Summary data for the 100-km squares visited are shown in Table 1. 
Extrapolating from our results we estimate the Lesser Kestrel population 
of central Turkey at 2,000 - 3,000 pairs. The Turkish Lesser Kestrel 
population is thus as important as that in Spain. 
Now that baseline data are available, repeat surveys should facilitate 
some understanding of population trends. Agricultural intensification, 
especially the use of insecticides, is increasing rapidly throughout the 
region and Lesser Kestrel populations may be in decline as a consequence. 
With a rapidly expanding human population, pressure to increase crop 
yields in Turkey will remain unstoppable. 
Acknowledgements 
We thank British Petroleum (BP) for the award of first prize in the Threatened 
Species category of the company's Conservation Expedition Awards for 1993 
and the RSPB and OSME for grants. We also thank Gernant Magnin who 
facilitated the survey. 
References 
Biber J-P (1990) Action Plan for the Conservation of the Western Lesser Kestrel Falco 
naumanni Populations ICBP Study Report No. 41, Cambridge 
Noirfaiise A (ed) (1987) Map of the natural vegetation of the member countries of the 
European Community and the Council of Europe Council of Europe, Strasbourg 
Table 1 
The number of randomly selected 10-km squares within each 100-km 
square in which Lesser Kestrels were present. Five 10-km squares were 
surveyed in each 100-km square. See Figure 1 for the location of the 100- 
km squares. 
100-km square 
Squares with Lesser Kestrels present 
QD/PD 
0 
UJ 
2 
VK 
0 
VJ 
1 
VH 
2 
WL 
0 
WJ 
4 
WH 
2 
WG 
4 
XK 
1 
XH 
3 
BD/CD 
0 
Total 
19 
9 
