Podoces
Volume:6 Issue: 1, 2011

Following on from the major reviews of rare birds in Iran during the periods 1860s−1960s (Roselaar & Aliabadian 2009) and 1967−1978 (Scott 2008), records of rare birds in Iran during the period 1980–2010 have been evaluated by the Iran Bird Records Committee and are presented here. As there was relatively little ornithological activity in Iran in the 1980s and early 1990s, most of the records come from the late 1990s and 2000s. The 102 rare species recorded in 1980−2010 include 15 species that had not previously been recorded in Iran. Rare species have been categorised in three groups: genuine rarities (71 species), rare and local breeding birds (20 species), and former rarities that have been increasing in Iran in recent years (11 species). A total of 281 records of the 71 genuine rarities are listed here. Forty-nine species were recorded on fewer than four occasions, and only four were recorded on more than 10 occasions. Fifty-one species that are known to have occurred in Iran prior to 1980 were not observed during the period under review. Six of the increasing species are now recorded so frequently in Iran that they will be omitted from future lists of rare birds. Of the 153 species considered in this paper (including 20 species in the IUCN Red List categories), 95 have either been recorded on fewer than 10 occasions in the last 50 years or have not been recorded in Iran since 1980. These are considered to be extreme rarities, i.e. species for which detailed descriptions are required if records are to be considered for acceptance by the Iran Bird Records Committee and published in its future reports.

In 2010, we estimated the breeding waterbird populations on the uninhabited islands of the northern Persian Gulf, some of the most important waterbird nesting sites in Southwest Asia. We also compared the 2010 census results with data from the 1970s. Over 120,000 breeding pairs of waterbirds of nine species were estimated on seven islands in 2010. The most abundant species were Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus (74,113 pairs) and Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis (30,799 pairs). The results indicated that 20% of the global population of Crab Plover Dromas ardeola breed in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. The breeding population of White Cheeked Terns Sterna repressa had decreased by about 98% since the 1970s, while the populations of all the other species had increased. Further monitoring of the breeding waterbirds is needed in order to suggest appropriate measures for the conservation of these important waterbird populations. Compared with the situation in the 1970s, some islands are no longer suitable as nesting sites for waterbirds because of human exploitation, occupation by the military and development for the oil and gas industries.

The barrier function of mountains and open waters cause a concentration of migrating birds in Azerbaijan. Here, the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and the Caspian Sea act like a bottleneck at the mountain Besh Barmag, 80 km north of Baku and force migrating birds to pass through an only three kilometre wide coastal plain. During the study period from 29 September to 24 October 2007, a total number of 310,495 migrants was observed and 174 bird species were identified. Among them were three species new to the Azerbaijan National List: Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla, Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla and Audouin’s Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii. The most common species was Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris with 182,547 individuals. Generally, passerine migration was restricted to the coastal plain. Along the coastline strong migration of terns, gulls and ducks was noticed while raptor migration was rather weak and mainly restricted to the adjacent mountains. Among migrants were eight species with international conservation status. Due to the high numbers of passing birds, the entire region has a high value for international bird protection. As main threats to migrants, power lines, wind energy plants and hunting have been identified.

This study was carried out from 19 February until 1 June 2010. Reproductive activities of the Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus began on 10 March with observation of nest-building behavior and lasted to 1 June when the chicks fledged. Clutch size was 1–6 eggs (except 2 eggs), averaging 4.18 based on 38 nests studied. Brood size varied from 1 to 3 chicks. Group sizes observed were 7–11 individuals (average 8 individuals). The mean measurements of eggs (length, width and weight) were 23.52±0.99 mm, 17.25±0.55 mm, and 0.37±3.62 g, respectively. Breeding success was 27.7%. Brood size, clutch size and group size had no significant effect on breeding success. Mortality rate showed significant differences between the various stages (P<0.001). Most of the mortality rate in the incubation stage (66.0%) occurred due to predation by snakes such as Echis carinatus and Platyceps rhodorachis. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, among all nest parameters, only the height of nest showed a significant difference with breeding success (P<0.05).

This note reports on the first confirmed record of the Brown Noddy Anous stolidus in Iran: a bird observed on Sheedvar Island on 8−9 June 2011. Probably the same bird was observed at the same location on 11−12 July 2011.

Populations of three species of Gyps vultures (G. bengalensis, G. tenuirostris and G. indicus) in Central India have declined precipitouslyover the last decade as a result of their feeding on diclofenaccontaminated livestock carcasses. During this study, a total of 179 individuals and 8 nests of four vulture species were recorded, with the Long-billed Vulture G. indicus (160 individuals) being the dominant species. Apparently, Panna Tiger Reserve has suitable habitat for vultures; however, Dhundva, Kemasan and Gahri Ghati appeared to be the best of the nine roosting, resting and breeding sites selected during this study.

The breeding biology of the Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus was studied in 22 Bahman wetland in Boujagh National Park, Gilan Province, and some characteristics of the breeding colony were investigated between early April and late July 2005. The nests were built on muddy substrates in shallow water bodies in open areas. Twenty-five nests were constructed in a 2-hectare L-shaped area. They were on average 1.85 cm in depth and had an external diameter of 15.3 cm and internal diameter of 11.6 cm. In 80% of the nests, aquatic plants comprised 20%−100% of the nest structure. The nesting season lasted until 9 May. The dominant clutch size was 4 (92% of the nests). The chicks hatched after 25±0.62 days, and after about 3 weeks they emigrated from the park together with their parents in groups of 14–18 individuals.

Among birds, mineral use is notable in only a few species of pigeons and doves. Such behaviour has now been confirmed in the Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii a pigeon which is globally threatened and which is endemic to the Western Ghats. During an ecological study in the Upper Palni Hills between April 2002 and 2004 supplementary nutrition through soil feeding was observed. Soil feeding flocks were observed between March and May mainly in dilapidated buildings and on the sides of forest roads and coincided with the species’ breeding season.