1 
APRIL BIRD OBSERVATIONS IN THE YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC (NORTH YEMEN), 
1987 
Rod Martins 
This note documents selected observations of 50 species in the YAR 
made by myself and others, mainly during a natural history tour, 
from 3 to 22 April 1987. The status and distribution of birds in 
the YAR (and south-west Arabia in general) was, until recently, 
poorly known and documented. The subject has, however, now 
undergone exhaustive review (Brooks, Evans, 'lartins and Porter 1987) 
and most comments refer to the state of knowledge as presented 
there. Records detailed expand knowledge of breeding biology, the 
dates of trans-Arabian peninsula passage and provide additional 
records of species for which there are few published observations or 
where status and distribution is still inadequately understood. New 
information is included on several of south-west Arabia's 
poorly-known endemics. 
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 
One on pools below Ma'rib new dam, 15th. The first record from the 
Interior desert. 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 
Up to three at Ta'izz lagoons, 7-8th. No previous observations In 
April of this passage migrant. 
Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii 
Six pairs with nests atop huts in a village 5km north-east of Al 
Midraan (perhaps Al Mighlaf) and seven soaring over Zabid on llth. 
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 
Six at Ma'rib new dam, 15th, were clearly on passage. Apparently 
the first record from the Interior desert. 
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita 
Brooks et al ( 1987) highlighted the need for further information to 
fully clarify the status of species in the YAR. A search of all 
short-turf grazing marshland areas (the areas of which have 
decreased by about 30% since the same time last year, a result of 
deep-ploughing) in the immediate vicinity of Ta'izz, where the 
species has been seen in recent years, failed to locate any birds, 
as with a similar search in 1986 (Martins 1986). The view that 
records from the YAR relate to wintering birds, returning to their 
breeding grounds, (presumed to be Bireclk in south-east Turkey) 
before April, is thus reinforced. It is suggested that the 
possibility that recent records from the YAR could arise fronj the 
