16 
Acknowledgements 
1 should like to thank Frank Preston and Ivan Adair for providing the 
detailed information which made the writing of this article possible. 
References 
Phillips, N. R. 1982. Observations on the birds of North Yemen in 1979. 
Sandgrouse 4: 37-59. 
Preston, F. 1979a. Island Saga. Ring Road Rag (Sana 'a English Language 
Bulletin ) No. 30 (October issue). Unpaginated. 
Preston, F. 1979b. Unpublished report, 18 November 1979. 
Appendix 1. Description of individual islands 
The islands are listed from north to south (see fig. 1); names follow the 
recent YAR Yemen Survey Authority/British Directorate of Overseas Surveys 
1:50,000 maps of the area, and are more reliable than the alternative 
names given, which are taken from a British Admiralty chart, date unknown, 
and the YAR Yemen Survey Authority/Swiss Technical Cooperation 1:500,000 
1985 map. Island descriptions are taken from Preston (1979a & b; in litt . 
2 May 1987) and describe physical features, including anchorage and 
landing points, as well as any other relevant non-ornithological 
observations. It is worth noting that the shape of the sand spits, and 
hence the shelter offered, can change very quickly in rough seas. On all 
the islands the fishing camps are occupied only seasonally. 
Finally, it must be stressed that foreign birdwatchers proposing to visit 
these islands must obtain the necessary permission from the YAR government 
beforehand, for their own safety; permission is unlikely to be granted 
unless the visit is organised by some official body in formal cooperation 
with the relevant Yemeni authorities. 
Buhays 
Low sand island c.500 ra long. Anchorage and campsite at eastern end. 
Other name: Bahais. 
Zakhah 
Low sand island. Sand spit on eastern side, with a boat passage through 
the coral just SW of the sand spit, and leading to the western of two 
fishing camps on the SE side of the island. 
Other names: Dhakha, Zaihah. 
Zurbat 
Sand island with a 3 m high ridge on the eastern side. There is a fishing 
camp and anchorage at the sand spit at the NE corner. Infested with 
rats . 
Other name: Zirbat. 
