• That a workshop-follow-up 
committee be established, comprising 
representatives of all interest groups, 
to review the progress that is made in 
the implementation of these 
recommendations and to organise 
future symposia and events to generate 
interest in the lake and its problems. 
Two new IB As 
Two new Important Bird Areas have 
been identified in Turkey following 
the appeal in the last Bulletin: Longoz 
Ormani, near the Bulgarian border; 
and Golbek, a wetland area some 70 
km south of Ankara. 
Dalyan loses its Special Protection Area 
status 
In 1988, the Dalyan river and estuary 
and part of Koycegiz Golu were 
declared a Special Protection Area 
(SPA) under the Barcelona Convention 
for the Protection of the Mediterranean 
Sea against Pollution. Under a 1982 
Protocol, SPAs can be created to 
provide special protection to 
endangered Mediterranean species as 
well as habitats considered vital to their 
conservation. 
The SPA was created following 
international outcry against proposed 
tourist development adjacent to 
important breeding beaches of the 
Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta. It 
seems that now that international 
attention has gone elsewhere, the 
Turkish authorities have felt safe to 
de-notify the area. We hope that this 
decision will be reversed and that we 
shall be able to provide better news in 
the future. Details on the importance 
of the area and its birds can be found in 
Birds of Turkey 8, available from OSME 
sales. 
Greater Flamingo at Tuz Golu 
Survey work in 1991 established that 
at least 3,000 pairs of Greater Flamingos 
Phoenicopterus ruber bred at Tuz Golu. 
Some 3,000 young were seen in two 
creches, and aerial photographs 
suggested up to 11,000 nests. This is 
the first proved breeding record in the 
area for over 15 years. 
Bald Ibis in Morocco 
We have previously reported on the 
threats to the Moroccan population of 
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita. We now 
learn that local people are throwing 
stones at Bald Ibises to get them to fly 
for foreign birdwatchers! Apparently 
they are then tipped (payed money). 
OSME is totally opposed to this 
disgusting practice. Anyone wanting 
to see the birds can apply to the local 
Water and Forest Authority for a guide 
who will not disturb thebird s. If anyone 
witnesses more stone throwing we 
suggest that, where possible, you pass 
their names and addresses to the bird 
protection society of the appropriate 
home country. 
Bald Ibises in Saudi Arabia 
In late April 1991, up to seven Bald 
Ibises were seen at Kulach, near Taif, 
Saudi Arabia. None of the birds had 
rings, suggesting that they did not 
originate from Birejik, Turkey, whose 
wild population appears to be extinct. 
This is further evidence that there may 
be a remaining undiscovered colony 
in the Middle East. 
Threats to Siberian White Cranes in Iran 
During the 1990/91 winter, some 10 
Siberian White Cranes Grus 
34 
