Mes Chasses – Mes Voyages by Duc de Monstpensier, and which was published in French by Pierre Lafitte and Company in 1912. With less than 100 Elephants now remaining in Vietnam it seems inconceivable that such an incident could ever happen again.

The Babbler - June, 2005