Council is confident that the two organisations will be able to work together to 
forward our knowledge and understanding of the birds of the region. 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those members who have completed 
the survey form - your assistance in helping to shape OSME's future is greatly 
appreciated. A summary of the results of the survey and the name of the winner 
of the Middle East IBA book will appear in Bulletin 33 . The book is to be launched 
at the BirdLife International 21st World Conference in Germany in August. An 
advance copy will be available for perusal and orders taken at the OSME summer 
meeting in July. 
Geoff Welch, Chairman of Council 
Requests for Information 
The ecological roles and socio-economics of sandgrouse. 
Although knowledge of the behavioural and physiological ecology of sandgrouse 
is fairly well developed, there is little recent documentation of their demography, 
ecological roles or value as a sustainable natural resource. Sandgrouse can occur 
at very high local densities. Meinertzhagen (1954) reported that huge flocks of 
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles. alchata caudacutus darkened the Arabian skies 
early this century, and Baker (1912) speculated that this species was the "quail" 
provided for the wandering Israelites. Baker (1912) and Lynn-Allen (1951) 
described the great value placed on sandgrouse hunting at their traditional 
watering sites and in conjunction with falconry, and their importance as a source 
of protein for indigenous peoples in east Africa and India. Ali and Ripley (1969) 
told of 'prestige' shoots of Black-bellied Sandgrouse P. orientalis for entertaining 
British viceroys, Governors and miscellaneous notables. Witherby (1902) was 
probably the first to report that "sandgrouse shooting at many points along the 
banks of the White Nile affords such sport that millionaires would give untold 
gold it for were it to be had in England or Scotland". Recently, commercial 
shooting of Namaqua P. namaqua and Spotted P. burchelli Sandgrouse has been 
offered at R450 ($150) per hunter per morning hunt in the northern Cape 
Province, South Africa. Although this embryonic industry supplements 
agriculture in that semi-arid environment, we believe that the full commercial 
value of this resource is underestimated and that the resource itself is under- 
utilized. 
Research is required to understand the value of sandgrouse in terms of their 
ecological roles as consumers and dispersers of seed, and as a source of food and 
recreation. This knowledge will help the local populace dependent on the 
productivity of these arid areas, either from hunting of wildlife, or through 
agricultural activities. Furthermore, a knowledge of the key biotic and abiotic 
factors which control sandgrouse abundance, annual productivity and dispersion 
could contribute to understanding the key environmental factors which drive 
these ecosystems. 09 
