RAPTOR NEWS
October 2000
The electronic circular of the World Working Group on Birds of Prey and Owls (WWGBP) E-mail: INTERNET:
New Website of WWGBP
Please visit our new website on the internet – http://www.raptors-international.de - in which you will find, together with a full account of our activities, all relevant forms regarding application for membership, WWGBP publications, etc. All completed Order Forms, together with remittance made out to WWGBP, should be sent to our Hon. Secretary, R.D. Chancellor, at P.O. Box 52, Towcester, NN12 7ZW, England.
Raptors at Risk
The Proceedings of the Vth World Conference on Birds of Prey, held in South Africa in August 1998, were published jointly by WWGBP and Hancock House (USA & Canada) in June this year (2000) under the title "Raptors at Risk" (ISBN 0-88839-478-0, pp. 895). This impressive volume of nearly 900 pages comprises 89 scientific papers by leading experts worldwide and covers the widest possible spectrum of current research into the biology, ecology and conservation of both diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey. All advance orders were dispatched on publication; further copies can be obtained at US$ 48.50, £ 30, DM 90, Ffr. 280, post free from WWGBP or from any good bookseller. More details (front and back cover, table of contents, resolutions etc.) can be found in the website of WWGBP http://www.raptors-international.de
Colour-ringed raptors in Eurasia
A site with a lot of information on different colour-ringed projects on raptors was updated and is available to everybody from the following sites:
raptors - updated 02.09.2000 osprey - updated 10.09.1998 falcons - updated 20.12.1999
Here you can find detailed descriptions of the known official (legal) colour marking and ringing of almost all raptor species in Eurasia with addresses of
responsible persons and coordinators of projects together with their mailing (snail) and e-mail addresses.
2nd Middle East Falcon Research Group Conference on Saker Falcon & Houbara Bustard
With regard to the above conference, held 1-4 July, 2000, at Ulaanbator. Mongolia, we are advised that a list of the 53 participants from 9 countries together with their addresses and the conference programme is now available on website " http://www.falconsco.uk/metro/conference.htm ".
Raptor Migration in Israel and the Middle East
A
summary of 30 years of field research. The latest, most definitive, colourful, illustrated book on raptor migration through the Middle East. By Hadoram Shirihai, Reuven Yosef, Dan Alon, Guy M.Kirwan and Reto
Spaar. Hard cover, 192 pp, 55 colour plates, 43 species accounts accompanied by migration maps, data tables and analytic graphs. Price: $65.00/GBP40.00. (incl. postage and packing).
Published by: The International Birding and Research Center, P.O.box 774, Eilat 88106, Israel. Tel: 972 7 6335339 / Fax: 972 7 6335319 / E-mail: ibrce@eilatcity.co.il
Steller's Sea Eagle website
For colleagues with a special interest in the Sea Eagle group it would be interesting to look at the following site 'O-Washi-net": http://www.fadr.msu.ru/o-washinet Completely dedicated to Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) and joint researches of ornithologists from Russia, Japan and the USA. This site contains a lot of information and many attractive photos of this fascinating raptor.
First Symposium on Steller's and White-tailed Sea Eagles in East Asia
You can download the PDF file of these proceedings from http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~mjueta/eagle.htm
Raptor Workshop in California
Sponsored by The California Foundation for Birds of Prey. A one day conference covering various aspects of raptor handling. Saturday November 4, 2000 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM ,
Roseville Elks Lodge , Roseville, CA Speakers include: Michelle Hawkins, DVM, California Raptor Center, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, "Raptor Triage, the first 24 hours."
Igor Mikaelian, DVM, Idex Veterinary Services, "Raptor Electrocution, a pathologist's view." Terence Thiebault, US Fish and Wildlife Service, "Eagle Rising, Raptor feathers and the
Native American." Jan White, DVM, Wildlife Publications, "Practical raptor rehabilitation, setting up a program that works (part 1)." Victoria Joseph, DVM, Bird and Pet
Clinic of Roseville, "Practical raptor rehabilitation, setting up a program that works (part 2)." Lana Linton, DVM, Animal Eye Clinic, "Raptor ophthalmology." Vicky
Valentine, Folsom City Zoo, "Keepers, who benefits?" Andy McBride, GosCreek Consulting, "Equipment requirements for raptor rehabilitation." Conference includes panel
discussion and proceedings. CHC is proud to be a sponsor of this event and will have a booth at the workshop. Only $60.00 To register, please contact:
CFBP, 4010 Foothills Blvd #101, Roseville, CA 95747 -- (916) 645-3708. Please register early; seating is limited.
Status of the Northern Goshawk
The Wildlife Society (TWS) agreed to form a new committee jointly with the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) to
review the status of the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) in the western U.S. This review will take into consideration the considerable amount of new data that has become
available since TWS' joint publication with the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) on this topic in 1996. The Wildlifer, Jan-Feb 2000, Issue No. 298.
Threats to the Vultures of Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and Strategies for an international Action Plan
Robert W. Risebrough & Munir Ali Virani Abstract and Summary of the Recommendations: A disease factor continues to decimate the populations of White-backed Vultures, Gyps bengalensis and both species of Long-billed Vultures, Gyps indicus and Gyps tenuirostris
in India. In Nepal, at least some populations of the White-backed Vultures are in a state of rapid decline; there is no information on any changes in the status of the Himalayan Griffon, Gyps himalayensis.
Available information is also insufficient to determine whether the same disease factor played a role in the earlier collapse of vulture populations in countries east of India, but such a possibility is plausible. The first
symptoms of the disease have been observed in the White-backed Vultures of Pakistan. Traditionally 25-30 Eurasian Griffons, Gyps fulvus, have wintered in Keoladeo National Park in eastern Rajasthan. Only
two were recorded in 1997-98, and none has been seen since, The Eurasian Griffon ranges westwards to Europe; in north-eastern Africa its range overlaps with that of Rueppell's Griffon Vulture, Gyps rueppellii,
whose range in turn overlaps in eastern Africa with that of the African White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus. A westward spread of the disease through Pakistan and beyond appears now to be inevitable.
Preliminary studies in India have not detected any of the viruses or other disease factors known to infect either domestic or wild birds. The immediate priority therefore is to make available tissues of infected birds to any
laboratory in the world that might contribute to the characterization of the disease factor, whatever it may turn out to be. Current regulations in India prohibit the export of biological samples containing genetic material;
we urge that such restrictions be suspended to permit free movements of vulture tissues or extracts of such tissues. Programmes currently being developed with the participation of the Peregrine Fund in Nepal and Pakistan are
expected to be capable of providing such material to the international community in the future. Meanwhile, delays threaten the well-being if not the existence of one or more species occurring in India. If the agent
turns out to be a virus, presumably one that has 'jumped' from another species that is its traditional host, development of a crude vaccine is plausible. Laboratories that would be interested in undertaking such a project should
now be identified. Collection of some fresh eggs of White-backed Vultures in Pakistan this next season should be considered, to provide potential culture media. Development of a network of facilities for
maintaining, and in some cases propagating, vultures in captivity might be a topic to be actively discussed at the forthcoming workshop in Delhi later this month under the sponsorship of the Bombay Natural History Society. A
vaccine will have to be tested. Experiments are needed to determine the pathways of transmission of the disease from one individual to another. The development of tests for the presence of antibodies is a prerequisite
to determining whether surviving vultures have acquired immunity. A prerequisite for the location of at least one of these facilities must be the availability of a blanket permit for the expeditious import and export of
biological samples. A simultaneous consideration is that adequate numbers of each species be in captivity under conditions that prevent transmission of the disease. Recognition that the two forms of Long-billed Vultures
are separate biological species increases the scope of such a project. Surveys should be undertaken throughout the nesting season to determine the timing and extent of mortalities and to acquire in a systematic fashion
data on the progress of the disease. Critical species and sites would include colonies of the cliff-nesting Gyps indicus in peninsular India, groups of the tree-nesting Gyps tenuirostris in
northern India, one or more groups of White-backed Vultures in Nepal, and the White-backed Vultures of the rwr in Pakistan. The latter were considered abundant on a visit to the area this last month; at the corresponding time
last year, however, vultures were also found to be abundant in western Rajasthan where they have since become rare. Pakistan is therefore considered a critical area for studies over the next year. Moreover it is the
area where the White-backed Vultures come most in contact with the Eurasian Griffons. Searches for and censuses of Eurasian Griffon colonies in the countries between India and the Middle East should also be considered a priority
over the coming year. Not only are these the next populations most likely to be affected, they are also the pathway of the disease to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The remnant populations of vultures
in Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia deserve study. If the disease contributed to their population collapse, their continuing survival might be due to the development of resistance; another possibility, however, is
that because of comparative rarity or isolation of populations, they were never exposed to the disease. Both the White-backed and Gyps tenuirostris occurred in these areas. It would be particularly
important to determine whether remnant populations of Gyps tenuirostris survive in these areas. We must anticipate that the combined efforts of specialists on birds of prey and on captive propagation, and of our
colleagues who are veterinarians, pathologists, microbiologists or virologists will be necessary to minimize the impacts of this disease, which may be well-established in other species but which is new to the Gyps
vultures. The efforts to reintroduce the Eurasian Griffons to France and Italy, to maintain their populations in Spain and Israel, and to maintain the populations of vultures in the several countries of Africa, should not have been in vain. In India, vultures have traditionally disposed of carcasses in the cities, villages and the countryside, reducing the risk of disease and maintaining sanitation. It is an understatement that identification of the disease, and the development of at least a partial remedy, are urgent priorities.
Included in a conservation strategy must be the consideration that the Long-billed Vultures constitute two quite different species. Following is an abstract of a paper presented by Pamela Rasmussen of the Smithsonian
Instituion at the recent AOU meeting. The populations of the Long-billed and White-backed Vultures at the very western limit of their ranges in Pakistan may be the only populations not yet contaminated by the disease, hence the
need to identify for sure which Long-billed Vulture occurs there. Dr. Bernd-U. Meyburg, Chairman of the World Working Group on Birds of Prey, has offered the facilities of ‘’RAPTOR NEWS”, the
electronic newsletter of WWGBP for dissemination of information about the disease and its impacts. Currently there are over 2,000 addresses on the mailing list. To be included in the mailing list, an address should be
sent to Dr. Meyburg at
Robert W. Risebrough, The Bodega Bay Institute, 2711 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 934705, USA,
Munir Ali Virani, The Peregrine Fund, World Center for Birds of Prey, 566 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA,
On the specific distinctness of the Himalayan Long-billed Vulture Gyps[indicus]tenuirostris
By Pamela C. Rasmussen & Steven J. Parry
Although consistently treated as a single species throughout the 20th C., the Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus is comprised of two extremely distinct taxa Gyps [i.] indicus (Scopoli, 1786) and Gyps [i.] tenuirostris
(Gray, 1844). These taxa are rather similar in size and proportions, but otherwise differ to the extent that we seriously doubt that they are sister taxa, and we consider it self-evident that both are full biological species. In most points of difference,
Gyps indicus shares characters with other congeners, while those of G. tenuirostris. are evidently autapomorphic. We have found over 50 consistent character-state differences between the species, most notably
involving rostral, cranial, and narial morphology; type and extent of feathering of the head and neck; bare parts coloration; form and distribution of contour feathers; pedal scutation; and wing shape. The two species are
readily separable in all plumages, even when in distant flight. Normally, indicus nests on cliffs, while tenuirostris
always nests in trees. The two species appear to be allopatric or parapatric, and there is no evidence for intergradation. While indicus is nearly endemic to India, tenuirostris occurs along the base of the Himalayas from north-western India through south-east Asia. The name
Vultur indicus Scopoli, 1786 is a nomen dubium, and the junior synonym Gyps pallescens
Hume 1873 is available. The confusion between these taxa and their congeners has led to an extremely poor understanding of their distribution, status, and autecology, which is hampering conservation planning, made urgent by tremendous declines among Asian vultures. Pamela C. Rasmussen, Michigan State Univ. Mus., East Lansing, MI and Div. Birds, Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC, and Steven J. Parry, Dept. Biol., Univ. Coll. London, London.
Very recent Vulture situation in Pakistan
Robert W. Risebrough It is important that you know about the situation in Pakistan, how the international conservation community has already
responded and what might be expected in the very near future. Below is a message that came yesterday, written by Aleem Khan to Dr.Arshad Toosy, Director of the Lahore Zoo; Munir will provide additionaldetails. The disease
is already in Pakistan. Just as Drs Vijayan and Grubh saw many White-backed Vultures in western Rajasthan last year and Vibhu Prakash this year found almost none, we might expect that there will be almost none in Pakistan at
the end of the next year's breeding season. The disease will also have reached the most western population of the indicus species of Long-billed Vultures. It is my personal belief, although not a scientific conclusion, that
the disease originated in southeast Asia, probably by 'jumping' from another species, just as the Nipah virus, which infected pigs in Malaysia and killed more than 100 people, has been found to come from a fruit bat, to which it is
relatively harmless. There is no vaccine or known cure for this virus. It belongs to the class of viruses that includes mumps and measles; its closest known relative is called Hendra, discovered in Australia in 1994 where it killed
14 horses and their trainer. Hendra was found to be carried by fruit bats, providing a clue to the origin of the Nipah virus. The research was undertaken by a multidisciplinary group of scientists from Malaysia, Japan,
Taiwan, Australia and the US. Three hundred fruit bats revealed antibodies against the virus, but the scientists were never able to isolate the virus itself from the tissues. A virus found in bat urine was then found to
match the one isolated from humans who had become ill or who had died from the disease. The links among fruit bats, pigs and people were thereby established. but only with a major international effort that required a major
financial commitment as well. The disease factor infecting the vultures is likely to have a very different origin, but a comparable level of effort and commitment of funds will probably be necessary in order to get anywhere. I
have today been looking over the proceedings of the last three world conferences of the World Working Group on Birds of Prey. There are many papers on the Eurasian griffons, - their reintroduction to France and Italy, efforts
to maintain the colonies in Spain, eastern Europe and Israel, papers on their migration, etc. Vibhu's observations that these griffons were no longer appearing at Bharatpur as winter visitors strongly suggest that the disease
has entered this species, and that it is now continuing its western course. We can expect an enormous interest in Europe in the detection and characterization of the disease factor. We hope that tissues from infected
birds will soon be available for distribution to international laboratories from Nepal, where a program is being developed by Bird Conservation Nepal in collaboration with the Peregrine Fund. Inevitably, however, the focus for
international efforts over this next year will be in Pakistan, in part because that's where the last of the surviving large populations are, in part because of the necessity to know about the extent of the disease in the Eurasian
griffons, but also because of the ability to export and import biological samples. Speaking as a member of BNHS, I respectfully suggest that the government of India has not always received good scientific advice. Birds and
mammals generally, but not always, do not rely on chemical warfare to avoid being eaten; many plants, like the Neem tree, over evolutionary history have produced a wide variety of chemical defenses against potential
predators. Vulture tissues are not equivalent to Neem trees and other sources of chemicals that have pharmaceutical value. The best thing that could come out of this workshop would be a strong statement from the
Indian government that it is ready to participate fully in an international effort to save the vultures, through collaboration with institutions, including private groups, anywhere in the world, and to immediately follow through.
Such an action would be widely praised by the international communities. A delay of any kind would, however, produce a very different reaction. The vulture situation has therefore placed India at the crossroads of taking
positve action to address this critical issue, or betraying its potential leadership because of indecision. The actions already underway in Pakistan and Nepal could easily supplant India's contributions thus far. The
vulture meeting in Delhi provides the opportunity for dialogue and a strategy to reassert India's leadership. I would like to suggest that the sentiments and concerns expressed above be transmitted to the Indian government
representatives at an early stage of the meeting on a private or semi-private basis to actively ensure their cooperation. Extract of letter from Dr. Aleem Ahmed Khan to Dr. Toosy Sahib: Dear Dr. Toosy Sahib, I
have just received the following mail from Dave Ferguson. As Dave has already explained I and Dr. Munir Virani have travelled a sum of 1809 Kilometres around Punjab province during August 19-27, 2000 and spotted roughly
over 1200 birds. Full report will come soon from Dr. Munir as he is in the phase of preparation. We have also visited Kundian Forest thoroughly (on the report of Syed Nasir Mahmood DFO Mianwali to David Houston and in local
newspapers) but could not spot Head-drooping Syndromes there at that time and apparantly the population seemed to be in a healthy state. However, later through locals when interviewed in detail we are convinced that disease factor
has hit the area in last 2-3 years and they even told us various symptoms in dying birds. To quote an example a local farmer witnessed around 16 vultures' death during May-June 2000 in the area. The symptoms they revealed are
the same observed by Dr. Vibu Prakash (India) and Dr. Munir and others in India and Nepal. In Leiah we found and made a video of 3 sub-adults exhibiting Head Drooping behaviour. We had been in Lahore and found
droopers perched on trees of Administrative Staff College boundary and inside Lawrence Garden within city limits. Also we had been informed by the local guards in Administrative Staff College that the
birds are found dead in May-July months. We also visited Changa Manga Plantation and found a number of sick birds and reports of mass deaths in the area by locals. I have made video footage of all these sick birds in
Lahore and Changa Manga as a recent evidence of spread of disease in Pakistan. Though the population in Changa Manga seems to be the largest seen, 500 plus birds, yet the disease factor is also on the increase.
Similarly we visited Head Islam near Hasil Pur (Bahawal Nagar) and found increasing numbers of droopers perched on the trees and were also informed by the locals of mass death of vultures in the last two -three years in hot
months (April-July and even August (one bird died 2 days before we arrived but could not find its body as it was dragged by dogs from its disposal site, However, a large number of feathers were seen in the area) the
locals who are residing just underneath these roosts are of the view that birds even fall off from tree tops at nights and a thump is heard when they hit the ground. Similar observations we made by the people who
live near the roosts in Changa Manga area. They also told the similar symptoms as told by the locals in Kundian, Changa Manga and Lal Sohanra National Park (Bahawal Pur). Consequently we also visited Lal Sohanra
and Dinga Nullah near Ghazi Ghat (Muzaffargarh) and found the same evidence of disease factor present in White-backed Vultures of the area. Resultantly the disease seems to be spreading in Pakistan and showed higher
intensity in the areas near India (Rajasthan Border) and gradually lower intensity in the Indus River areas. Ornithological Society of Pakistan with the help of Peregrine Fund and PMNH will start a detailed
project in the 1st week of November this year onward to understand the disease factor and its possible solutions. I tried to contact Veterinary Research Institute VRI, Lahore and talked to their Director on phone who
declined any support or facility available in VRI for Eco-toxicological work. Keeping your interest in view I would be glad to include your help and input as our local expert in understanding the causes and
disease factor for further perusal. Dr. Aleem Ahmed Khan, University of Tokyo, Japan
The Griffon Vulture in Turkey
Not much is known about the population of Griffon Vultures in Turkey. In the western half of Turkey two well known populations, (1) Sutculer and (2) Goksu Canyon exist.
During fieldwork in the past 5 years several smaller colonies of the species could be found scattered throughout the Central Taurus mountains reaching from Anemur to Karanfil Mountain. These colonies are:
Kepirli (N. of Mersin) 2-3 pairs Surroundings of Mut >3 pairs Tokmar (20km W of Silifke) 3 pairs (abandoned in 1996) Sarikavak (30km S of Camliyayla) >3 pairs Kirobasi >2 pairs 1996, 1997 and 1998 were
very bad years for the Griffon with only a few sightings and a markable decline in the surroundings of Siflike and Goksu Canyon. Newly (1999-2000) the species has been recorded more commonly with the largest population (approx. 15
pairs) in the Goksu Canyon. The Central Taurus population is estimated to be at least 35 and probably upto 50 pairs. Unfortunately there has not been any specific study to explain the decline, although I assume poisoned bait
to kill wild boar and canids as well as possible nest predation by Eagle-owl (a very common species in the region) have affected the species significantly. Edwin Vaassen, Raptor Research & Rehabilitation Center Turkey (RRRCT),
Vulture reserve in Macedonia endangered
The Nature Reserve "Crna Reka" in South Macedonia is
endangered from crashing. Road building and power lines will passing the Reserve. This became clear during the field research of the Fond for the wild flora and fauna /FWFF/ in the frame of Bulgarian-Macedonian vulture
Census 2000. The Nature Reserve "Crna Reka" is recently harbouring 10+ pairs Griffon vultures, 1 adult Bearded vulture, 2 Black vultures and 3 pairs Egyptian vultures. Bear, wolf, and maybe Lynx are still occurs
there. FWFF already is preparing the documents for including the "Crna reka" Reserve in Natura 2000 list and anounced as Special protected area (SPA). It is Important bird area (IBA) since
1989. Building of new road passing the reserve has already started. The project for the power line is in preparation. The cables will pass the rocks with the Bearded and Grifon vulture's nests. I am
apealling for urgent measures for saving the Reserve. Unfortunately the FWFF has not an international partner and this is the reason to ask for your help. The Panda passport and the relation with your colleagues
who may be concerned will optimize the end of this bad situation. I will organise the Bulgarian and Macedonian colleagues for taking due measures, and I hope you will help us in the struggle for the
conservation of nature. Please declare your readiness to help and your possibilities for this. Loking forward to hearing from you. Emilian Stoyanov, FWFF,
E-mail address:
International Symposium on the Ecology and Conservation of European Wood Owls
12.–15.10.2000, Internationales Haus Sonnenberg, St. Andreasberg, Germany Send all enquiries to the Internationale Arbeitskreis Sonnenberg,
Attn. Frau Martina Stark, Bankplatz 8, D–38100 Braunschweig, Germany. Fax: 0531 – 243 64 50, E-mail:
The International Hawkwatcher
The January 2001 issue (No. 3) of International Hawkwatcher will have as its theme "raptor conservation" with the focus anywhere in the world. If you have an original, previously unpublished paper, short note, or news item pertaining to raptors in the field, I’d like to consider publishing it in this issue. For more information, please contact me at my e-mail address: Donald S. Heintzelman, Editor and Publisher, International Hawkwatcher, dsh@early.com
New Philippine Eagle Website
We are pleased to announce the development of our new website ( http://www.philippineagle.org ). This site was developed by Jojie Alcantara who generously volunteered her time and skills for the construction of thissite. We hope you enjoy browsing through it. (e-mail: salvador@dvo.info.com.ph )
News from Romania
Besides our regular census activity in study plots we have tried to find new places of beeding sites of Lesser Spotted Eagles (LSE) in Central Trannsylvania (Mures county). In the breeding season 2000 we were helped by Bagyura Janos and three collegues from the Hungarian Raptor Working Group in mapping the breeding raptors in Mures county. The most important aim was to find Imperial Eagle nests but without any succes. In an area of 980 sqkm we found 11 breeding pairs of LSE. After our estimation (we know about 24 pairs only in Mures county) the total population from this part of Trannsylvania could be around 100 pairs. So I think Dr. Meyburg’s estimation in the Lesser Spotted Eagle Action Plan that the whole Romanian population is around 2000 pairs is closer to the reality than Munteanu's estimation (100-200). So it seems that we have "a lot" of LSEs. We found this species breeding up to 1100 m.a.s.l. in pine forest (Picea and Abies). Unfortunately we didn't find an active nest here but breeding in these forests is sure. Sadly I have to say that we didn't find till now any nest of Imperial and Greater Spotted Eagle. Robert Zeitz, Milvus Group - Branch of the Romanian Ornithological Society, Op. 3 Cp. 39, 4300 Tg.-Mures, ROMANIA, Tel/Fax: +40 (0)65 164726, E-mail: milvus@netsoft.ro Web site: http://www.netsoft.ro/milvus
