Letters 
The extinction of the Bald Ibis in Turkey 
It is sad to reflect that the extinction of the Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita has 
been staring conservationists in the face for about 40 years. The best 
efforts of many concerned conservationists over many years have failed 
to save the Birecik population in Turkey and it seems that the moroccan 
population is going the same way. The presence of wild birds in north 
Yemen suggest that there is, or has been until recently, another breeding 
site in the Middle East - one currently unknown to birdwatchers. Our 
generation of conservationists and birdwatchers is faced with bird 
extinctions and loss of habitat to an unprecedented extent. Clearly, the 
methods employed in the case of the Bald Fbis in Turkey have failed. It is 
time that the international conservation conununity critically examined 
both the theory and practice of our current conservation effort. 
Much time and vast sums of money have been spent on survey work and 
scientific research, both of which are vital to successful conservation. In 
my view, however, conservationists have yet to grasp the equal impor- 
tance of education in both its broadest and narrowest sense. Most 
decision makers and most ordinary people have not got the first idea 
why it is important to conserve a bird like the Bald Ibis or an area like the 
Goicsii Delta for both the economic and cultural sustainable develop- 
ment of their country. Most of those who do think it important have 
neither the knowledge or expertise to do it effectively. It follows that an 
enormous education programme is required for decision makers and 
land managers, as well as public opinion. The reality is that most 
conservation organisations devote an insignificant proportion of their 
budget (certainly when compared with research) to education. Unless 
there are significant changes in this approach, I suspect that conserva- 
tionists will be in for a lot more shocks as we enter the 21st century. 
Further comment on this view is welcomed. 
Simon Albrecht, 12 Hemingford Road, Cambridge CBl 3BZ,UK 
The winter quarters of migratory Dead Sea 
Sparrows 
What happens to the breeding population of the Dead Sea Sparrow 
Passer moahiticus moabiticus in Israel and Turkey in the non-breeding 
season? 
The small breeding population of moabiticus in Cyprus disappears from 
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