Caucasian Black Grouse and Caspian 
Snowcock in north-east Turkey 
Ian Green 
Introduction 
During August 1992 1 spent two weeks in the Kagkar Daglari, the highest 
part of the Pontic Alps, in north-eastern Turkey. The purpose of my visit 
was to assess the conservation status and populations of Caucasian 
Blackcock Tetrao mlokosiewiczi and Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius, 
together with the extent of available habitat, and the suitability of late 
summer as a census period for these two species. I was accompanied by 
Owen Mountford, a research botanist from Monk's Wood Research 
Station, and his brother, Alun Mountford. 
Travel in the high Ka^kar is possible only by horseback or on foot. The 
nearest tarmac road to our study area was about 60km west but there 
were driveable tracks up to £at and Ayder on the north side and 
Altiparmak (Barhal) and Yaylarlar on the south side. Horses and mules 
could be hired at Yaylarlar. We travelled from here by mule, departing 
on 9th August, to Dilber Diizu, a flattish meadow in a cirque at about 
2750m beneath Kackar Tepe. We spent six nights here before moving 
north to the next valley at Dupediiz (campsite at 2700m), on the 15th. We 
passed over the divide on the 16th, camping at Karadeniz Golii (2850m) 
for three nights. We returned to Yaylarlar on the 20th before spending 
two days at Altiparmak. 
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