saline closed-basin lake has a relatively low diversity of invertebrates but very 
high numbers of chironomid larvae which are the major food of the ducks and 
a likely important reason for White-headed Ducks being so numerous. Industrial 
development and resulting pollution of the lake is a major potential threat. 
Burdur Golu straddles the border between the provinces of Isparta in the north 
and Burdur in the south. While the authorities of Burdur are very committed to 
the conservation of the lake and its ducks, such commitment has yet to be shown 
by the Isparta authorities. (Source: IWRB News July 1993.) 
STOP PRESS! World Birdwatch 15 December 1993 reports that Burdur Golu has 
now been declared a Waterfowl Protection Area. 
Two expeditions to Turkey financed in 1993. In addition to the Lesser Kestrel Falco 
naumanni expedition to western Anatolia (OSME Bull. 31:8-10) there was a 
further survey of Caucasian Blackcock Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in the Kackar area of 
the Pontic Mountains in north east Turkey in the spring of 1 993. Both expeditions 
were awarded money from the 1993 BP Conservation Expedition Competition 
organised with Birdlife International. A total of 134 males from 6 sites were 
located. 
BLACK SEA BASIN 
Tlte Black Sea Basin Wetlands Workshop was held in Odessa, Ukraine, from 18 to 24 
October 1993. The aim was to promote regional cooperation for the improved 
management of wetlands and waterbirds in the Black Sea Basin. 
IWRB/AWB AFFILIATION 
The International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau and the Asian 
Wetland Bureau have agreed to become linked with AWB representing IWRB in 
the Asia/Pacific region. We understand that IWRB will continue to coordinate 
South-West Asia including the Middle East region. 
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL 
Bird Conservation International is a quarterly journal focusing on the major 
conservation issues affecting birds - especially globally threatened species - and 
their habitats. The journal, founded in 1991 by Birdlife International (formerly 
ICBP), is available from Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building, 
Cambridge CB2 1BR, England. 
MARBLED TEAL 
The Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris is a globally threatened species 
with an increasingly fragmented distribution and a small world population. 
IWRB have recently published a report on The Status and Conservation of the 
Marbled Teal. The current world wintering population is given as at least 33,0(X) 
of which about 1,000 occur in the eastern Mediterranean, 25,000 in Iran and 5,000 
in Pakistan. The population has declined by more than 50% this century and 
possibly by more than 90%. Loss of breeding habitat and hunting pressure in the 
breeding season (both of which continue) are the probable major causes. Some 
140 wetlands of current importance for Marbled Teal are identified. Of these 61°/. 
are completely unprotected and manyare severely threatened. Further information 
on the report (IWRB Special Publication No. 23) is available from IWRB, Slimb ridge, 
Gloucester GL2 7BX, U.K. 
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