Requests

Bird photographs wanted
For an encyclopedia of animals we are looking for photos. The images will be printed in a resolution of 300 dpi and different sizes (most of them in A6 or smaller, some in A4). It would be very kind if you could contact us in case you could deliver some of the following species: Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja, Sao Tome Sunbird (Dreptes thomensis), Scarlet-tufted Sunbird (Deleornis fraseri), Copper Sunbird (Cinnyris cupreus), Northern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris reichenowi), Purple-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma sperata), Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba), White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer), Little Swift (Apus affinis), Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator), African Pitta (Pitta angolensis), Eastern Paradise-Whydah (Vidua paradisaea). If you could help us out, please contact Tobias Schloesser, VisualBridges AG, Maastrichterstr. 45 50672 Cologne, Germany; Email: Tobias.Schloesser@VisualBridges.com.

Nightjar photographs wanted
Photographs of nightjars and related families are urgently required for a new, high-quality, comprehensive photographic guide currently in preparation. This title is to be published by WILDGuides Ltd., with profits benefitting BirdLife International. Slides are preferred, and all photographs used will be fully acknowledged. If you are able to help, please contact Nigel Cleere, 2 Hawthorn House, Roundfields, Upper Bucklebury, Berks. RG7 6RQ, UK. E-mail: cleere@churr.freeserve.co.uk.

Request for observations from Côte-d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
A project to compile an annotated species list for the birds of Côte-d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has started recently. The authors (addresses below) would appreciate receiving species lists and additional information such as numbers, seasonal appearance, habitat, breeding and moult of species in Côte-d'Ivoire from anyone who has been birding there.

Demande d'information sur les observations d'oiseaux faites en Côte-d'Ivoire Une initiative pour l'édition d'un livre sur les oiseaux de Côte-d'Ivoire est en course. Les auteurs seraient heureux de recevoir toutes informations additionnelles telles que des données numériques, les observations saisonnières, habitats, nidifications et mues.

Addresses: Hilaire Yaokokore Beibro, Société de Conservation de la Nature de Côte-d'Ivoire (SCN-CI), s/c Department de Zoologie, Université de Cocody/Abidjan, 22 BP 368 Abidjan 22, Côte-d'Ivoire. Tel: + 225 07985434. E-mail: scnci@hotmail.com. Volker Salewski, Prinz-Rupprecht-Str. 34, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Tel: ++ (0) 417086788. Hugo Rainey, School of Biology, Bute Medical Building, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TS, UK. E-mail: hjr3@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Avian Demography Unit's 'bird sightings' scheme
Les Underhill reports that Avian Demography Unit's (ADU), South Africa, 'bird sightings' system is working routinely. Currently there are three species for which ADU would appreciate all records. White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, in order to determine whether there is much/any exchange between breeding populations; Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, to evaluate patterns of movement (observations of individuals with colour leg flags are particularly welcome); and Corncrake Crex crex, as data for this globally threatened species are likely to be needed in the future. For the pelican and tern the area of interest is anywhere south of Angola, Zambia and Mozambique (inclusive). For Corncrake, submissions from anywhere in Africa are valuable. Past observations are also useful. Any researcher who wants to add species to this list is welcome to ask for their inclusion and there is no need to contact the ADU in advance of making the request. Researchers can subsequently extract the information they require from the archives. ADU is building up a list of species in southern Africa for which all records should be archived, and welcomes suggestions for candidate species; in the meantime, please submit any observations considered notable. If you need further information on a submitted record, or perhaps wish to query a record (bearing in mind that no vetting takes place), make contact directly with the observer (the e-mail address is part of the record). To submit a record, click 'Bird Sightings' on the ADU home page, fill in the form that opens up, and click 'send'. Contributed by Prof. Les Underhill, Director, Avian Demography Unit, Dept. of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. Tel. +2721650 3227. Fax: +2721650 3434. Web http://www.uct.acza/depts/stats/adu/.

Conservation of Black-crowned Crane
The International Crane Foundation and Wetlands International (WI) are managing a programme for the conservation of Black Crowned Crane Balearica pavonina. This characteristic and popular bird of Sahelian wetlands has suffered serious declines throughout its range in recent years and is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN list of threatened species. In 2000, WI conducted a range-wide status survey and drafted a conservation action plan for the species, which in West Africa occurs from Senegal to Chad, and in the east from parts of Chad and Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, to Kenya and Uganda. In 2001, WI is aiming for a repeat survey, and would welcome all types of data/information, especially country, site, number, dates, etc. In particular, WI is eager to receive additional information on populations in southern Sudan, northern Central African Republic, south-west Mali, east Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau. Please contact Emmanuel T. C. Williams, Black Crowned Crane Programme Co-ordinator, Wetlands International, 407 Cité Djily Mbaye, B. P. 8060, Dakar-Yoff, Senegal. Tel. +221-820-6478; fax. +221-820-6479; e-mail emmanuelwilliams@hotmail.com.

Firefinches
Ian Hinze is currently making captive observations of Mali Firefinch Lagonosticta virata; thus far ten young have been bred from two pairs. Vocalisations are poorly known, save recordings made by Bob Payne and Clive Barlow. Ian is donating his own recordings, when complete, to the British Library National Sound Archive (NSA), but is particularly interested to gain all field data on this species. Interestingly, Bob Payne states the eye-ring to be pink, which it is occasionally. Clement et al. regard the eye-ring as yellow, which it also is, on occasion. Most of his captive individuals possess a yellow eye-ring, but when held in the hand it appears pink. To compound the problem, the eye-rings can also look grey. Obviously, the eye-ring may be subject to flushing, such as when in breeding condition. Ian has witnessed the same phenomenon in Dybowski's Twinspot Euschistospiza dybowskii, which also contradicts the usual description of this species. In Dybowski's the eye-ring appears narrow on occasion and then broader at other times, and also changed from a definite grey to reddish pink. If you can assist Ian with his research, please contact him via ianhinze@lineone.net.

Bird records from Malawi
Lawrence Luhanga is co-ordinating much of the atlas and other field work on birds in Malawi. He is keen to receive data from anyone who has been there on a birding trip and not submitted their checklist and notes. Please contact Lawrence Luhanga, Executive Secretary, Malawi Ornithological Society, c/o Department of Ornithology, Museums of Malawi, P O Box 30360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi. E-mail. nature50@hotmail.com or mos@ malawibirds.org; website: www.malawibirds.org.

Bird Images Needed
Shama Books, an Ethiopian publishing company, are currently collecting images of endemic birds of Ethiopia. If you have high quality pictures please contact us at the following address: Shama Books P.O.Box 8135 Addis Ababa Ethiopia. E-mail: shama@telecom.net.et Tel: 251-1-553959 Fax: 251-1-551010

ABC needs your old Journals
The ABC maintains a library of information for the use of Club members. A major part of this is journals covering African ornithology. If you have such journals that you no longer need we will be happy to use them if they fill gaps in our collection. In particular we are interested in back issues of the following: Scopus, Malimbus, Ostrich, Kenya Birds, EANHS Bulletin, Promerops, Honeyguide, Babbler, Bee-eater, Porphyrio, Mirafra, SAFRING News and the Journal of African Raptor Biology. If you can offer any of these please contact our Information Officer, Keith Betton. Email: info@africanbirdclub.org Address: 8 Dukes Close, Folly Hill, Farnham, Surrey GU9 0DR, UK. Tel: +44-1252 724068.

Birds of Cameroon
Jean-Michel Lapios is seeking photographs of the 840 species of birds recorded in Cameroon for use in an illustrated guide on which he is working. ABC members who have photographs they believe would be suitable for this purpose, which they are prepared to make available are invited to contact him at jmlapios@diomedea.org for further details of his requirements, terms offered etc.