ABSTRACT A new research project near Jericho in the Jordan Valley (Palestine) was launched on 10 September 2013, work continued until October 23rd 2013. Standard ornithological work and bird ringing work was conducted using mist nets situated in an oasis type habitat of Wadi Qelt surrounded by palm plantations. The field methods followed the SEEN (SE European Bird Migration Network) standards that include apart from ringing of captured birds, also several measurements (wing length, tail length, wing formula) and scores (fat load and body mass), as well as the studies on the directional preferences of migrants using round, flat orientation cages. Ornithological research was enhanced by parasitological studies analysing migratory birds (hosts) - helminths relations during migration period of the former. This was a part of complex studies covering the Middle East and north African ringing sites. Altogether 481 individuals of birds representing 59 species were ringed and about 50 were retrapped. The most interesting was relatively high share of Masked and Red-backed shrikes as well as good number of birds of local species as Dead Sea Sparrows and introduced Indian Silverbills.

ABSTRACT Even though the proportion of wind farm victims compared to general bird species mortality is relatively low, there is necessity to limit direct and indirect losses to the bird populations caused by this kind of human activity. Estimation of threats to the birds resulting from building of wind farms is a very difficult task and it must take into account several constrains. The basic task is to build farms in localities that are the safest to birds. This can be achieved by pre-investment monitoring and direct observations at the spot and then evaluation of potential threats and risks. Field methods typical for the studies on bird populations are usually applied in such monitoring. The procedure described below includes four steps: screening (starts the process and sets preliminary constrains of the location), monitoring (standardised data are collected at the location), estimations of potential collision risk and evaluation of the location. The key parameters determining collision risk of bird species are: (1) the number of individuals utilising the monitored area in different seasons, (2) air space utilization (height and directions of flights), as well as (3) characteristics of the species behaviour. The starting data set contains: species name, number of individuals, height of flight (three layers - below, in, above the rotor), and distance from the observer. The final estimation of the collision index (the most probable number of collisions per turbine a year) is based on (1) estimation of the total number of individuals that use the defined area during a year and (2) estimation of probability that the individual will collide. In the latter (i.e. 2) the most important is that birds can actively avoid passing through the rotor swept (active avoidance rate) and that even birds, which crossed the rotor swept area not necessarily will be killed. Calculations are performed for each species separately and then are summarised to get the farm index as well as season indices. Some values of indices for raptors studied at 76 localities in Poland are given in the table. The final evaluation of the site is made as shown in a parametric analysis table, discussion of cumulative and barrier effects and the discussion of species specific risk to species of high conservation concern.

ABSTRACT We compared avian community structure of six contrasting habitat types at Patlakhawa Protected Forest of Dooars of West Bengal. During three weeks of the mid-winter studies 154 bird species representing 41 families were recorded. Of the 154 recorded species, 22 were observed in grasslands, 22 in swamp forest, 46 in riverine forest, 52 at miscellaneous plantation areas, 43 at forest edges and 51 at wetlands. The Shannon-Wiener general diversity indices varied among the habitats and ranged from 2.323 to 3.458. Richness (5.813-11.410), evenness (0.406-0.641) and dominance (0.042-0.128) indices also varied considerably among the study locations. The highest diversity, the lowest dominance and a very high evenness were characteristics of miscellaneous plantations. Grasslands showed highest evenness and considerably high species diversity. The lowest avian evenness and diversity were recorded in wetlands and swamp forests. Insectivorous birds were most numerous (53), followed by carnivorous (40), omnivorous (29) and frugivorous (15) birds. Winter appeared to be the best time for niche occupancy at the Himalayan foothills for assemblages of either winter migrants and visitors or altitudinal and passage migrants, as about 30% of all encountered species were migrants. 96 bird species were observed to occur at any one of these habitat types showing high habitat fidelity. Mixed avian foraging assemblages that varied in species number and compositions were observed and they contain 11 to 17 species. Avifaunal niche diversity and richness in different habitats of Patlakhawa Protected Forest during mid-winter envisaged its importance from conservation point of view.

ABSTRACT Zaniewicz G., Chruoeciel J. 2011. Burullus ringing station (N Egypt) - ringing results and seasonal bird migration dynamics in 2005-2007. Ring 33, 1-2: 77-87. Burullus Ringing Station is one of the several stations belonging to the SEEN organization (SE European Bird Migration Network). This station is situated close to the border of Burullus Protected Area in the northern part of Egypt and it started work in 2005. Data were collected during two spring and three autumn seasons. Birds were caught in mist-nets, which were placed mainly in reedbeds. Over 12 thousands of birds from 74 species were caught and ringed during five migratory seasons. Many of them were also tested for directional preferences in Busse’s cage.

ABSTRACT Ibrahim W.A.L. 2011. An overview of bird migration studies in Egypt. Ring 33, 1-2: 55-75. This is an overview of ornithological studies carried out in Egypt since the beginning of XXth century till the present time made on the basis of several more or less general publications. Geographical location and climate descriptions give the background information about the area. The literature overview stresses especially problems connected with the migration of passerines, but wider avifaunistic background is discussed as well. Special attention is paid to the passerines’ strategy of migration through the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert, its direction and timing, as well as to the factors affecting passerines migration and bird ringing in Egypt. In conclusion, it is stressed that the studies on bird migration were done sporadically, from time to time and from one place to another, and there is a dramatic lack of permanent ringing / bird migration study field stations, despite the fact that some suitable and promising localities have been found, in which the studies have been carried out since 2001 by the SE European Bird Migration Network in cooperation with some protected areas managements.

ABSTRACT Stêpniewski K., White M.L.J., Megalli M. 2011. Autumn migration of passerines in Bahariya Oasis in Egypt - where do they come from and where do they go? Ring 33, 1-2: 27-36. We present the results of studies on directional preferences of passerine migrants in Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. Fieldwork was conducted in August and September 2010. Birds were mist-netted, ringed and tested in Busse’s orientation cage; in total 66 tests were analysed. The most pronounced direction was W, which was surprising and remains unexplained. Southern directions were also prominent, particularly SW; among the northern directions NW were distinct and NE less so. Our results are in line with those at other ringing stations in Egypt, suggesting a common migration pattern in this region. They also allow for tracking probable migration routes through Bahariya. Birds may arrive at the oasis from the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coast, then the majority head SW towards Lake Chad, while others may fly directly S or SE towards the Nile Valley. Bahariya Oasis appears to be an important crossing point of passerine migration routes across the Sahara and it is important to continue further studies in this area.

ABSTRACT Stêpniewska K., El-Hallah A., Busse P. 2011. Migration dynamics and directional preferences of passerine migrants in Azraq (E Jordan) in spring 2008. Ring 33, 1-2: 3-25. Azraq ringing station is located in the Azraq Wetland Reserve in the eastern part of Jordan, on the Eastern Palearctic Flyway. It covers different types of habitat: reedbeds and a dry area with tamarisks (Tamarix sp.) and nitre bushes (Nitraria billardierei). In total, from 18 March till 28 April 2008, we caught 2767 birds from 64 species. Three species dominated distinctly, constituting 58% of total number of caught birds: the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) - 570, the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - 535 and the Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) - 488 birds. The catching dynamics reveals the highest numbers of birds in the beginning of the studied period. The total number constantly decreased till 6 April and then subsequently increased. The first high peak of the dynamics at the end of March was due to intensive migration of Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats. The second one at the end of April was caused by pronounced migration of Reed Warblers and Blackcaps. High numbers of migrants in the beginning and at the end of the catching period reveal that we did not cover the whole migration season in Azraq, so it is necessary to begin the study much earlier and to finish later there. We performed also 1169 directional preferences tests using Busse’s orientation cage, mostly for the Reed Warbler. Directional preferences of tested birds reveal clear dominance of NW headings - towards European breeding grounds. The NE headings towards Asian breeding grounds were also present. There was a low share of reversed headings, especially SE. We suppose that birds showing NW headings could migrate from wintering grounds in Africa across the most southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; these flying to the NE seem to have crossed Egypt and then fly along the Arava Valley. Many species presented in this paper, like the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), could show loopmigration, flying in spring more eastern than in autumn. High numbers of caught and observed birds, including habitat-specialists like numerous Acrocephalus warblers, reveal that the Azraq Wetland Reserve is a very important place for Palearctic migrants during their migration through desert areas of the Middle-East.

ABSTRACT Jankowiak Ł., Polakowski M. 2011. Biometrics of non-breeding immature Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in north-eastern Poland. Ring 33, 1-2: 47-53. Non-breeding immature Mallards from north-eastern Poland (Północnopodlaska Lowland) were captured and measured (altogether 182 individuals in their 1st year of life). Immature males were significantly larger than females according to all analysed parameters. The length of bill and wing were the most sexually dimorphic traits and the least dimorphic were the total length of bill with head and tarsus length. The results of the present analysis and other studies in different regions of Europe suggest that wing size of Mallards follows Bergmann’s rule, while a bill size - Allen’s rule. Mallards from north-eastern Poland are larger than those from western Europe. We hypothesize that the reason for this is the fact that main population of non-breeding Mallards originates from the larger eastern European population, which is confirmed by some ringing data.

ABSTRACT Jolli V., Pandit M.K. 2011. Monitoring pheasants (Phasianidae) in the Western Himalayas to measure the impact of hydro-electric projects. Ring 33, 1-2: 37-46. In this study, we monitored pheasants abundance to measure the impact of a hydroelectric development project. The pheasants abundance was monitored using “call count” and line transect methods during breeding seasons in 2009-2011. Three call count stations and 3 transects were laid with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance. To understand how the hydro power project could effect the pheasant population in the Jiwa Valley, we monitored it under two conditions; in the presence of hydro-electric project (HEP) construction and when human activity significantly declined. The Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha), Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichi) and Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) were not recorded in Manjhan Adit in 2009. During 2010 and 2011 springs, the construction activity was temporarily discontinued in Manjhan Adit. The pheasants responded positively to this and their abundance increased near disturbed sites (Manjhan Adit). The strong response of pheasants to anthropogenic disturbance has ecological application and thus can be used by wildlife management in the habitat quality monitoring in the Himalayan Mountains.

Abstract Smith P., Onley D., Northcote-Smith E, Atkinson K. 2012. Morphometrics of cerrado birds from the Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca (NE Paraguay). Ring 34: 51-67. Morphometric data are provided for 204 individuals of 61 species from the Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca in Departamento San Pedro in north-eastern Paraguay. Measurements were taken according to Svensson (1984). Data for 2 cerrado endemic species, 2 species of global conservation concern and 5 species of national conservation concern are presented. These are the first published biometric data for birds of the Paraguayan cerrado.