PAR AVIAN PENFRIEND SCHEME 
Last November the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in 
Britain launched Par Avian, a penfriend scheme for young people 
interested in wildlife and the environment. The scheme links people 
aged 8 to 18 who share this interest. Participants from some 40 coun- 
tries have already joined. 
Anyone interested should send their name, address, age, interests, 
whether they are a girl or boy, whether they want their penfriend to 
be a girl a boy or do not mind and what languages they speak/write 
to: Par Avian, YOC/RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, 
UK. Also send if possible a recent photograph of yourself and if you 
live in the UK a stamped self-addressed envelope (23.5cm x 16cm). 
You should hear within 6 weeks. You should be matched with some- 
one with similar interests and will get their name and address - the 
rest is up to you. 
SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW SURVEY 
A 3,000 km 2 /two week survey of the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions 
of Siberia last summer failed to locate any Slender-billed Curlews 
Numenius tenuirostris. (Source: Network News 2(3).) 
COLOUR-RINGED GULLS 
The Voome Bird Observatory in the Netherlands is collecting informa- 
tion on a number of colour-ring projects. 
In LATVIA, Yellow-legged Gulls Larus omissus have been ringed with 
a single engraved black ring. 
In UKRAINE, Yellow-legged Gulls Larus cachinnans have been ringed 
with a single engraved red ring. 
In SIBERIA (RUSSIA), Siberian Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus 
heuglini have been ringed with a single engraved white ring. 
Gulls and Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta carrying rings with different 
colours may originate from the Netherlands. 
Please send full details of any sightings to: Voorne Bird Observatory, 
PO Box 305, 3233 ZG Oostvoorne, The Netherlands. 
Tel: (0) 1815-4816. 
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