The Babbler 18

The Babbler July 2006 Number 18

BirdLife International in Indochina

* Welcome Jonathan C. Eames

* Features Cambodia’s floricans under fire Locating critical habitats for Bengal Florican in Cambodia

* Regional news China blocks timber imports from Myanmar Rodent comes back from the dead to teach taxonomists a lesson New Philippine hanging-parrot described Was the H5N1 outbreak at Qinghai Lake amongst farmed Bar-headed Geese?

Rare newt species discovered in Vietnam

* Important Bird Area News Update on Western Siem Pang IBA, Cambodia Biodiversity hangs-on in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

News as ever over the last quarter has been a mixed bag. University of East Anglia PhD student Tom Grey presents the eagerly awaited results of the BirdLife/WCS Bengal Florican survey around the Ton Le Sap. The results of this survey have already been incorporated into our conservation planning. The five integrated farming and biodiversity areas proposed with a total area of 400 km2 could protect up to 400 Bengal Floricans. BirdLife is currently conducting a feasibility study at a sixth area identified by this survey in Puok district, in Seam Reap grassland block. If we fail to get the support we need to establish and manage these areas, perhaps we should just buy them.

Slightly encouraging news this quarter from the Cambodian annual vulture census, which suggests there may be as many as 234 birds in the national flock. Not such good news for Sarus Cranes though at Beuong Prek Lapouv. This site, despite our ongoing conservation efforts, failed to register significant numbers during the annual census earlier this year.

* Rarest of the rare White-eyed River-Martin

* Project updates Cambodia activities Vietnam activities Myanmar activities

* Spotlight Organizations Hanoi Birdwatching Club Mlup Baitong

* Publications

Plenty of good news on the species discovery and rediscovery front: In this issue we report on a new species of hanging parrot from the Philippines, the rediscovery of the Manipur Bushquail, an enigmatic liochicla from north-east India, which despite being first sighted tens years ago, still hasn’t been collected and described. Perhaps we can find it in Myanmar too and pip the Indians to the post.

In the hope of a further rediscovery we include an article by Joe Tobias on the White-eyed River Martin because rumours of sightings in southern Cambodia are in constant circulation. Watch this space!

* Book reviews * 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.

Jonathan C. Eames Programme Manager BirdLife International in Indochina

2 BirdLife International in Indochina

Features Cambodiaʹs floricans under fire The Government of Cambodia’s decision to endorse commercial dry-season rice production around the world's greatest flood-plain lake, Ton Le Sap Lake, is threatening the future of the globally Endangered Bengal Florican Eupodotis bengalensis.

"These man-made, seasonally flooded grasslands currently support most of the global population," explained Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager for BirdLife in Indochina. "Many Important Bird Areas (IBAs) vital for floricans have been affected."

The Cambodian population of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is thought to number less than 500 individuals.

Photo: Allan Michaud

On a visit to Chi Kreng IBA, Eames found evidence of recent ploughing almost everywhere, although much of this is for traditional deep-water rice. "Some larger more extensive ploughed areas were clearly the work of tractors with ploughs. In some places there was merely a narrow scar in the land only a few metres long, with marker flags, where villagers fearful of a land-grab by an outsider had staked their claim."

In four places he found male Bengal Floricans, one of which was still displaying. "I had the feeling they were being forced into ever smaller remaining grassland patches. Were the females sitting tight on eggs or crouching with recently fledged young, or had many of them already lost nests to the ploughing? One can only guess, but I felt sure that this year's breeding success would be well-down on previous years."

"Traditionally the grasslands around the Great Lake have been communally owned, and a unique agricultural ecology has evolved over the centuries that has provided a niche for the Bengal Florican." —Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager, BirdLife in Indochina Eames understands that much of the rice will go for export, and do little to promote domestic food security. "Many of these developments can be viewed in context of the land grab in full swing across the entire country. Traditionally the grasslands around the Great Lake (Ton Le Sap) have been communally owned, and a unique agricultural ecology has evolved over the centuries that has provided a niche for the Bengal Florican. However, land-use change may now be too rapid and unsuitable for floricans to survive beyond a few years more."

Work recently undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Cambodia Programme has revealed that at least 50% of Stoung Chikreng IBA has been lost, and more than 90% of Veal Srangai IBA. University of East Anglia PhD student Tom Gray is conducting a lake-wide survey of grasslands and Bengal Florican populations, with support from the BirdLife and WCS Cambodia Programmes, and in conjunction with Wildlife Protection office staff from the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). Early indications suggest that all major grasslands and florican populations had already been identified as part of BirdLife's Important Bird Area programme. The survey has failed to find important new areas, and seems to have mainly documented the decline of grasslands since the national IBA directory was published in 2003.

"Some very big people have bought the remaining grassland areas at Stoung, and we have discovered all Veal Srangai has been sold as well. If no large populations are found it's probably not over the top to say Bengal Florican will be extinct in Cambodia in five years." —Tom Gray, UEA The Babbler 18 – July 2006

3 BirdLife International in Indochina Eames says the conversion of grasslands is opposed by many local communities and provincial government officials, since it threatens a traditional way of life that has been proved to be good for people and wildlife alike. "Herein lies the kernel of the WCS proposal to promote the establishment of Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas (IFBAs). BirdLife endorses this approach as the only practical short term solution to the current crisis." In a relatively short-time, he says, WCS have obtained a great deal of official support for this idea, and it now awaits final endorsement from on high.

"If these areas are sanctioned and granted legal status, they will need funding and technical support to maintain their conservation importance. BirdLife and WCS have agreed to tackle these issues." But he adds: "If we don't act rapidly all the florican habitat in Siem Riep and Kompong Thom provinces may eventually be lost. With at least some areas conserved, floricans would have a theoretical chance of dispersing into a more sympathetic future landscape."

"On balance, the hope that we can look on and do nothing while the Bengal Florican somehow hangs on in Cambodia in the face of land-use change is outweighed by our knowledge of its fragile ecology, and the history of the species's decline elsewhere in the region." —Jonathan C. Eames Before we declare this another lost conservation cause, Eames reminds us that the Ton Le Sap grasslands are themselves manmade. "Without regular grazing and burning they rapidly revert to scrub and forest. This is also not the first time there have been attempts at growing irrigated paddy within the Great Lake's inundation zone, and many of these areas, I am told, have reverted to grasslands suitable for floricans."

But with population growth rates of 2.5%, he fears Cambodia's people will continue to make unsustainable demands on their environment well into the future. "On balance, the hope that we can look on and do nothing while the Bengal Florican somehow hangs on in Cambodia in the face of land-use change is outweighed by our knowledge of its fragile ecology, and the history of the species's decline elsewhere in the region. Fifteen years ago I watched one of Vietnam's last Bengal Floricans defiantly display to a white flag on a marker post set out by a settler in the Mekong Delta. Déjà vu?

I hope not."

Source: BirdLife International News Release, May 30, 2006

Locating critical habitats for Bengal Florican in Cambodia Bengal Florican is a globally threatened Bustard species with extant populations in India, Nepal and Cambodia. Since its rediscovery in 1999 the Cambodian Bengal Florican population has been used by the Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia (WCS) programme and BirdLife International Cambodia Programme as a flagship species for the conservation of the unique biodiversity assemblage occurring on seasonally inundated grasslands within the Tonle Sap floodplain. To this end the species has been the focus of considerable research and conservation out-reach activities centred around three populations in Kompong Thom province. The combined breeding population at these intensively studied sites, all identified as Important Bird Areas and covering approximately 200 km2, was estimated at between 106-270 individuals in 2004. This compares to an estimate of 420-530 for the total population in Nepal and India. However, examination of satellite imagery and land-cover classifications suggested more than 2,000 km2 of potentially suitable habitat within the Tonle Sap floodplain, large areas of which, particularly south and east of Tonle Sap lake, had never been surveyed by naturalists. Discovering the true extent of the species' range and population within Cambodia had been identified by BirdLife International as a conservation priority.

The urgent need for such surveys increased in 2005 when large areas of florican occupied grasslands, on abandoned rice fields outside Kompong Thom town, were converted to intensive dry season rice production. The population of displaying males at this site, at which Bengal Florican had been monitored by WCS since 2002, declined from 20 to 8 during this period.

Between 20th March and 13th May 2006 the first comprehensive country-wide survey for Bengal Florican and grassland habitats in Cambodia was carried out as a collaboration between WCS, BirdLife International Cambodia Programme, the Forestry Administration (FA) of the Royal Cambodian government and the University of East Anglia, Norwich. The aims of this survey were to: 1.

Clarify Bengal Florican distribution and population size within Cambodia

2.

Identify the extent of threats especially habitat change caused by agricultural expansion

3.

Target future conservation work both educational and the development of protected areas

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4 BirdLife International in Indochina Methodology A simple probabilistic model was devised to select a random subset of 1x1 km squares with habitat characteristics, identified from a country-wide land-cover classification of Cambodia, matching squares with known Bengal Florican records. These squares were aggregated within 12 grassland blocks in five Cambodian provinces. These squares were surveyed for Bengal Florican, and other priority bird species, by trained observers from WCS, BirdLife and FA following a standardised protocol. Basic habitat data and village interviews were also conducted.

Results Bengal Florican were found in seven grassland blocks (in addition to the three previously studied populations) from five provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap lake (Table One). However the area of suitable grassland had declined in all blocks with encroachment by scrub and agricultural expansion and intensification affecting many areas. The results indicated that the area of grassland may have declined by 2/3rds since the late 1990s. More worryingly many areas showed signs of recent land-grabbing for dry season rice production and tree plantations. This was most severe on the north and eastern edge of the Tonle Sap floodplain with close to 50% of surveyed squares in Kompong Thom and Seam Reap provinces affected (Figure One). Whilst less grassland occurred in provinces to the south and west here the immediate threat of conversion seemed less intense. However considerable areas may have reverted to flooded scrub in recent years (Figure Two).

Dry Season Rice Tree Plantations Scrub Traditional 'wet season' rice Grassland

Figure One: Composition of surveyed 'grassland' squares (n-=82) on north and east side of Tonle Sap floodplain (Kompong Thom, Seam Reap and parts of Banteay Meanchey province).

Dry Season Rice Tree Plantations Scrub Traditional 'wet season' rice Grassland

Figure Two: Composition of surveyed 'grassland' squares (n-=76) on south and west side of Tonle Sap floodplain (Battambang, Pursat and parts of Banteay Meanchey province).

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5 BirdLife International in Indochina Block Name

Province

Florican recorded

Aek Phnum

Battambang

No - but reported by locals

Baray

Kompong Thom

Yes - present in one 24km2 grassland area

Battambang

No

Battambang

No

Mongkol Borei 1

Banteay Meanchey

Yes - three records

Moung Russei

Battambang

No

Preah Net Preah

Banteay Meanchey

Yes - six records

Pursat

Pursat

No

San Kor

Kompong Thom

Yes - frequently recorded

Sangkae

Battambang

Yes - three records

Seam Reap

Seam Reap

Yes - two records

Stung Chinit

Kompong Thom / Kompong Chanang

Yes - seven records

Bavel

1

Koas Krala

1

1

Grassland state & threats Some grassland still present especially closer to Tonle Sap lake. No obvious threats but hunting reported Some grassland remains however heavy recent developments from dry season rice and tree plantations Little grassland with large areas of wet season rice Little grassland mostly forest and Chamkar rice fields Little grassland mostly wet season rice but Florican present. Major threat probably nest destruction due to ploughing Some grassland, no obvious threats. Un-clear why no Florican present (hunting?)

Some grassland remains but much encroachment from wet season and dry season rice Some grassland but much scrub and forest encroachment Large areas of grassland however almost all targeted for dry season rice developments Some grassland to south of block (where Florican recorded). No obvious threats and area possibly land-mined offering protection from conversion Considerable grassland however affected by scrub encroachment and much dry season rice development Considerable grassland.

Some areas targeted for dry season rice but less so than elsewhere in Kompong Thom

Conservation recommendations and priority Low priority. Additional survey work to locate Florican and education activities recommended High priority. Protect remaining grassland habitat as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Area.

Very low priority Very low priority High priority. Education activities and incentive based nest protection recommended Very low priority

High Priority. Identify and protect remaining grassland habitat as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Area Very low priority Crucial priority. Identify and protect any remaining grassland habitat as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Area but possibly to late for this area Medium priority. Important to identify total grassland extent and clearly assess threats

Crucial priority. Protect remaining grassland habitat as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Area Crucial priority. Protect remaining grassland habitat as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Area

Grassland blocks outside Tonle Sap floodplain

Table One: 'Grassland block' specific findings and conservation recommendations from 2006 WCS/BirdLife Tonle Sap wide Bengal Florican survey.

How these findings are being used for conservation: Introducing Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas (IFBAs) The results from this survey and previous work have already been incorporated into conservation planning with the proposal by WCS and FA of five integrated farming and biodiversity areas (total area = 400km2). These areas could protect up to 400 Bengal Florican (Table Two). BirdLife is currently conducting a feasibility study at a sixth area identified by this survey (in Puok district, Seam Reap grassland block).

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6 BirdLife International in Indochina The aims of IFBAs are to safeguard grassland habitats for both local villagers, for whom grasslands represent important open-access resources for cattle grazing, fishing and low intensity agriculture, as well as for biodiversity. In these areas any future dry season rice developments would be prohibited and other activities subject to approval from local management committees. The IFBA proposals have already gained substantial grass-roots support from local village and commune councils and are currently being assessed by provincial and national authorities who are appear to view them favourably. If successful this approach offers an exciting opportunity to safe-guard remaining grassland habitat whilst exploring other management options for longer term protection.

Name

Province

Grassland block

Area

Baray

Kompong Thom

Baray

91km2

Chong Doung Kouk Preah Beung Trea

Kompong Thom Kompong Thom / Kompong Chanang Kompong Thom

Baray Stung Chinit

24km2 125km2

Estimated Florican population Un-known (4080) 3 10 -30 1 65 - 85 1

Veal Srangai (original study site) Stoung (original study site)

85km2

40 - 70

2

75 km2

60 - 96

2

-

Veal Srangai Stoung Chikreng 1 2 3

-

Kompong Thom / Seam Reap

From 2006 survey From 2002 - 2006 population monitoring Never surveyed for Florican. Estimation based on area of habitat and densities at similar sites

Table Two: Area (Km2) and estimated Bengal Florican population within five proposed Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas in Kompong Thom province. In should be taken into account population estimates are very subjective and may be subject to change on more detailed data analysis.

By University of East Anglia PhD student Tom Gray, the survey team leader

Regional news China Blocks Timber Imports from Myanmar China has closed its borders to timber imports from Myanmar, according to a London-based rights group. A press statement issued by Global Witness recently said the Chinese government has ordered its workers to leave Myanmar.

The move comes after a decade of rapacious logging by Chinese companies in Myanmar’s northern forests.

The press release said that the more than 1.5 million cubic meters of Myanmar timber imported by China in 2005— worth an estimated US $350 million—was mostly the product of illegal logging.

Checkpoints along the China-Myanmar border have been closed to logging trucks from Myanmar since early May, according to the press release, but some timber still crosses the border via back roads. Thousands of Chinese timber workers have also been pulled from the border region.

“This represents a major breakthrough for all those working to halt the predatory exploitation of Myanmar’s forest,” Mike Davis of Global Witness said in press release. “The Chinese government is showing the way forward by owning up to the problem and shutting the door on log imports,” he said.

According to one resident along the China border who requested anonymity, timber trucks still manage to cross the border late at night when it is more difficult for border guards to spot them. “Usually the Chinese troops are withdrawn early in the evening,” the resident said.

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7 BirdLife International in Indochina “When they catch traders, they release them after charging a fine of 5,000 to 6,000 RMB ($623 to $748) per vehicle,” the resident added. “One vehicle carries about five to six tons. Nearly 1,000 tons [of timber] still enter China every day”.

An official announcement of the new timber policy was issued by Chinese authorities in mid-May. “The [announcement] stated that authorities would arrest anyone importing timber or doing logging and confiscate timber and vehicles, but they have not started following the order yet,” the resident said.

Davis of Global Witness said that Myanmar and Chinese authorities must both make a public commitment to close the border to timber trade until Myanmar’s forests are managed in a way that is both legal and sustainable.

“Reaching that point will require not only open debate between the two governments but also the inclusion of all key stakeholders, notably civil society, political parties and the armed opposition groups.”

A senior leader from the Kachin Independence Organization said that the closing of the border timber trade will impact local villagers, as logging is their principal means of income.

The statement from Global Witness also urged western donors to fund grassroots environmental initiatives in Myanmar to halt illegal logging and other environmentally destructive activities.

By Shah Paung, Source: The Irrawaddy News Magazine Online Edition, May 31, 2006

Rodent comes back from the dead to teach taxonomists a lesson The first photos and video have recently been taken of a live Laotian Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmamus1, a species that astounded scientists when they discovered it in 1996 and aroused controversy after its description last year.

The species was found by scientists for sale for food in markets in central Laos in 1996. Its distinctive morphology immediately marked it out as a species that they had not seen before. However, they struggled to assign it even to any rodent family that they knew. In 1999, they searched for, and found, more individuals in the wild, and eventually described the species as a new family of rodent in 20062, after extensive comparison with other rodent species.

However, this year some paleontologists pointed out that no-one had checked rodent species known from the fossil record, and that the Laotian Rock Rat actually belonged to the otherwise extinct rodent family Diatomyidae, known from the fossil record in Pakistan, India, Thailand, China, and Japan3. This species had thus been rediscovered after a gap of about 11 million years!

International taxonomic collaboration is not always strong in Indochina, with often complex regulations on the movement of specimens. With such apparently new species still being regularly discovered by scientists in Indochina, this rodent provides an extreme, but salutary, lesson: careful comparison of potential new species should be undertaken with museum collections not only across borders, but also back in time!

-------------------------------------1

http://www.rinr.fsu.edu/rockrat/ Jenkins, P. D., Kilpatrick, C. W., Robinson, M. F. and Timmins, R. J. (2005) Morphological and molecular investigations of a new family, genus and species of rodent (Mammalia: Rodentia: Hystricognatha) from Lao PDR. Systematics and Biodiversity 2 (4): 419-454.

3 Dawson, M. R., Marivaux, L., Li, C.-k., Beard, K. C. and Métais, G. (2006) Laonastes and the ‘‘Lazarus Effect’’ in Recent Mammals. Science 311: 1456-1458.

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Text by John Pilgrim, Conservation Adviser of BirdLife International in Indochina

New Philippine hanging‐parrot described A new species of hanging-parrot from the tiny (265 km ) island of Camiguin, off Mindanao, the Philippines, has been described by scientists based at The Field Museum in Chicago, USA, following a study of specimens collected in the 1960s by D. S. Rabor.

2

The Camiguin Hanging-parrot Loriculus camiguinensis is closely related to another widespread Philippine endemic, the Colasisi L. philippensis, but differs in its relatively dull plumage and because males and females are similar in appearance—unlike races of the Colasisi which has 10 subspecies within the island archipelago. Although specimens were collected more than 40 years ago, they had never been formally described, even as a subspecies of Colasisi. The findings perhaps warrant a taxonomic revision of the Colasisi complex, as other races (those with black rather than red bills), have previously been considered separate species. The Camiguin Hanging-parrot is green with a blue throat and a scarlet crown and uppertail, and its formal description appears in the 5 April 2006 issue of The Field Museum’s publication, Fieldiana: Zoology.

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8 BirdLife International in Indochina Camiguin has long been geographically isolated and has developed a unique fauna, but like most islands in the Philippines it has suffered major deforestation. Originally cloaked in forest, by 2001 only 18% remained, but even this has been steadily eroded through logging, and clearance for agriculture and human settlement.

Dr Blas Tabaranza Jr is Director of the Haribon’s (BirdLife in the Philippines) Terrestrial Ecosystems Project, and an author on papers describing an endemic forest rodent (Bullimus gamay) and frog (Oreophryne nana) from Camiguin. He commented “The Philippines is a global centre for biodiversity, with exceptionally high levels of endemism.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most severely deforested tropical countries in the world.”

Haribon, The Field Museum, local government and the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources are collaborating to encourage the designation of the remaining rainforests on Camiguin as a national park. This would protect the Camiguin Hangingparrot Loriculus camiguinensis: unique wildlife, help control soil erosion and prevent male and female are similar. landslides and excessive run-off destroying the Photo:Thomas Arndt island’s offshore coral reefs. The forest is essential to the island’s ecotourism industry—a vital component of the local economy Source: World Birdwatch June 2006

Liocichla from Arunachal Pradesh remains undescribed A liocichla has been discovered at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The bird was first seen by Ramana Athreya more than ten years ago in January 1995 but it wasn’t until January 2005 that he again observed the species at the same locality in a mixed flock with cutias Cutia nipalensis and sibias Heterophasia spp.. Half an hour later he observed a second flock of four birds with laughingthrushes Garrulax spp. and noted the sexual dimorphism. This finally convinced him that he really had seen something very special a decade earlier.

The plumage of the Eaglenest bird very closely resembles the highly rangerestricted Emei Shan Liocichla Liocichla omeinsis an endemic of China.

However the song appears to be significantly different from Emei Shan Liocichla. The ranges of the Eaglenest and Emei Shan Liocichla are separated by about 1,200 km. It remains to be seen if the Eaglenest bird is a subspecies of the Emei Shan Liocichla or a new species.

A field sketch of a new liocichla by David Marques

The Eaglenest liocichla is spectacularly coloured with an overall olivegreen colour and a dark cap. The black peppercorn eye is bordered by a prominent yellow patch giving a spectacled appearance. The wing has bright crimson patches, probably one in the female and two in the male, with olive-yellow shading along the primaries.

The tail is tipped with crimson in what is believed to be the male and yellow in the female. The entire underside of the tail appears to be a rich crimson-pink in the male and yellow-orange in the female. The vent is crimson in the male and yellow banded with dark in the female.

The Eaglenest birds have since been seen on a dozen occasions at two different locations at 2,050 m and 2,250-2,400 m by several

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Liocichla Liocichla sp. Photo: Simon Allen

9 BirdLife International in Indochina groups of birders both in mixed flocks with cutias, sibias, minlas Minla spp. and laughingthrushes and by themselves.

They have been observed hopping on the ground around habitation, in degraded shrubbery and as high as 25 m up in the canopy of primary forest as well as creeping cutia style along tree trunks.

There are plans to obtain an accurate description and detailed photo-documentation. It remains to be seen how well the plumage and calls match that of the Emei Shan Liocichla.

The Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is turning out to be a spectacularly rich area with many rare birds and herpetofauna with perhaps more surprises in store for the future. For more information about this biodiversity rich area and the conservation work being carried out by the Eaglenest Biodiversity Project visit Ramana’s website at http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana.

By Richard Craik, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Was the H5N1 outbreak at Qinghai Lake amongst farmed Bar‐headed Geese?

The Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus breeds in central Asia, including Qinghai Lake in China, and winters in the Indian Sub-continent and northern Myanmar. The article below reveals that the mass die-off amongst Bar Headed Geese at Qinghai Lake may have been amongst farmed geese rather than wild geese.

“What is beyond dispute is that in May 2005, thousands of wild [Bar-headed] geese died of H5N1 at Qinghai Lake in China.” so wrote Debora Mackenzie in the popular weekly magazine, New Scientist on 28 January 2006. Now, it seems even this unequivocal statement may be false.

BirdLife investigations have found that farming of Bar-headed Geese Anser indicus in north-west China has been taking place since at least the late 1990s. Most birds are kept for their eggs and meat, but others are released into the wild on nature reserves to boost natural populations. Some websites describe how releasing Bar-headed Geese into the environment has altered their migratory behaviour.

“Most of the new information is contained in Chinese-language websites, which is partly why it has taken so long to come to light,” explains Dr Richard Thomas of BirdLife International. “We simply didn’t have the capacity to extract the information, but now we’ve found relevant websites it’s astonishing what’s on them. For example, it’s difficult to argue with the photos like the one shown here: there’s simply no denying that Bar-headed Geese are farmed in north-west China—some at Qinghai Lake itself.”

Perhaps most surprisingly, the first reference to farming of Bar-headed Geese at Qinghai Lake so far uncovered appears on an English language website, in the Ramsar Information Sheet on the Farmed Bar-headed Geese in north-west China Qinghai Bird Island National Nature Reserve (Niao Dao), completed in October 1997, and downloadable from: http://www.wetlands.org/RSDB/_COP9Directory/Directory/ris/2CN005.html. Included in the current scientific and research facilities at Qinghai is: “Artificial incubation of Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) and study on the utilisation of discarded eggs; bird banding etc., the establishment of laboratories for bird raising.”

The conditions farmed geese are kept under are very different to those in wild populations, with farmed birds likely to be at high densities and more likely to come into direct contact with infected chickens and other poultry. This new information casts doubt on the popularly cited reason why wild birds are to blame for the westward spread of H5N1, which Mackenzie summarised in New Scientist: “the virus, having killed wild geese at Qinghai Lake in China, spread across Russia and into Turkey, Ukraine and Romania. The strain found in all these places is identical to the one first seen at Qinghai, never in east Asian poultry, which strongly suggests that it was not carried west by poultry.”

“The similarity of the viral strain implicating wild birds is a spurious argument—just because a similar genetic make-up is seen at two places, it says absolutely nothing about how the virus got between them,” says Thomas. “What’s more,

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10 BirdLife International in Indochina it’s not even true! There are several strains of H5N1 west of Qinghai, and now we find that the affected geese might have been farmed, not wild birds.”

The reasoning also ignores the fact that no bird species migrates between China and Europe, nor does the virus’s appearance in spring in the east, but autumn in the west, fit with any possible migrant bird transmission route.

“When H5N1 first spread throughout South-East Asia, people were quick to blame wild birds, but it’s now proven that the poultry trade was responsible. Similarly, the finger was initially pointed at migrant birds when the virus appeared in Africa, but no one can seriously doubt that it arrived in Nigeria through illegal poultry imports. One strain apparently arrived at Kano airport in day-old-chicks en route from Egypt to the Niger Republic, the other directly from China.

Gaping holes are appearing in the theory that wild birds spread the virus from Asia to Europe,” says Thomas. “At this stage we simply don’t know how important the revelations are that Bar-headed Geese have been reared and released into the wild in north-west China, but the findings may be very significant indeed—and it’s disturbing the practice hasn’t been highlighted earlier as it could have tremendous implications for efforts to stop further spread of this potentially devastating disease.”

Text by Dr Richard Thomas of BirdLife International

Indian government bans production and sale of diclofenac In May 2006 the Indian government took the crucial first step in reversing the plunge to extinction of three vulture species, by ordering a halt to the production and sale of diclofenac within three months.

Slender-billed Gyps tenuirostris, Indian G. indicus and White-rumped Vultures G. bengalensis die from kidney failure after eating the flesh of cattle and water buffalo treated with diclofenac. Pharmaceutical firms have been told instead to promote meloxicam, an alternative to diclofenac, which has been proved by scientists from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, BirdLife in the UK) and elsewhere to be safe for vultures. The three vulture species have declined by up to 97% in the past 15 years. All three are categorized as Critically Endangered. The White-rumped Vulture was probably the commonest large bird of prey in the world prior to diclofenac.

The RSPB and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS, BirdLife in India) have set up two vulture breeding centres in northern India and West Bengal. These currently house 127 vultures, and two pairs attempted to breed for the first time earlier this year.

But reversing the decline will be a slow business: vultures do not breed until five years old, and produce only one egg each year.

Chris Bowden, Head of the RSPB’s Asian Vulture Programme, said: “This ban is exceptionally good news. Making diclofenac illegal and removing it from shop shelves are the next steps. We don’t know how big a job that will be, but this ban may well be the turning point in saving vultures from outright extinction.”

Down but not out: White-rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis, prior to diclofenac the world’s commonest large raptor. Photo: Allan Michaud

BNHS has been at the forefront of the campaign for a diclofenac ban. Director Dr Asad Rahmani said: “This is some of the best news of my life and shows that good scientific evidence has been accepted by the Indian government.”

Conservationists hope to build more breeding sites in India, Pakistan and Nepal, to establish viable vulture populations which can be released into the wild once the environment is clear of diclofenac.

Source: World Birdwatch June 2006

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11 BirdLife International in Indochina

Rare newt species discovered in Vietnam Two individuals of a possibly undescribed newt species have been found for the first time at an altitude of 1,156 m in the Xuan Son National Park, midland Phu Tho province of northern Vietnam.

Experts have provisionally identified the species as tylototriton species nova. It belongs to the Tylototriton newt genus of the Salamandridae family and is similar to a newt species reported in Germany's Salamandra magazine in November last year.

Source: The Voice of Vietnam News, May 8, 2006 Photo: Henk Wallays

Thais Urged to Protest against Salween Hydro‐dam in Myanmar Thai environmentalists have been urged to back protests by Karen groups against the building of the first of what could be five dams along the Salween river in Myanmar, near the Thai border.

The Mae Sot-based Karen River Watch (KRW) said the dams would displace thousands of people, perhaps as many as 80,000. “We need the Thai public and local Karen people to work with us to protest against the Hat Gyi dam project because it will also have an impact on Thai people,” said KRW executive Lawplah. “The benefits from the dam will go to the Myanmar’s military government.”

Most of the electricity generated by the 600 megawatt Hat Gyi dam, near Myaing Gyi Ngu, will go to Thailand. The Myanmar government agreed last December to the Hat Gyi project, and it was announced in China earlier this week that it will be constructed under a joint venture between Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the Chinese state-owned Sinohydro Corporation. Sinohydro said the US $1 billion project is the biggest single economic develop signed by the three countries Lawplah said many Karen villagers had already been forcibly moved by the Myanmar’s army as part of an operation to secure lands surrounding the site of the Hat Gyi dam project. He said the army had placed landmines to prevent villagers returning.

KRW, a coalition of six Karen community organizations, says Myanmar’s Army battalion 202 and its militia allies the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army’s Battalion 777, had moved into the Hat Gyi area. The dam could flood an area onethird the size of Singapore.

Lawplah added: “Now that Thailand has joined hands with the Chinese government and the Myanmar regime, we need to protest to show. The Thai human rights groups have more chance of success of fighting the dam project by using their country’s legal system.”

EGAT has claimed that details of the agreement on the dam are confidential, but Thai environmentalists have said this contravenes Thailand’s constitution.

By Shah Paung Source: The Irrawaddy News Magazine Online Edition, June 29, 2006

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12 BirdLife International in Indochina

Bird assemblages in Xuan Son National Park, PhuTho Province, Vietnam A bird study was recently conducted in Xuan Son National Park (XSNP), Thanh Son district, Phu Tho province, 120 km north-west of Hanoi. Birds were sampled with mist-nets in the “Ten mountain forest” located in the west of the park , where the vegetation is mainly semi-tropical lowland broadleaved evergreen rain forest. Three sampling points between 780-1,150 m asl were established. At each point ten 12 m mist-nets were set. Mist-nets were operated for 7-12 hours per day, from sunrise to sunset depending on weather conditions. All captured birds were marked with a Biological Museum, Hanoi University of Education sequentially numbered aluminum ring. This is the first time domestically produced rings have been issued in Vietnam. All newly captured birds were processed for a variety of morphological and physiological data including species, age sex, weight and wing length.

A bird in the hand. Photo: Nguyen Lan Hung Son

Birds were captured using mist-nets.

Photo: Nguyen Lan Hung Son

During January (winter) and March (spring) 2006, we captured a total of 311 birds. Among these, we detected 46 species belonging to 4 orders and 11 families. Passeriformes were the most abundant of families and species (7 families and 40 species). Among 11 families, Sylvidae was the most abundant with 17 species. Among the 311 birds captured, there were 284 birds ringed and 40 birds were recaptured (including birds ringed before January 2006). During both survey periods Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia was captured and recaptured most frequently. Bird abundance and number of individuals captured at each station mainly depend on altitude, seasonality, weather and vegetation.

Only low flying birds could be trapped using mist-nets, especially those bird species keeping to understory vegetation and forest edge.

The capture of birds in nets can give us an insight into the health and demographics of the population of the birds being studied. To estimate the evolutionally trends and the health of the bird community in Xuan Son National Park, the study needs to be continued for a longer period.

Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae signata (male) Photo: Nguyen Lan Hung Son

Orange-Bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii hardwickii (male) Photo: Nguyen Lan Hung Son

Text by Nguyen Thanh Van and Nguyen Lan Hung Son, Hanoi University of Education

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White‐bellied Heron Ardea insignis: uplist to Critically Endangered?

The White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis is currently listed as Endangered (A3c,d; C2ai) because it has a small declining population (estimated to number 250–999 individuals with all subpopulations <250 individuals) that is projected to decline by >50% over the next 10 years/three generations as a result of loss and degradation of its habitat. Should this species be up-listed to Critical Endangered now?

According to Mr. Duncan Wilson, there seem to be very few recent records of the species outside Bhutan. The current BirdLife estimate of 250-1,000 individuals seems to be based on the hope of significant numbers existing in the remoter parts of northern Myanmar. He was part of a team of birders who visited the Putao area of this region in January 2005, and during three weeks they failed White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis. Photo: Yeshey Dorji/OBC to see the species, despite dedicating considerable time and effort. The route they followed retraced that of Ben King et al 1998 etc, and they looked for it at the same locations at which Ben observed the species. During conversation with the head of Zayardum Village, which overlooks prime heron habitat, he informed them that the species was not as regular as it was and had declined during the last few years. This area is probably as remote as anywhere within the species' range, yet even here there is local disturbance of rivers and their margins by fishermen and livestock. The wider, braided sections of river, presumably those favoured by the species, tend to be especially prone to disturbance. The number of birders visiting the North-east Himalayas is increasing as access restrictions are lifted, but there does not seem to be a concomitant increase in records of this species. The only regular sightings in India of which Duncan is aware are in Namdapha, and presumably relate to the same one or two birds. Records from other protected areas in North-east India appear to be very few and far between. The situation in Bhutan seems considerably more hopeful, and this year two active nests were discovered, one at a new site. However, while there is no direct persecution here, the risk of unfavourable habitat modification relating to hydropower development or road improvement schemes does pose a potential threat. In any event, the total Bhutanese heron population is not likely to be large given the relatively small size of the country. While Ducan acknowledges that there remains the possibility that numbers of the species do remain in remote un-surveyed areas, there seems to be at least anecdotal evidence to suggest that this is unlikely, in which case the total population must be very small.

Mr. Jack Tordoff, Programme Officer of BirdLife Asia Divison thinks Dr Will Duckworth’s comments on the status of White-bellied Heron in Myanmar seem sensible: Hukaung Valley is unique in northern Myanmar in terms of extent of lowland rivers and wetlands, albeit with high levels of human activity in many areas. The species also occurs along rivers in the Himalayan foothills along the border with India, but most records are from a single locality (Hponkanrazi), so it is quite difficult to extrapolate. The species has also been recorded along rivers elsewhere in Kachin State, such as the Nam Sam Chaung, although little is known about its status in these areas or any movements it makes. Satellite tracking studies could be expected to shed more light on the species' movements and habitat use. In Bhutan, there is a small population (about 15 individuals) along the Puna Tsangchhu river and its major tributaries. The birds seem to make significant movements along these rivers, perhaps moving between feeding areas. Jack visited several known feeding spots of the bird, and they were characterised by clear, fast flowing water over pebbly substrates. Birds have also been seen at nearby lakes, notably Ada lake. The species is known to nest in Chir pine forest. His own feeling is that, uplisting the species to Critical would be premature, given our gaps in knowledge about the species. Given patterns in other large-bodied and river-associated species, he can believe that White-bellied Heron is at significant risk of extinction.

The Babbler 18 – July 2006

14 BirdLife International in Indochina According to Mr. Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in Indochina, there may be as few as 250 with all populations below 50 individuals. It should be uplisted to Critical in his view. Dr Will Duckworth reports destructive incursions by large numbers of humans deep into its core range in Myanmar. The Bhutan population is tiny.

He recalls it's extinct in Nepal and has no idea about its status in India. Myanmar is the great hope and he suspects that virtually the entire population is in Hpokanrazi, Kakaborazi, and the Hukaung valley. Satellite tracking would work for this species. Radio telemetry would not - too many steep valley sides. He suspects research will show that White-bellied Heron occurs at low density, has large home ranges, shows local seasonal movements, is generally shy and easily disturbed. He is very dubious of records in lowland Myanmar, especially in anthropogenic landscapes away from its core range as given above.

Source: Globally Threatened Bird Forum: Threatened Asian Birds at www.birdlife.org

Spot‐billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis: is the population still declining rapidly?

Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis is currently classified as Vulnerable because it is suspected to be undergoing a decline exceeding 30% over 33 years (three generations). The total population is estimated to be 9,000-12,000 individuals, comprising 6,0007,000 individuals in south Asia (2,850-3,700 in southern India: Kannan and Manakadan 2005; some overlap likely with the c.5,000 estimated for Sri Lanka: S. W. Kotagama in litt. 2001, c.3,000 in Assam: Choudhury 2000); and 3,000-5,000 in SouthEast Asia (C. M. Poole in litt. 1999, BirdLife International 2001). However, S. Subramanya (in litt.

2006) has suggested that the population in South India now exceeds 5,000 birds owing to increases resulting from improved protection of the species. This would imply a total population of perhaps 7,00010,000 individuals in South Asia, and 13,000-18,000 individuals globally. Given this large sub-population appears to be on the increase, is it still likely that the species global population has declined by >30% since 1973 (three generations ago)? If not, this species would warrant downlisting to Near Threatened.

Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Photo: James Eaton/Birdtour Asia - OBC

According to Mr. Philip Round, flocks of 50 or more Spot-billed Pelicans are becoming regular in Central Thailand: an increase that may be attributable to dispersal of birds from the now well-protected colonies in Cambodia. Ironically, commercial safari parks/open zoos in Thailand have probably assisted the increase, wild individuals apparently being attracted down to join-pinioned birds. Free-flying Spot-billed Pelicans are now nesting in three such open zoo sites near Bangkok. The total population in Thailand is unlikely to number more than 500-1000 birds, but this is nonetheless a huge increase over numbers only 20 years ago. A large fish-eating bird like Spot-billed Pelican should probably continue to be regarded as vulnerable in South-east Asia, where there is always the possibility of human persecution. Does avian influenza pose a further risk? Spot-billed Pelicans frequent some ponds that are the site of large, integrated chickenfarming/fish farming complexes (the chicken droppings being allowed to fall in the water, so as to nurture plant plankton as fish-food). This practice is apparently continuing (possibly against recommendations of Agriculture and livestock departments).

Source: Globally Threatened Bird Forum: Threatened Asian Birds at www.birdlife.org

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Red‐headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus: uplist to Critically Endangered?

Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus.

Photo: Abhijit Gandhi/OBC

Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus is currently listed as Near Threatened. It occurs in Pakistan (previously regular, now a rare straggler), Nepal (uncommon), India (sparsely distributed and declining, now rare or absent from some areas, e.g. parts of Gujarat and the north-eastern states, but still fairly common in the west Himalayan foothills), Bangladesh (rare in the north-west), Bhutan, Myanmar (former resident, current status unknown), China (very rare in southwest Yunnan and possibly occurs in south-east Tibet), Thailand (rare resident in remote portions of the west, now absent elsewhere), Laos (previously widespread and common, but now rare and restricted to the south), Vietnam (previously regular in central regions, now rare), Cambodia (previously common, now rare and restricted to the north east), peninsular Malaysia (previously locally common in north, now absent) and Singapore (formerly occurred, apparently now absent). Surveys during 1991-1993 and 2000-2003 in protected areas in north, west and east India indicate that this species declined by 91% between the early 1990s and 2003 and declined by 41% per year during 1999-2003, equating to >90% in ten years. These declines are presumed to have been driven largely by the toxic veterinary drug Diclofenac (Cuthbert et al. in press). If trends elsewhere in India have been similar then the population would probably qualify as Critically Endangered (A2b,c,e;A3b,c,e). Comments and information on the population size and likely trends in Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar in particular, and on this proposed reclassification, would be welcome.

According to Mr. Philip Round, Red-headed Vulture is at vanishing point in Thailand. The population formerly present in the western forest complex (mainly Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary) was extirpated in the late 1980s due to use of poisoned baits by villagers engaged in poaching tigers. There have been only two reliable sight records in the past decade, from a northern site (The Om-Koi-Mae Tuen sanctuary complex) where human impact is even greater than further south.

Source: Globally Threatened Bird Forum: Threatened Asian Birds at www.birdlife.org

Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis: uplist to Critically Endangered?

Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is currently listed as Endangered (C1) because it has a small declining population estimated to number 250-999 individuals, with 220-280 in India, up to 100 in Nepal and possibly >500 birds in Cambodia and adjacent southern Vietnam. However, recent information from Cambodia indicates that this species may be declining at rates high enough to trigger Critically Endangered status. T. Grey (in litt 2006) has found areas of prime habitat that have been recently converted to rice paddies, and that remaining grassland areas at Stoung have been bought to build an 8 km-long dam, which will destroy half the remaining habitat. If surveys elsewhere in the region do not detect any other large populations “it's probably not over the top to say the florican will be extinct in Cambodia in five years”. If declines are projected to be >80% in the next ten years or three generations (estimated to be six years, i.e. 18 years in total, for Houbara Bustard: generation length is not known in Bengal Florican), then the species would warrant uplisting to Critically Endangered. Comments and information on the likely generation length and projected global decline rate would be welcome.

Source: Globally Threatened Bird Forum: Threatened Asian Birds at www.birdlife.org

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Eastern Sarus crane census Cambodia and Vietnam 2006 From 3 to 9 April 2006, synchronized counts of the eastern Sarus Crane were conducted at 16 locations in Cambodia and Vietnam. The counts in Cambodia were coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society - Cambodia Program and those in Vietnam by the International Crane Foundation - Vietnam Program.

A total of 814 cranes were recorded and the proportion of juvenile cranes in the population was estimated at 9.7%.

Sites that had the highest number of cranes were Ang Trapaeng Thmor (373), Hon Chong (166), Kampong Trach (94) and Tram Chim (89). The total number of cranes counted in Cambodia and Vietnam sites were 517 and 297, respectively.

An annual Sarus Crane census has been carried out since 2001. Crane count data from 2001 to 2006 showed that, while the total population does not experience significant changes, the number of cranes in the Mekong Delta clearly showed a declining trend. During that period, much of the seasonally inundated grasslands on the Ha Tien Plain, where cranes used as feeding and roosting habitats, were lost, mostly due to the expansion of shrimp farms.

The complete report of the 2006 Sarus crane count can be obtained by contacting the International Crane Foundation Vietnam Program (Email: ttriet@hcm.vnn.vn).

Number of cranes

1000 800 600 400 200 0 2001 Mekong Delta

2002

2003

Ang Trapeang Thmor

2004

2005

2006

Small Wetlands of Open Forest

Figure 1: Eastern Sarus Cranes in Cambodia and Vietnam, non-breeding seasons, 2001 - 2006

Triet Tran, PhD International Crane Foundation - Vietnam Program

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Myanmar holds National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning Workshop On Wednesday 7 June in Yangon the Forest Department and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) cohosted an inception workshop for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The workshop had four goals: 1. to ensure a thorough understanding of the process involved in developing a NBSAP and to launch the process; 2. to initiate stocktaking of data required and available; 3. to establish a steering committee, project management team, and three working groups covering natural resource use, conservation and ecology and socio-economic and political aspects and; 4. to discuss allocation of the available budget.

The meeting was opened with a presentation by U Soe Win Hlang, Director General of the Forest Department, followed by an introduction and overview of the NBSAP process from Dr An Bollen Junior Professional Officer at UNEP. In her presentation An drew attention to the importance of Myanmar: Investment Opportunities in Biodiversity Conservation, compiled and recently published by BirdLife International in Indochina. Subsequent presentations were made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Department of Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Science, the Department of Fisheries and the Forest Resource Environment Development Association. Presentations were also made by the BirdLife Affiliate in Myanmar, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), BirdLife International in Indochina, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Smithsonian Institution.

The meeting was well attended with perhaps 200 delegates from government and non-government agencies present.

After lunch a presentation from U Tin Aung Moe, UNEP guided delegates through the budget application for enabling activities and lively discussions and debate followed. This meeting was an important first step in the NBSAP process for Myanmar and BirdLife congratulates the Forest Department and UNEP on launching this initiative. BirdLife hopes the next step in the process, securing the funding required to undertake the process will continue to receive government support. BirdLife hopes too for a role in supporting the overall process.

Text by Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in Indochina

2006 International Symposium for Fairy Pitta in Taiwan The 2006 International Symposium for the Fairy Pitta was held on June 10 by the Wild Bird Federation Taiwan (WBFT) and the Wild Bird Society Of Yunlin (WBSY) in Yunlin County, Taiwan.

Experts from various countries were invited to come and share their research and experiences on conservation strategies for the Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha and other pitta species. Mr. Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in Indochina spoke about progress with conservation for the Gurney’s Pitta Pitta Gurneyi in Myanmar.

In addition, Mr. Nakamura Takio, the president of the Ecosystem Trust Society also shared a conservation strategy for Fairy Pitta in Kochi, Japan with the participants.

Mr. Jonathan C. Eames – BirdLife (right) and other participants at the symposium calling for protection of the Fairy Pitta. Photo: WBFT

In Taiwan, the policy to build dams and of industrial development is destroying remaining Fairy Pitta habitat and threatens the survival of the species. The WBFT and WBSY have been making continuous efforts to protect Fairy Pitta habitat for many years now with the aim to save this species from local extinction.

Text by Karen Chang, Wild Bird Federation Taiwan

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Category changes for birds in the Oriental Region The table below lists 18 species of the Oriental Region whose IUCN Red List category was revised in May 2006 for the 2006 IUCN Red List. Of the 18 changes, only two (Falcated Duck and Black-tailed Godwit) represent deteriorations in status. The remaining 16 changes reflect changes in taxonomy or new knowledge about the status of species previously considered to be possibly extinct. Note that two species Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea and Javanese Lapwing Vanellus macropterus have gone from Critical (Presumed Extinct) to Critical as a result of recent fieldwork by BirdLife.

Scientific name

Common name

2005

2006

1

Anas falcata

Falcated Duck

LC

NT

Reason for change knowledge

2

Rhodonessa caryophyllacea

Pink-headed Duck

CR (PE)

CR

knowledge

3

Puffinus persicus

Persian Shearwater

NT

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

4

Puffinus bannermani

Bannerman's Shearwater

LC

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

5

Vanellus macropterus

Javanese Lapwing

CR (PE)

CR

knowledge

6

Limosa limosa

Black-tailed Godwit

LC

NT

genuine (since first assessment)

7

Mirafra erythrocephala

Indochinese Bushlark

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

8

Mirafra microptera

Burmese Bushlark

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

9

Mirafra affinis

Jerdon’s Bushlark

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

10 Seicercus valentini

Bianchi’s Warbler

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

11 Seicercus tephrocephalus

Grey-crowned Warbler

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

12 Garrulax courtoisi

Courtois's Laughingthrush

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

13 Zoothera major

Amami Thrush

CR

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

14 Zoothera horsfieldi

Horsfield's Thrush

LC

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

15 Zoothera mendeni

Red-and-black Thrush

NR

NT

taxonomy (newly split)

16 Copsychus stricklandii

White-crowned Shama

LC

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

17 Chloropsis jerdoni

Jerdon’s Leafbird

NR

LC

taxonomy (newly split)

18 Motacilla lugens

Black-backed Wagtail

LC

NR

taxonomy (no longer valid/recognised)

Burmese Bushlark Mirafra microptera Photo: John and Jemi Holmes

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Vietnam lags behind in Ramsar designations On 20 January 1989, Vietnam became the first South-east Asian contracting party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention. However, in the 17 years since Vietnam became a contracting party, progress in implementing the convention has been slow and only two Ramsar sites were designated at Xuan Thuy National Park in the Red River Delta and Bau Sau Lake in the Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. Both sites cover a total area of 25,759 ha. Proposals for additional sites, such as Tram Chim National Park, Thai Thuy proposed nature reserve, and Tam Giang-Cau Hai proposed marine protected area, have been prepared but it remains unclear when, or if, new sites will be formally designated.

To date, seven ASEAN countries have ratified the Ramsar Convention, notifying 27 Ramsar sites covering 817,674 ha in the region. Most outstanding among the ASEAN countries in the implementation of the convention is Thailand which ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1998, 10 years after Vietnam, and now has 10 Ramsar sites covering 370,600 ha.

Rank

Contracting State

Year of Number of Area ratification Ramsar sites

5

Vietnam

1989

2 sites

25,759 ha

5

Indonesia

1992

2 sites

242,700 ha

3

Philippines

1994

4 sites

68,404 ha

2

Malaysia

1995

5 sites

55,355 ha

1

Thailand

1998

10 sites

370,600 ha

4

Cambodia

1999

3 sites

54,600 ha

6

Myanmar

2005

1 site

256 ha

No. of sites

BirdLife International has been working with the Ramsar Convention from its early days, and this is reflected in BirdLife's status as one of the Ramsar International Organisation Partners. This relationship has facilitated many crucial contributions by BirdLife to the development of the convention over the years. In addition, the Ramsar Convention has become perhaps the most important global mechanism for BirdLife Partners in their national work. Many Partners have contributed to the designation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as Wetlands of International Importance in their countries, and many help to monitor these sites.

In 2005, BirdLife Asia implemented a project that aims to prepare a list of IBAs in the Asia region that meet the Ramsar criteria, and promote the designation of these IBAs as Ramsar Sites. The project has included 25 of Vietnam’s IBAs on a “shadow list” of Ramsar sites. With the present rate of designation it will take Vietnam 200 years to designate all 25 sites.

As a Ramsar International Organisation Partner, and having a long-term commitment to wetland conservation issues in Vietnam, BirdLife is now seeking opportunities to support progress in implementing the convention by clarifying and stream-lining the procedures for designation so that Vietnam can match Thailand’s record and designate a further three site by the next meeting of the parties in South Korea in 2008.

Text by Nguyen Duc Tu, Programme Officer of BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

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Oil palm estates receive official visit from Lt‐Gen Maung Bo Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-General Maung Bo of the Ministry of Defence met Tatmadawmen and family members of regiments and units of Kawthoung Station at Bayintnaung Hall in Kawthoung on 1 May. Accompanied by Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen Maung Maung Swe and Col Myint Tun of Kawthoung Station, Lt-Gen Maung Bo viewed Kawthoung-Bokpyin Road. At Oil Palm Plantation Project of Yuzana Co Ltd in Phawthok Camp, Lt-Gen Maung Bo and party inspected fertilizers and pesticides to be used in oil palm plantations. Chairman of Yuzana Co Ltd U Htay Myint reported on matters related to growing oil palm in Kawthoung and Bokpyin Districts. Lt-Gen Maung Bo and party inspected nurturing of oil palm saplings to be grown at 10,000 acres of Yuzana Oil Palm Project in Maryan/Lonphawgyi region. They also inspected construction of Nantnwe Bridge to be linked Lonphawgyi and Maryan camps. In the area of Yuzana Oil Palm Project, 17,700 acres of oil palm have been grown and 1,800,400 saplings are being nurtured.

Afterwards, they viewed oil palm plantation of Dagon Timber Ltd. In Kawthoung and Karathuri, Dagon Timber Ltd has put 8,138.38 acres of land under oil palm. They oversaw land preparations for cultivation of oil palm by Po Kaung Co Ltd in Aungba and Tawwaing Villages in Bokpyin Township. The company has grown 7,504 acres of oil palm. In Karathuri, Lt-Gen Maung Bo inspected construction of the 16-bed hospital. Karathuri Hospital will be 80 feet long, 40 feet wide and 14 feet high. It will complete in November 2006. They inspected Karathuri-Bokpyin Road and progress in building Kyaukkyi Creek Bridge near Hankabyu Village.

They also looked at construction of Kawthoung-Bokpyin Road. Afterwards, they arrived at the Crude Palm Oil Mill of South Dagon Agricultural Project in Bokpyin. In-charge of the project U Maung Maung Latt reported on annual growing of oil palm of the company, nurturing of oil palm saplings, and cultivation of 5,692.55 acres of oil palm in 2005. The commander gave a supplementary report. After hearing the reports, Lt-Gen Maung Bo said that the Government relies on entrepreneurs to implement oil palm project. Hence, the entrepreneurs are to respond gratitude of the Government by extending cultivation of oil palm plantations year after year. He attended to the needs.

At Bokpyin Station, they met Tatmadawmen, family members and departmental personnel and explained progress of the State.

Source: The New Light of Myanmar, May 5, 2006

Myanmarʹs site Of Human‐dolphin Partnership Becomes Protected Area The government of Myanmar has established a protected area for, of all things, a partnership between fishermen and a small, gray beakless dolphin with a knack for herding fish into nets, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Specifically, some 70 kilometers of the Irrawaddy River have been protected to safeguard the cooperative fishery. It also supports one third of the river's population of Irrawaddy dolphins, a species that is threatened throughout much of its coastal and freshwater range. Fishermen plying the waters of Myanmar's Irrawaddy River have formed a partnership with the waterway's Irrawaddy dolphins, which drive fish into the waiting nets.

"This is a big step forward toward saving this cetacean in the Ayeyarwady River and the fishery that benefits both humans and dolphins," said WCS researcher Brian D. Smith, who has conducted research on the species in the region for several years. "Balancing the protection of a critically endangered wildlife population with local livelihoods and preservation of a unique cultural tradition is a win-win situation for all."

The fascinating partnership involves fishermen summoning the dolphins to voluntarily herd schools of fish toward the boats and awaiting nets. With the aid of the river-dwelling dolphins, the fishermen can increase the size of their catches by threefold, and the dolphins appear to benefit by more easily preying on the cornered fish in both nets and on the muddy banks of the river. The Irrawaddy dolphin grows to some 2 to 2.5 meters in length (6.5 to 8 feet) and frequents the coasts, estuaries, and freshwater lagoons of South-East Asia. It is threatened throughout its range by incidental catches and in several areas by habitat degradation. The dolphin population in the Irrawaddy River is one of the most threatened, specifically by electrocution from illegal electric fishing and entanglement in gill nets, and from mercury poisoning and habitat loss from gold mining operations in the river. Recent surveys of the river conducted by the Department of Fisheries and WCS found that the species range had declined by some 60 percent, and that only 59 to 72 individuals remained in a region some 1000 kilometers from the sea. In response to these findings, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) designated the population as "critically endangered".

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21 BirdLife International in Indochina The new protected area will boost awareness about the Irrawaddy dolphin and its unique role in the river's livelihoods, as well as enforce the prohibition of electric fishing, gold mining, and other threats, and initiate a systematic monitoring program for the species. Another positive development is a recent ban on gold mining in the Irrawaddy and a recent survey conducted by WCS and the Myanmar’s Department of Fisheries found that the ban had been 100% effective on eliminating this threat from the river. "If the protected area proves successful at conserving dolphins and enhancing the livelihoods of local fishermen, it could be used as a model for extending similar protection to other river segments," added U Mya Than Tun, Senior Scientist with the Myanmar’s Department of Fisheries.

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society, 24 June 2006

Bush‐quail makes unexpected reappearance

The poorly known Manipur Bush-quail Perdicula manipurensis has been seen in India, the first confirmed sighting of this small gamebird for over seventy years.

On 6 June 2006, the Embankment & Drainage Department had to undertake some engineering works in and around Manas National Park, a world heritage site in Assam. The team was accompanied by the region's Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, a noted ornithologist, who was present to inspect the works. As access to the park during the monsoon season is notoriously difficult, this was a rare opportunity to enter the area at this time of year.

"Driving was very slow as in places the road was invisible, being entirely overgrown with tall grass. At 2.30 pm, a quail was flushed which flew in front of our vehicle for about 15 metres and dropped into the grass in the middle of the road. I was familiar with flushing quails, buttonquails and rails in the grassland sanctuaries of Assam but the larger size of this bird and its rather slaty-grey colour surprised me," described Dr Choudhury. "The bird took off again and flew for another 15 metres confirming that it could be only one species – the Manipur Bush-quail. This time it landed in a small clearing made by the wheels of the vehicles where it paused for about three to four seconds, giving me enough time to see its side view with contrasting grey and buff colour. I did not get a chance to study the head pattern to determine its sex," he added.

The elusive Manipur Bush-quail Perdicula manipurensis Handbook of the Birds of the World - volume 2

"I was very excited but slightly disappointed as I could have taken video shots when it stood still. Unfortunately however it quickly vanished into the three metre-high grass."

—Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury Depite searching further along the track later that day, no more quails were seen and further visits to the site will not be possible for the next four months due to the monsoon conditions. The last authentic records of Manipur Bush-quail from Assam were from Mornoi, Goalpara, where birds were obtained for various collections in 1905-07. The last confirmed record of the species in its entire range was mentioned as "pre-1932" in Manipur Valley by J C Higgins, civil servant and ornithologist, although unconfirmed sightings were reported in 1998 and 2004. A probable resident, the Manipur Bush-quail inhabits damp grassland, particularly stands of tall grass, and sometimes bogs and swamps, from the foothills up to c.1,000 m. Historical records indicate that it was generally encountered in small groups of 4-12, and was shy, reluctant to fly and extremely difficult to observe, although coveys were occasionally seen feeding in the open on recently burnt ground. The little available data indicate that it breeds between January and May.

"This sighting of Manipur Bush-quail is excellent news. Hopefully it bodes well for other 'vanished' Indian species such as the Himalayan Quail - which has not been recorded since 1876." —Ed Parnell, BirdLife International Classified on the IUCN Red List by BirdLife as Vulnerable, the major threat facing the bush-quail is thought to be the drainage and destruction of its tall grassland habitat. Many suitable areas have been greatly reduced or fragmented to accommodate the area's rapidly expanding human population. Manas National Park and adjacent areas of Manas Reserved Forest hold the best remaining areas of suitable habitat in Assam.

Source: BirdLife International News Release, June 30, 2006

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22 BirdLife International in Indochina

Important Bird Areas news Update on Western Siem Pang IBA (KH008), Cambodia On 16 and 17 June, 2006, representatives of the Green Sea Land Concession and the Sekong Development Land Concession came to Western Siem Pang in order to mark-out their concession boundaries in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Forestry Administration, provincial forestry cantonment. After taking UTM location points and marking their land, they organized meetings with some heads of villages and with commune chiefs of Thmor Keo, Prek Meas and Srae Sambo communes. The meeting focused on how many hectares of each village is currently under rice-fields, housing and forest. Many commune leaders expressed concerns about loosing the forests upon which they depend for their livelihoods. Moreover, they also expressed concern about the need for further paddy land for future generations as their villages grow. Controversy occurred between concession land representatives and commune leaders when the commune leaders proposed the extent of their village areas. As a result, all the areas proposed by the communes were written down by the Forestry Administration representative in order to submit to the Ministry for its decision. The total proposed land area of three communes is 40,155 ha, not including rice-fields and village areas. No decision by the Ministry has been made yet.

So far BirdLife has conducted a PRA (Participatory Rapid Assessment) for seven villages in Western Siem Pang area.

BirdLife staff explained to local people about the importance of forests and encouraged them to advocate their interests in forest land in their communes to the government.

By Prach Pich Phirun, Project Officer of BirdLife International Cambodia Programme

Biodiversity hangs‐on in the Red River Delta (VN012, 013, 014, 015, 016 and 017), Vietnam On May 26, 2006, BirdLife International Vietnam Programme officially launched a report entitled Conservation of key coastal wetland sites in the Red River Delta: an assessment of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) ten years on. This report has been produced as a result of work funded by the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF).

BirdLife conducted a series of field surveys to reassess the biodiversity status of six coastal IBAs in the Red River Delta.

Project fieldwork was implemented during a five-month period between November 2005 and March 2006. The study, which is the first comprehensive assessment on the biodiversity conservation status in the Red River Delta since 1996, confirms that the single most important site for conservation in the Red River Delta is Xuan Thuy National Park, followed

by Thai Thuy, Tien Hai, Tien Lang, Nghia Hung and An Hai. The coastal zone of the Red River Delta supports large inshore fishery and aquaculture industries which are dependent on the maintenance of the ecological integrity of the mangrove forests, inter-tidal areas and associated habitats. As a result of an increasing human population coupled with economic growth, utilization of natural resources has become intensive throughout the coastal zone and may no longer be sustainable. It was predictable that sites without appropriate management would have fared badly since 1996. Nevertheless, it was particularly disappointing to see the decline in the importance of Nghia Hung. In 1996, BirdLife recommended this site was worthy of designation under the Ramsar Convention. Today it would fail to meet the relevant criteria. Like other sites in the Red River Delta, it has mainly suffered because of over-hunting and habitat loss caused by over-exploitation of its natural resources.

“Specific conservation management recommendations for each IBA are presented in this report. However, addressing the major issues of continuing habitat loss and hunting are urgent conservation priorities if the globally important biodiversity in the Red River Delta is to be conserved for future generations,” said Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in Indochina.

Text by Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh, BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

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23 BirdLife International in Indochina

Refresher course on forest patrolling for the SSGs in Truong Son IBA (VN041), Vietnam As part of the project entitled Community stewardship of natural resources for biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation at Truong Son Important Bird Area (IBA), Vietnam, Site Support Groups (SSGs) in northern Huong Hoa, Truong Son IBA have been re-trained to improve their skills in forest patrolling. Eight members of patrol groups in Cop and Cuoi villages, Huong Lap commune recently attended a three-day training course in May 2006. The training focused on methods and skills in forest patrolling, including: defining areas, routes, and points for patrolling; planning for forest patrolling; dealing with law infringement cases; and report writing skills. In addition, the trainees were also equipped with essential knowledge on biodiversity, reasons for biodiversity degradation, and how to identify endemic and threatened mammal and bird species in their area. In July there will be another refresher course on forest patrolling for SSGs in Dakrong IBA.

A patrol group from Cop village (left) prepares its presentation on forest patrol planning. Photo: Duong Duy Khanh Trainees practice patrol note taking (below).

Photo: Duong Duy Khanh

A trainer and trainees discuss forest patrol routes (left) Photo: Duong Duy Khanh

Text by Ngo Van Tuan, Programme Officer BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

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24 BirdLife International in Indochina

Update on Tam Dao road construction (VN032), Vietnam The road construction work at Tam Dao National Park reported in Babbler 15 is nearing completion. The former ‘water tank trail’ of birders’ trip reports has been transformed into a two-lane road ending in a turning point where the thick bamboo forest begins below the summit. JCBs (mechanical excavators) and trucks continue to cart away rubble and the roadside camps of the road crews are still occupied but it appears that the major construction work is just about finished. Birding however remains very difficult for the time being along the whole length of the road due to continual disturbance by both machines and humans.

It remains to be seen what long term affect the opening of the road will have on the local avifauna once the construction teams have packed up and left. The water tank trail was one of the best and most accessible birding areas at Tam Dao with local specialities like Blue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis, Green and Purple Cochoas Cochoa viridis and C. purpurea, Grey Laughingthrush Garrulax maesi and Short-tailed Parrotbill Paradoxornis davidianus often turning up.

Photo (left): The famous water tank, after which the popular birding trail was named, now looks rather insignificant alongside the new road Photo (down): A JCB does its stuff along the 'Water Tank Highway'!

Photo (left): The newly construct 'Water Tank Highway' at Tam Dao!

Text and photos by Richard Craik, Ho Chi Minh City

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25 BirdLife International in Indochina

Logging Fokienia in Chu Yang Sin National Park (VN030), Vietnam For many years now, forest rangers of Chu Yang Sin National Park have been facing forest law infringement in the area. One of the most alarming illegal activities is the logging and transportation of Fokienia hodginsii timber in 1203 compartment in the Park. This activity has been going on for a long time. Most of loggers are indigenous people from some villages in Bong Krang commune, Lak district.

Who though is organizing them and buying the timber? In May and June this year, some illegal loggers were apprehended at forest protection station No. 7 in Bong Krang commune. The illegal transportation of timber was already known at some villages in this commune, for example forest rangers from the above-mentioned station twice caught two trucks carrying illegal timber in these villages, of which one truck carried 2.8 cubic meters of Fokienia timber (see the photo left). The This truck was caught at a village in Bong Krang commune coordination among Park managers, local while carrying illegal 2.8 cubic meter Fokienia timber. authorities and other forest law enforcement Photo: Le Trong Trai agencies is not adequately synchronised. The Director of the Park hopes that closer coordination between these offices and an improved implementation of current forest contract system in the villages where Fokienia timber logging activities are still occurring will help to protect the forests and Fokienia species. The Global Environment Facility/World Bank (GEF/WB) funded Integrating Watershed and Biodiversity Management in Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam project, which is being implemented

by BirdLife, has already prepared a plan to coordinate with the Park in implementing conservation awareness education programme in some prioritised villages in the coming months.

Text by Le Trong Trai, Programme Officer, BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

Rarest of the rare

White-eyed River-Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae Prompted by claims that the species has been seen recently on the Sre Ambel River in southern Cambodia, we here reproduce an article by Dr Joe Tobias which appeared in the OBC Bulletin 31, June 2000.

In January 1968, during the course of ringing activities at a wetland site in south-central Thailand, fieldworkers discovered a strange swallow amongst large numbers of migrant hirundines. It proved to be a new species and was christened the White-eyed River-Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae by Kitti Thonglongya who dedicated this spectacular and beautiful bird to Princess Sirindhorn Thepratanasuda. Over the next three years several more specimens were collected at the same site, but apart

The Babbler 18 – July 2006

White-eyed River-Martin Photo: H.E. McClure

26 BirdLife International in Indochina from these, and a fleeting observation in 1978, this remarkable bird has effectively vanished. An avian enigma, it has come to epitomise the mythical allure of rarity to the birdwatcher, and for three decades it has symbolised the Asian mystery of the ornithological world. As such it has appeared in logo form in the pages of this journal as the archetypal little-known bird. The time has come to compile our knowledge of the species and to present it afresh in the hope that it might lead to a dramatic rediscovery.

To begin with, we need to retrace the events of January and February 1968 and glean what we can from the available facts. The site of discovery is first misleadingly given as a big marsh on the Chao Praya River (1). The type-locality is then specified as Bung (= Nong = Lake) Boraphet, Amphoe Muang, Nakhon Sawan Province, central Thailand (1), and from its subsequent description as a shallow, marshy, reed-filled lake of 25,000 hectares it seems clear that this is the big marsh originally mentioned (a point confirmed by Thonglongya (2)). Rediscovery efforts in 1980-1981 were apparently concentrated on an island where all of Kitti's river martins had been captured (3), suggesting that, at one time, confidence was high that a very precise origin was known.

This no longer appears to be the case. The first White-eyed River-Martins were reportedly caught while night-trapping roosting swallows (Hirundo rustica, H. daurica, Riparia riparia), wagtails and warblers by casting a fishing net over a reedbed (1) a method repeated by subsequent authors (3,4,5). However, according to a local technician who worked with the original field team, the birds were neither seen in the field nor trapped by any of the team members, but rather were brought in to the teams hotel in nearby Nakhon Sawan by villagers following a broadcast appeal for live wild birds for ringing purposes (6). It seems likely, therefore, that the precise site of collection is impossible to determine, but that it is certainly in the region of Bung Boraphet, and most likely at the lake itself.

Whatever their exact origins, nine specimens were initially collected: one each on 28 and 29 January (although the label on specimen 53-1218 actually states 27 January 1968 (6)) and seven on 10 February 1968 (1). From analysis of the resultant skins its closest ally was deemed to be the African River-Martin Pseudochelidon eurystomina (1). Initially described as congeneric (1), the African species and the Asian species differ markedly in the size of their bills and eyes, suggesting that they have very different feeding ecologies, sirintarae probably being able to take much larger prey and perhaps in different microhabitats (7). The gape of sirintarae is swollen and hardened, unlike the softer, fleshier, much less prominent gape of eurystomina(1,19).

The feet and claws of sirintarae are unusually large and robust for an aerial feeder (1) and the two species also have different toe proportions, which might suggest dissimilar nesting habits (19). These differences are sufficiently pronounced in the view of some taxonomists to permit the allocation of its own genus, Eurochelidon (7), although other authors support the retention of both species in Pseudochelidon, arguing that they mirror patterns in other congeneric hirundines (8). Whether treated as one genus, or two, the syringeal structures of the two river-martins are divergent enough from those of the Hirundininae to confirm subfamily distinction from the true swallows, and apparently enough to suggest that they might belong in a separate family (1,9).

Shortly after these first specimens, a tenth bird was caught in November 1968 (2) and brought alive to Bangkok where it was photographed in December 1968 (3). Furthermore, at least two birds (one pair) reached but soon afterwards died in Dusit Zoo in Bangkok in early 1971 (3).

The only widely reported field observation was of six individuals flying low over Bung Boraphet towards dusk on 3 February 1978 (10). In addition, four probable immature White-eyed River-Martins were reportedly observed perched in trees on Temple Island in Bung Boraphet in January 1980 (3,5), and one was reputedly trapped by local people in 1986 (11). Both these records remain unconfirmed.

Several subsequent searches have tried to locate the species around the site. For example, eleven amateur birding groups surveyed the lake unsuccessfully during 1979 (3). Investigations were carried out between December 1980 to March 1981 by a team from the Association for White-eyed River-Martin the Conservation of Wildlife but, despite netting Photo: H.E. McClure many roosting Barn Swallows in reedbeds, they failed to reveal any river-martins (12). In 1988 another concerted effort to relocate the species was undertaken at Bung Boraphet, ending with failure as the swallow roosts were highly disturbed and mobile (13).

The real number of White-eyed River-Martins trapped in the 1960s and 1970s may have been much higher than these figures suggest. In the wave of public and media interest following the sensational discovery of the species, trappers are rumoured to have caught around 120 individuals and sold them to the director of the Nakhon Sawan Fisheries Station

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27 BirdLife International in Indochina (3,5). Moreover, local markets were reported to have had several other specimens in January-February of succeeding years (10). Having been found on Thai soil and decorated with the name of Thai royalty, there was a significant local demand for specimens or caged examples of the species, for zoos, presentation to dignitaries or as curios for the affluent.

What has become of the White-eyed River-Martin? Did this harvest of hirundines extinguish it entirely? Were these last known individuals merely the doomed remnants of a population displaced by disturbance from a specialized breeding habitat? (5) Perhaps. It is quite conceivably extinct, and if it still survives its population seems likely to be tiny. The original series of specimens taken in early 1968 were outnumbered by hordes of trapped Barn Swallows by a ratio of 9:6,000 (1). In spite of this exceptional rarity, it was thought that the species might be regular at Bung Boraphet since the local bird-catchers had a name for it, nok ta phong, the swollen-eyed bird (1).

Unfortunately, there has been a drastic decline in the Bung Boraphet swallow population from hundreds of thousands reported around 1970 to maximum counts of 8,000 made in the winter of 1980-1981, although it is not certain if this represents a real decline or a shift in site in response to persecution (3). However, an estimated 100,000 swallows were present at a roost near Chotiravi, near Bung Boraphet, in August 1986 (11) and there were 30,000 at Bung Boraphet in May 1988 (11). Nevertheless, a dealer working the large Chotiravi roost claimed never to have encountered the species (11). The general feeling is that an absence of sightings since early 1980, despite numerous observational efforts, cast ominous doubts over the survival of the White-eyed River-Martin (3).

Unfortunately, the habits of swallows around the lake appear to have altered recently, with very few birds roosting in the reedbeds until late winter (13). Much of the population now roosts in sugar cane plantations, moving back to the reedbeds after the cane has been harvested (13). The roosts also form well after dark, whereas they once gathered before dusk (13). These changes are probably the result of prolonged disturbance by trappers (11). In any case, the swallow roosts are more mobile and difficult to locate, factors that have further obstructed the rediscovery of the Whiteeyed River-Martin.

The reduction in Barn Swallow populations in the Bung Boraphet area is difficult to explain but intensive trapping activities for the purpose of selling birds as food in local markets must have played a major role, as must the annual destruction of roosting sites to make way for lotus cultivation (3). Huge areas of reedbed in areas frequented by roosting swallows were being burnt in February 1986 (11). The hunting of hirundines without a licence has been illegal since 1972, although this legislation is rarely enforced (3). Relations between conservationists and bird trappers at Bung Boraphet are occasionally fraught, to the extent that a reserve ranger was killed when trying to apprehend poachers at roosts in 1987 (13).

It seems that any rediscovery efforts should now be targeted away from Bung Boraphet, and indeed perhaps away from Thailand. How might we judge where best to look? What secrets have hitherto been disclosed that might help direct our search? Unhelpfully, the ecology of this bird remains almost totally unknown, and thus ornithologists have looked to its presumed relative, the African River-Martin, to provide clues. Since P. eurystomina feeds largely over both forest and open grassy country, nesting colonially in tunnels dug in sandbars of large rivers (14) it has been inferred that E. sirintarae possibly does or once did the same (4). However, the differently shaped toes might suggest otherwise (19).

At least one of the initial specimens had mud or sand adhering to its claws, and while this perhaps suggests a terrestrial perching habit (6), most swallows occasionally do the same, especially when collecting nest material. Another clue: in holding cages used during the swallow ringing programme, the birds stood quietly in the corner of the cage in strong contrast to other swallows which move rapidly from perch to perch calling repeatedly (1).

In the unconfirmed report of 1980, individuals were flying after insects with some Barn Swallows and sometimes perching on the tops of trees (20). During the 1978 sighting they were apparently skimming the water surface, possibly to drink (10).

While these accounts describe behaviour characteristic of most swallows, the only direct dietary evidence is the fragment of a large beetle found in the stomach of a specimen (1). This fact, along with the mandibular morphology of the species, implies that it consumes sizeable prey.

What about breeding season, distribution and migratory behaviour? Five of the nine specimens collected in late January and early February 1968 were immature (1); they were later termed juvenile, and some of the other material as subadult (2) (although this is not mentioned in the original description). A breeding site within Thailand was initially considered plausible on the grounds that so many of the type series were young (2). It has also been speculated that if nesting occurs in Thailand it is most likely to do so between March and April, as this coincides with the local nesting season for the majority of insectivorous birds, while the White-eyed River-Martin monsoon rains from May onwards presumably raise water levels above the Photo: H.E. McClure riverine sandflats postulated to be the favoured nesting habitat of the species (5,6,10). It is unlikely, however, that juvenile plumage would be retained for eight months, and thus these two facts are difficult to reconcile. The White-eyed River-Martin has otherwise been thought a non-breeding visitor to south-central Thailand (20) and clearly migratory (4), but these assumptions should also be treated with care. Although it has only been found between December and February, and despite the above disparity,

The Babbler 18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July 2006

28 BirdLife International in Indochina there is insufficient information to rule out breeding in the Nakhon Sawan area (6,11). In conclusion, it is unclear whether the species is, or was, a migrant at all.

As recent searches around Bung Boraphet have been unsuccessful, let us assume it is a migrant. If it travelled across Thailand, where did it come from? The riverine nesting grounds might possibly lie along one of the four major watercourses (the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan) which drain northern Thailand, either in the immediate vicinity of Nakhon Sawan or to the north (5,6). If it came from further afield, perhaps these putative breeding grounds lie on one of the other major river systems of South-East Asia, such as the Mekong in China, Laos or Cambodia, or the Salween and Irrawaddy in Myanmar (5,6). Evidence that the species breeds, or has ever occurred, in China is scant, although a painting by a Chinese artist held in the Sun Fung Art House of Hong Kong appears to depict the species (15). This tentative clue has failed to lead to any further information, and in any case the subject of the painting is more likely to be an Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum (16).

A survey of the Nan, Yom and Wang rivers in northern Thailand was carried out in May 1969, but was not comprehensive and relied chiefly on interviewing villagers, none of whom seemed to know the bird (2). Rivers near the Chinese border of Laos were searched in April 1996, local people being shown illustrations of the species, but without success (W. Robichaud verbally 1997). Very few other surveys have looked for it outside Thailand and there is still scope for research in remote regions where a population might survive.

Throughout its possible range there is a catalogue of pressures potentially imposed on the species (5,6). Man has drastically altered the lowlands of central and northern Thailand: huge areas are now deforested, agriculture has intensified, pesticide use is ubiquitous and urban environments have spread extensively (5,6). In addition, all major lowland rivers and their banks suffer a high level of disturbance by fishermen, hunters, vegetable growers and sanddredgers (5,6). Whole communities of nesting riverine birds have vanished from large segments of their ranges in South-East Asia owing to habitat destruction, human persecution and intense disturbance of most navigable waterways (5,17,18). Local people routinely trap or shoot birds for food and for sale in local markets (5,6). Even at Bung Boraphet Non-Hunting Area (established in 19793) the trapping of birds has continued, at some level, up to the present (5,6). If the species preferentially forages over forest, its numbers could already have declined to a perilously low level at the time of its discovery because of deforestation and the intensification of agriculture in river valleys (5,6).

These threats are based on the ecological traits inferred by its suspected taxonomic affinities. It should be borne in mind that riverine nesting habits and preferences for forest are only an assumption, and that it might conceivably utilise some entirely different habitat. Even the name river-martin is perhaps a complete misnomer, as the species has never been seen on a river and is no longer considered congeneric with the African River-Martin (7). Interestingly, the most recent scrutiny of specimens suggested that it was perhaps nocturnal, or at least highly crepuscular, based principally on its unusually large eyes (19). This raises the possibility that it is normally a cave dweller or a hole-rooster in trees or rock, emerging to feed in twilight or darkness, and this opens up new avenues of exploration. There are, for example, limestone caves not far from Bung Boraphet, and many more in Laos and southern China.

While there is only a faint chance that this, one of the most elusive species in the world (15) still survives, it bears the extraordinary distinction of being highly unusual in appearance yet overlooked by naturalists in a well-worked country until the late 1960s. As it is thus either extremely rare or inexplicably cryptic, it is not yet time to give up hope for the swollen-eyed bird. Its possible range should be revisited with a broader outlook. The prize, to any successful searcher, is considerable: solving one of the most puzzling mysteries of Asian ornithology.

References 1.

Thonglongya, Kitti (1968) A new martin of the genus Pseudochelidon from Thailand. Thai National Scientific Papers, Fauna Series no. 1. Bangkok: Applied Scientific Research Corporation of Thailand.

2.

Thonglongya, Kitti (1969) Report on an expedition in northern Thailand to look for breeding sites of Pseudochelidon sirintarae (21 May to 27 June). Bangkok: Applied Scientific Research Corporation of Thailand

3.

Sophason and Dobias (1984) The fate of the Princess Bird, or White-eyed River Martin (Pseudochelidon sirintarae). Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 32(1): 1-10.

4.

Turner and Rose (1989) Swallows and martins of the world. Bromley, UK: Christopher Helm.

5.

Round, P. D. (1990) Bird of the month: White-eyed River-Martin. Bangkok Bird Club Bulletin 7(1): 10-11.

6.

BirdLife International (in press) Threatened birds of Asia.

7.

Brooke, R. K. (1972) Generic limits in old world Apodidae and Hirundinidae. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 53-57.

8.

Zusi, R. L. (1978) Remarks on the generic allocation of Pseudochelidon sirintarae. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 98(1): 1315.

9.

Mayr, E. and Amadon, D. (1951) A classification of recent birds. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1496: 1-42.

10. King and Kanwanich (1978) First wild sighting of the White-eyed River-Martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae. Biol.

Cons. 13: 183-185.

11. D. Ogle in litt. (1986).

12. Anon. (1981) A search for the White-eyed River Martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae, at Bung Boraphet, central Thailand. Bangkok: Association for the conservation of Wildlife of Thailand. Unpublished report.

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29 BirdLife International in Indochina 13. D. Ogle in litt. (19871988).

14. Keith. S., Urban, E. K. and Fry, C. H. (1992) The Birds of Africa, volume 4. London: Academic Press.

15. Dickinson, E. (1986) Does the White-eyed River-Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae breed in China? Forktail 2: 95-96.

16. Parkes, K. C. (1987) Letter: was the Chinese White-eyed River-Martin an Oriental Pratincole? Forktail 3: 68-69.

17. Scott, D. A. (ed.) (1989) A Directory of Asian Wetlands. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 18. Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounboline, K. (compilers) (1999) Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report.

Vientiane: IUCN-The World Conservation Union/Wildlife Conservation Society/Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management.

19. P. M. Rasmussen in litt. (2000).

20. Ogle, D. (1986) The status and seasonality of birds in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 34: 115-143.

Text by Dr Joe Tobias, OBC Bulletin 31, June 2000

Project updates Chu Yang Sin National Park – rich in fish and butterflies As part of the Global Environment Fund/World Bank (GEF/WB) funded Integrating Watershed and Biodiversity Management in Chu Yang Sin National Park (CYS NP), Dak Lak Province, Vietnam project, in April and May 2006, a joint team of BirdLife staff, CYS NP staff, and other commissioned scientists undertook an additional biodiversity survey in the park, focusing on fish and butterfly faunas. This follows a survey on biodiversity status parts of CYS NP carried out by the team in March this year. Information gained during these surveys will be a foundation for the establishment of a biodiversity monitoring programme and management plan for CYS NP. It is the first time these groups have been studied in the Chu Yang Sin area. The survey was focused on the two main streams inside core zone of the park: Dak Tour and Krong K’Mar streams, which are located in the eastern and western parts of the park respectively. Both streams feed to Krong No River, which is a tributary of the Srepok.

Primary results indicated that the fish fauna of the park is characteristic of fish fauna of the Mekong River. A total of 81 species was recorded at the two locations, of which 76 species are found in the Mekong River. Amongst 81 species were recorded, three species need further identification, including Acantopsis sp., Schistura sp and Schistura sp. There is a hope that these species may be new species for science. Only one species recorded, Chinese Algae-eater Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is considered as a nationally threatened species by Red Data Book of Vietnam “Thirteen species recorded during the survey were additions to the fish fauna of Vietnam. These species include Danio leptos, D. ascrotomus, D. gibber, Rasbora hobelmani, Puntius rhombeus, P. bolovenensis, Lobocheilos davisi, Acantopsis delphax, A. sp., Schistura defectiva, S. kentungensis, S. coruscans, and Hemimyzon papilio. The survey results reveals that unsustainable exploitation of fish within CYS NP by using explosive/dynamite and leaf poison by local communities is a major threat to fish species as well as aquatic species,” said Mr Le Trong Trai, BirdLife’s Conservation Planner for this project.

The butterfly survey was also the first for CYS NP. During the survey, a total of 244 species were recorded, among which only one species represented a new record for Vietnam. Ten other species recorded had not been found before on the Da Lat Plateau. Another noteworthy record was Golden Birdwing Troides helena (Papilionidae) listed in Appendix II of the Convention on Trad in Endangered Species (CITES). Biogeographically the butterfly fauna at CYS NP is similar to communities found in other highland areas of the Da Lat Plateau. A rather smaller proportion of species discovered (2%) are endemic to the eastern Himalayan area, northern and central Indochina.

“Analysis of the current data at CYS NP suggests that riverine habitat supports the highest levels of butterfly species richness (170 species) and primary forest habitat supports the second highest species richness (80 species). Butterfly communities at higher elevations in the CYS NP should be considered as most important to science as they are understudied and potentially containing unknown taxa”, stated Dr Alexander Monastyrskii, the world authority on butterflies in this region.

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30 BirdLife International in Indochina

Golden Birdwing Troides helena (Papilionidae) mentioned in Appendix II of the Convention on Trad in Endangered Species (CITES) as commercial species.

Photo: Dr Alexander Monastyrskii

Stichophthalma uemurai (Amathusiidae family) – a species proposed for Vietnamese Red Data Book (last edition) as an endemic species to Vietnam. Photo: Dr Alexander Monastyrskii

Further butterfly and fish fauna surveys in CYS NP are planned. BirdLife hopes that more species new to science will be found.

Text by Le Trong Trai, Programme Officer of BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

Dong Nai Watershed Project ‐ BirdLife International and Winrock International in collaboration Winrock International is developing a conservation landscape approach to conserve biodiversity in and around the Dong Nai Watershed with emphasis on Cat Tien National Park and surrounding areas. An important step towards this goal is to complete a Conservation Landscape Assessment. Recently Winrock International and BirdLife International have signed a collaborative agreement, by which BirdLife will provide technical experts to support to the Conservation Landscape Assessment, working in collaboration with a team of Winrock staff, international and national consultants, and representatives of NGO and government conservation agencies.

MacArthur Foundation funds new BirdLife project in Cambodia and Vietnam BirdLife International in Indochina has recently been awarded another major grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for a project entitled Completing protected areas systems in priority landscapes in Cambodia and Vietnam. This follows the previous project entitled Conservation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Indochina which ended in February this year. The new three-year project aims to significantly enhance the ecological integrity and longterm conservation prospects of two priority landscapes in the Lower Mekong Region: the Central Annamites of Vietnam and the Dry Forest Plains of Cambodia through the establishment and effective management of pivotal protected areas.

The protected areas systems in these two priority landscapes have been established relatively recently, and still have major shortcomings in terms of coverage and management effectiveness. The governments of Cambodia and Vietnam have national policy targets to expand and strengthen their protected areas systems but, due to the rate of economic development and human population growth, and because of their limited capacity in conservation management, both governments face constraints in achieving these goals. BirdLife believes that, by supporting existing government proposals to establish and effectively manage protected areas at Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri and

The Babbler 18 – July 2006

31 BirdLife International in Indochina Ratanakiri provinces, Cambodia, and Bac Huong Hoa proposed Nature Reserve in Quang Tri province, Vietnam, conservationists can make a disproportionately large contribution to landscape-scale conservation efforts in the two priority landscapes in the Lower Mekong Region.

“The two sites have been selected because of their strategic positions within these landscapes - their conservation is essential to the overall ecological integrity and, hence, long-term conservation prospects of the two landscapes. In addition to being government priorities for conservation, both sites are recognized as global priorities by the international conservation community. They are Important Bird Areas, lying within Global 200 Ecoregions and located within the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot. This is a once-in-eternity opportunity to secure the long-term future of these critical sites”, said Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in Indochina.

The project will also seek to leverage donor support to scale-up conservation activities proposed by project staff, by developing proposals to address locally identified issues, for submission to local funding sources, such as the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Program. In addition, the project will develop follow-on proposals to strengthen protected area management capacity and ensure long-term financing is available for Lomphat and Bac Huong Hoa protected areas.

Text by Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh, BirdLife International Vietnam Programme

Conservation awareness materials developed for villagers around Natmataung National Park In preparation for developing awareness materials, four teachers working at schools situated in the buffer zone of Natmataung National Park were selected to visit Yangon for training and to assist BANCA staff in design of awareness materials and an awareness programme. Topics covered with them included BANCA’s mission and activities, the goals and objectives of the project, why we should conserve our natural resources, important species of Myanmar, the importance and values of Natmataung National Park, livelihood issues for villagers around Natmataung National Park, awareness messages to be conveyed, how to inform and change attitudes of local children. It was finally decided to produce an exercise book, leaflet, poster and wall hanging each communicating conservation messages relating to promoting the sustainable management of Natmataung National Park (Annex 4). A work plan was then developed to extend these materials via township level workshops to the teachers in Mindat and Kanpetlet Townships.

The educational workshops to promote the sustainable management of Natmataung National Park were conducted by Khin Ma Ma Thwin, with the assistance of U Moe Zaw Thwin and the staff of Natmataung National Park. The Park Warden of Natmataung National Park invited local school teachers to attend the workshops to be held in Kanpetlet and Mindat townships. The first workshop was held on 31st August in Kanpetlet Township and the second in Mindat on 2 September 2005. The programme and format was the same in both workshops. In total nearly 100 teachers, mainly primary school with some secondary schools, attended. Each workshop was divided into two sessions. The first session was focused on delivering conservation messages including the value of conserving the national park, and solutions to co-management. In this session the exercise books, leaflets, posters, wall hangings and pencils were distributed to the teachers who would then be taking them to their own villages and conducting village level workshops with the same content. A second session comprised lectures on ecology, conservation of natural resources, the value of Natmataung National Park and the role of native people and school children in the sustainable management of Natmataung National Park. Workshop participants later broke into groups to discuss a number of key conservation issues facing Natmataung National Park. Following a refreshment break raconteurs reported in plenary. In addition all educational materials were distributed to all households in the four villages with SSGs. Vinyl posters, paper posters, leaflets and wall hangings were distributed to the township authority personnel and Natmataung National Park staff, the departmental offices, tea shops, churches, monasteries and all those who asked!

This poster is one of various outputs used in the awareness programme in Natmataung National Park.

Text and poster by Daw Khin Ma Ma Thwin, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association

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32 BirdLife International in Indochina

Gurney’s Pitta Research and Conservation Project, Myanmar Since March 2006, BirdLife has been carrying out a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Darwin Initiativefunded research project in Myanmar. This project will establish a framework of knowledge, skills and priorities necessary for habitat restoration and the conservation of key sites for Gurney’s Pitta in Tanintharyi Division, as well as securing the population while the recovery plan is implemented. This research will also contribute towards the conservation of Gurney’s Pitta, and to the conservation of lowland Sundaic forests, one of the most threatened habitats in South-East Asia. The main goals are as follows: (1) Strengthening the knowledge and skills of, and working relationships between the recovery plan partners; (2) Generating the scientific knowledge necessary to conserve Gurney’s Pitta, and conserve and restore its habitat and; (3) Produce a species recovery plan for Myanmar. Initially the project will produce habitat suitability maps for Gurney’s Pitta; estimate population density of Gurney’s Pitta; estimate parameters on ecogeographical factors for Gurney’s Pitta; initiate transboundary Gurney’s Pitta conservation approach in this area; and identify the priority conservation areas.

Text by Aung Pyeh Khant, Research Team Leader

Successful vulture trapping in Cambodia Two more vultures were successfully trapped during Dr Martin Gilbert’s recent trip to the Sre Pok Wilderness Area, in Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. These birds were:

Red-headed Vulture SC5 Trapped on: 23 April 2006 UTM: 761082 1445383 Bands: Black (left) Silver (right) Wingtag: White 3

White-rumped Vulture GB8 Trapped on: 23 April 2006 UTM: 761082 1445383 Bands: Black (left) Yellow (right) Wingtag: Yellow 8 This latter bird was also fitted with one of the PTTs (Platform Telemetry Transmitter)-unit 29561 donated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Hereunder is a Dr Martin Gilbert and Song Chansocheat are checking a trapped map of positions obtained so far. Wingtags White-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis used are smaller than those fitted previously.

Photo: Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia Program This is to ensure that the visibility of tagged birds is not increased, thus minimizing the possibility of persecution by local people. The tags should also be much more durable than those used previously, and readable by telescope at vulture restaurants.

This work is jointly carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society, BirdLife International and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) with financial support of RSPB.

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Text by Martin Gilbert MRCVS, BVMS, Field Veterinarian Field Veterinary Program, Wildlife Conservation Society – Cambodia

Results of latest Cambodian vulture census

BirdLife International in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia Program and the Worldwide Fund for Nature Cambodia Programme are currently implementing a vulture action plan in Cambodia. Recently the project undertook its annual vulture census by means of a coordinated series of vulture restaurants conducted in seven locations across northern Cambodia (please see the results of latest Cambodian vulture census in the table on the following page)

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34 BirdLife International in Indochina

Who

Funded

Total

White-rumped Slender-billed Red-headed Vulture Vulture Vulture

Chhep

Sophal

WCS

56

39

5

12

Lomphat

Sary

WCS

39

15

6

18

Siam Pang

Ngeth

BirdLife

29

17

7

5

Sesan

Socheat

BirdLife

48

35

6

7

Phnom Prich

Both

WWF

40

28

2

10

SWA

Sopheak

WWF

22

15

1

6

Seima

Bunnat

WCS

0 234

149

27

58

Place

Marked birds

Vulture Restaurant Census 1: 10 May, 2006

GB8

Vulture Restaurant Census 2: 24 May, 2006 Chhep

Sophal

WCS

41

23

5

13

Lomphat

Sary

WCS

24

11

5

8

Siam Pang

Ngeth

BirdLife

30

18

9

3

Sesan

Socheat

BirdLife

43

25

12

6

Phnom Prich

Both

WWF

24

19

2

3

SWA

Sopheak

WWF

5

4

Seima

Bunnat

WCS

0 167

100

1 33

34

A total of 234 vultures were recorded on May 10, 2006, among which 149 White-rumped Vultures were counted. Sites that had the highest number of vultures were Chhep (56) and Sesan (48).

Vulture count data in 2004 and 2006 showed an increasing trend in the total population of vultures, as the total number of vultures recorded in 2004 was 162 only. While there is a noticeable increase in the recorded number of White-rumped Vultures this year (90 in 2004; 149 in 2006), there is no significant change in those of the other two vultures.

Source: The Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia Program

Spotlight organizations Hanoi Birdwatching Club (HBC) Hanoi Birdwatching Club (HBC) was officially established on 30 April 2006 by a group of young scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Hanoi National University. The initial idea for the establishment of a birdwatching club was back in 2000 but only recently has it become a reality. Presently, HBC has attracted 35 members who come from different fields of work but have a common interest in birds. The clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first birding trip was organized at the end of April 2006 with the participation of 18 members. This was a two-day trip to Xuan Thuy National Park, Nam Dinh province and to Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh province. A total of 30 bird species were recorded. The most significant observation of the trip was the record of eleven Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor. Currently, HBC is developing its rules, aims and objectives. A club website is under construction. HBC is now attracting new members and seeking support from different organizations, especially, those working on natural resources conservation. During 2006, HBC plans to organize a birding trip every three months and hopes to attract more and more members to join in its activities. The next birding trip will be in Cuc Phuong National Park in August 2006.

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35 BirdLife International in Indochina The Hanoi Birdwatching Club E-mail: hanoibirdclub2006@yahoo.com Contact person: Mr. Le Manh Hung – Mobile phone: ++84-903294862

Mlup Baitong Improving Cambodia's environment through education and action

Mlup Baitong was established in February 1998 as a local NGO and is officially registered with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Environment. Acting on the impetus of rampant deforestation throughout the country, Mlup Baitong was formed to develop environmental education and awareness among Cambodian citizens. Mlup Baitong seeks solutions for sustainable and equitable use of natural resources through community-based natural resource management activities.

Mlup Baitong has emphasized the importance of participation and local knowledge to understand and address environmental issues. The educational goals have since developed to respond to other needs, and Mlup Baitong now tackles a variety of environmental problems including loss of wildlife through habitat destruction and poaching, improvement of school curriculum for teaching environment, and community-based natural resource management.

Currently, there are 30 local staff and 3 expatriate advisors as well as numerous volunteers.

Mlup Baitong has three main programs under which the seven projects are coordinated. All the three programs are designed to complement each other in terms to strategy and linkages between field level implementation to broader policy change.

1. Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Mlup Baitong works directly with local communities to assist them to manage their resources more sustainably. Nature conservation and livelihood improvement are considered hand-in-hand while employing participatory techniques for resource use planning and management. Gender aspects are also emphasized.

• • •

Community Forestry Project Community-based Ecotourism Project Gender and Environment Project

2. Environmental Education Mlup Baitong has been working in the field of environment education since the orgnization's inception in 1998. A degree of expertise has been developed. Mlup Baitong has worked with many different target audiences including school children, teachers, monks, soldiers and park rangers. The trainings and activities conducted use participatory techniques and student-centered learning in order to capitalize on local knowledge and inspire changes in attitudes and action.

• • •

Buddhism and Environment Project School Eco-club Project Environmental Education Project

3. Environmental Advocacy The aim of this program is to advocate for the community's rights in Natural Resource Management and to increase general public awareness on these issues. Currently Mlup Baitong is focusing on implementation of the 2001 Land Law and 2003 Forestry Law.

•

Environment Radio Program

Mlup Baitong PO Box 2510 Phnom Penh 3 Cambodia Tel:++855-23-214-409 Fax: ++855-23-220 242 E-mail: mlup@online.com.kh

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36 BirdLife International in Indochina

Publications POSTER – an output of a KNCF-funded project entitled “ Conservation of Wetland Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the Coastal Zone of Red River Delta”. Size: 53cm x 75cm Its slogan: Protecting wetlands for birds and people

POCKET GUIDE OF TEN BIRDING SITES IN VIETNAM – an output of a JFGE-funded project entitled “Enhancing access to bird watching information in Vietnam”. Size: 7.5cm x 10.5cm.

This pocket guide is for sale at US $1. Revenue generated from the sale of this publication will be used for its re-printing in the future with the aim to promote nature conservation through furtherance of birding ecotourism.

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Book reviews A Guide to Threatened Birds of Taiwan Woei-horng Fang (2005). Owl Publishing House, Taiwan. ISBN 986-7415-81-7.164 pp This book follows the most recent IUCN threatened species criteria and deals with two categories of threatened species in Taiwan. Fist there are the globally threatened species; then there are the globally secure but nationally threatened species.

The globally threatened species are subdivided into those that are resident or regular visitors, and those species that are merely vagrant or occasional visitors to the island. The Nationally threatened species are also divided into two groups: first the endemic subspecies, and second those species that have broader distribution or are migratory. Each subgroup was treated with brief and concise comments.

The book also provide a list of Important Bird Areas in Taiwan, an explanation of the nine categories in the IUCN Red List system, and the set of quantitative criteria and codes for the classification of the threatened categories. Then follows the threatened species accounts as the major body of the publication.

For more than 10 years, Woei-horng has been helping the Wild Bird Federation Taiwan (WBFT) to maintain its Bird Database containing members' birdwatching records. He also coordinated volunteers in Taiwan for the annual water birds census. Every year he compiles the data and prepares the report so that the situation in Taiwan can be included in the Asian-Pacific water birds network. In recent years, as Vice President of WBFT, Woei- horng has worked hard for the Federation. He is especially interested in maintaining international communications and collaboration. His care for data inventory and his enthusiasm towards international affairs are crucial to the completion and publication of this 'A Guide to Threatened Birds of Taiwan'.

This is a typical Woie-horng Fang style publication. He usually sets a high goal. With this book, he not only intends to bring the information on globally threatened species from 'Threatened Birds of the World' to readers in Taiwan, to introduce the threatened bird species in Taiwan in a field guide format, but also to point out the difficulty in setting conservation priorities among globally versus regionally threatened species. Furthermore, he wants to include foreigners among his readers. Thus the book is being published as a bilingual Chinese/ English volume. It is clearly a difficult task to cramp all these targets into one book. Readers might find the writing of some Chinese passages awkward, reflecting the result of translation. The assessment of some species may be biased toward an external understanding instead of local reality. Some of the recommended targets are probably not realistic enough to be implemented. Nevertheless, such problems do not take away the value of this book.

This book puts all the criteria, lists, and information together so that readers can easily find out the meaning of threatened status and codes, and get to know more about the birds that require special concern in Taiwan. I personally hope this book can make an additional contribution besides inspiring people to care about threatened species and actively plan and execute appropriate conservation actions. I hope it will stimulate people to make an effort at collecting data so that accurate analysis and conservation decisions about birds in Taiwan can be made in the future. I hope we can work hand-in-hand to improve our knowledge of the birds in Taiwan, so that WBFT must consider the publication of a new edition of Taiwan's Red Data Book soon, and BirdLife must revise the content on Taiwan birds in the Global Red List. I hope the Red Data Book of birds in Taiwan will become thinner and thinner, and ultimately unnecessary.

By Lucia Liu Severinghaus, Research Fellow in Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica

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The Atlas of Cambodia: National Poverty and Environment Maps Save Cambodiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildlife (2006). Cambodia. ISBN: 978-99950-81-4-2-3. 141 pp The Atlas of Cambodia: National Poverty and Environment Maps is the first atlas devoted entirely to Cambodia providing publicly available cross-sectoral thematic maps, statistics and text giving an overview of environmental and socio-economic aspects of the country. The Atlas of Cambodia project aims to provide a wide array of people such as professionals working for development agencies, government officials, educators and the academia as well as other individuals with high-quality background information which will enable them to better understand the relationship between natural resources and economic and social development in Cambodia. The Atlas could also be used as a frame of reference for planning departments within ministries when developing strategies for utilization of Cambodia's natural and human resource. It is hoped that the atlas will be particularly useful in effectively disseminating information to those people working in the field at provincial, district and commune levels.

It is also intended that the atlas will become an important historical document, whereby comparisons of subsequent editions will clearly outline the improvements made in the capacity to collect, analyze and disseminate data in Cambodia.

Just over a decade ago, Cambodian statistical capacity was virtually nonexistent. The wide selection of maps in the Atlas of Cambodia is therefore an indication of the significant improvements made in this area. The collection of data, the establishment of database and the successful dissemination of such information is an on going process and the atlas of Cambodia provides a good indication of where Cambodia is currently functioning in this process.

Reliable national level statistics are necessary in order to strengthen evidence based planning at levels. Effective planning is necessary to help Cambodia achieve its objectives of poverty alleviation while maintaining environmental sustainability. With land management approaches moving towards a more community based participatory style, it is hoped that the atlas can further enhance the local community's ability to effectively participate in land management decisions by providing them with access to information.

By Solinn Lim, Director of Save Cambodiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildlife

Vietnam: A Natural History Eleanor Jane Sterling, Martha Maud Hurley and Le Duc Minh (2006). Yale University Press. ISBN: 0300106084. 448 pp, 76 illus

A country uncommonly rich in plants, animals, and natural habitats, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shelters a significant portion of the world's biological diversity, including rare and unique organisms and an unusual mixture of tropical and temperate species.

This book is the first comprehensive account of Vietnam's natural history in English.

Illustrated with maps, photographs, and thirty-five original watercolour illustrations, the book offers a complete tour of the country's plants and animals along with a full discussion of the factors shaping their evolution and distribution. Separate chapters focus on northern, central, and southern Vietnam, regions that encompass tropics, subtropics, mountains, lowlands, wetland and river regions, delta and coastal areas, and offshore islands. The authors provide detailed descriptions of key natural areas to visit, where a traveler might explore limestone caves or glimpse some of the country's twenty-seven monkeys and ape species and more than 850 bird species.

The book also explores the long history of humans in the country, including the impact of the Vietnam-American War on plants and animals, and describes current efforts to conserve Vietnam's complex, fragile, and widely threatened biodiversity.

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39 BirdLife International in Indochina

Black Market: Inside The Endangered Species Trade in Asia Ben Davies (2006). Adam Oswell and Earth Aware Editions. ISBN: 1-932771-22-0. 176 pp Black Market: Inside the Endangered Species Trade in Asia is an extraordinarily thorough investigation into the wildlife trade throughout Asia.

Author Ben Davies and producer Adam Oswell have travelled widely, visiting Australia, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. The facts uncovered are deeply disturbing, laying out in great detail the horrific capture and slaughter of millions of wild animals. While many people are dimly aware of this holocaust, very few outside the conservation community-even within it-realize the magnitude of the disaster. The author describes in graphic detail how wildlife is being plundered and trafficked from the once pristine jungles of Cambodia (for years protected because the Khmer Rouge made it unsafe for poachers), Vietnam, Indonesia, the great national parks of India and Nepal, and almost all other areas where some wilderness remains.

Black Market is not simply a book of facts-although there are plenty of them, lending authenticity to the narrative. It is a book about real people, and real situations, often from the personal experience of the author. It is beautifully written in elegant prose imbued with a sense of urgency and drama that make each page fascinating and encourages one to continue reading to the end, despite the often grim and discouraging subject matter. It should be in every library, on the shelves of all Education as well as Environment Ministries, and it should be made compulsory reading for high school and university students both in Asian and the countries in the developed world that illegally bring in hundreds of Asia's exploited animals.

By Jane Goodall Ph.D, DBE, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

The Swallows’ Return Kate Rogers (2006). Endemic Species Research Institute, COA, Excutive Yuan, R.O.C. ISBN: 986-00-4146-6.

160 pp In this book, the author Kate Rogers used her professional writing skills and experiences to record the people and events she and her husband Derrick Wilby encountered and the things they saw. She reported important achievements in nature conservation in Taiwan, such as the establishment of nature reserves for Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-faced Spoonbill, and Fairy Pitta. Based on her interview with Mr. John Senhsiong Wu of the Taiwan Wild Birds Information Center, she has written about the historical development of bird conservation in Taiwan. This book written objectively by a foreigner and published in both Chinese and English will be a medium for recognition of the beauty of birds of Taiwan and the achievements of Taiwan’s bird conservation.

I hope all Taiwanese and foreign nature-lovers alike are touched by nature and wild birds through their experiences with bird watching, conservation and culture in Taiwan. I also hope that the readers of this book are inspired by conservationists and the conservation programs they have developed and that they give their support to such programs.

By Publisher Yuan-san Ho

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Staff news Vietnam office Ngo Van Tuan – Programme Officer Tuan has been working as Programme Officer in charge of Community Based Conservation Projects in BirdLife International Vietnam Programme since April 2006. After graduation from the Thai Nguyen University in 1994, he continued to work for the Faculty of Forestry, Thai Nguyen University as a teaching assistant in community forestry. During this time he worked as a short-term consultant and project officer for several rural and community development projects in northern provinces.

Program Coordination Office in Hanoi.

In December 2000, he got a Master’s degree in natural resource studies specializing in forestry at Queensland University in Australia, and then worked as a Forestry specialist at the Department of Raw Materials, Vietnam Paper Corporation in Hanoi. In January 2003, he moved to work for IUCN - The World Conservation Union as a project officer for a non-Timber Forest Products project.

From April 2005 to April 2006, he worked as a Forestry Program Officer for the Vietnam Forestry Sector Support

Duong Duy Khanh – Project Officer Khanh was born in 1976. He graduated from the Biology Department of Hanoi National University in 1998. He started to work for BirdLife in March 2006. He used to work as a Project Coordinator and Community Development Leader with frequent travels to Quang Tri and Son La provinces for a local NGO; Advancement of Community Empowerment and Partnership in Hanoi during 1998 – 2005, where he has gained a lot of experience in community development.

At present, he is a BirdLife’s project officer based in Quang Tri province. He hopes that with his experience and knowledge he will complete BirdLife’s mission in Quang Tri province, Vietnam.

Le Thi Minh Hue – Accounts Assistant Hue has been working for BirdLife as an accounts assistant to the Finance Officer since the middle of April 2006. She has a bachelor degree in accounting from the National Economic University and has nine-year working experience as an accountant for a state owned company.

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41 BirdLife International in Indochina BirdLife would like to send warm congratulations and best wishes to Pham Tuan Anh, Vietnam Programme Manager who has recently given birth to a baby boy. Let’s hope this is the start of a new generation of conservationists!

Myanmar office Aung Kyaw Nyunt – Project Officer Aung Kyaw Nyunt was born in 10 July 1955 in Yangon. He joined the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forest Department as a Forester in 1981. He passed his B.Sc. (Mathmatics) with credit from the Worker's College, Yangon University in 1986 and qualified for M.Sc. He became a Park Ranger in Hlawga Wildlife Park in 1983. His main duties were park security, wildlife census, bird survey, and plantation establishment in the buffer area. He was later promoted to Range Officer and transferred to Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary. His main duties were the annual census of Elds's Deer Cervus eldi, habitat restoration, undertaking education programmes in the annual Shwesettaw Pagoda festivals, and helped the Warden in park management planning. In 1990 he was transferred back to Hlawga Wildlife Park and promoted to Staff Officer in 1992. In the park he was in-charge of visitor management, recreational sites, the nursery, landscaping and mobile education programs, and helped the Warden in park management planning. With official approval, he was hired twice by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the first time in 2001 to do monitoring in illegal wildlife trade in Kakaborazi National Park, Kachin State, and the second time in 2002 to do socioeconomic survey and hunter interview in Ponkanrazi, Kachin State.

He resigned from government service in 2003 and joined BANCA as a member. He was again hired by WCS in 2004 to do park infrastructure development in Naungmun, Kakaborazi National Park and hired for a short period by People, Resource, and Conservation Foundation (PRCF) in July 2003 to do socio-economic survey in buffer area of Natmataung National Park.

Aung Kyaw Nyunt became an Executive Committee Member of BANCA in 2005 and has been in-charge of conservation along with community development programme. In other words, he is responsible for Site Support Groups activities in and near Natmataung National Park, Southern Chin State.

Text by U Uga, Chairman, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association

Cambodia office Prach Pich Phirun – Project Officer (left) Phirun recently joined BirdLife in May as a Project Officer for Western Siem Pang IBA. Phirun graduated with a Masters degree in Agricultural Science from Kazakhstan Institute of Agriculture in 1994. Before working for BirdLife, he worked as the Deputy Chief of Battambang Forestry Cantonment and as a Counterpart Field coordinator for WWF and FFI Chea Ngeth (right) has recently stopped working for the BirdLife International Cambodia Programme, after 28 months working as a Project Assistant at Western Siem Pang and Sekong River Important Bird Areas. BirdLife would like to thank Ngeth for his commitment and input to the development of BirdLife’s projects and programme. BirdLife wish Ngeth every future success for the future at his old position at the Wildlife Protection Office of Forestry Administration. Please contact Ngeth at ngeth2003@yahoo.com.

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42 BirdLife International in Indochina

From the Archives

Two photographs from Black Market: Inside the Endangered Species trade in Asia (reviewed in this issue) that dramatically illustrate two ends of the wildlife trade. The hapless poor villager, who does the poaching and time in prison and the rich, untouchable collector, driving the trade.

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