Breeding terns on Al Jarrim islands

Fasht Al Jarrim is a sandy shoal situated approximately 20 km north (QA29) of the main island of Bahrain. Three small islands occur on the fasht. The northernmost of these is a natural island which belongs to the ruler of Bahrain and has been occupied by two caretakers until 2009. An access channel is maintained through the fasht from the deeper water to the south-west. Two further islands are found to the south-east of the channel in shallow water. These are manmade, created from the spoils of industrial exploration over 20 years ago. While the islands have no official names, they are referred to in this note as Al Jarrim south, middle and north for ease of identification

Observations from 1998 - 2006 on the breeding population of Sooty Falcons Falco concolor on the Hawar Islands, Kingdom of Bahrain.

The breeding population of Sooty Falcons was observed on the Hawar islands from 1998-2006. The number of breeding pairs and the total productivity of the population were recorded annually. The population declined by 33% during that period, from 15 to 10 breeding pairs. The annual productivity fluctuated between 0.92 and 1.33 chicks per pair, but without any apparent trend. These figures are below the mean recorded in other populations. A recent review of the literature would indicate that the world population of this species has been seriously overestimated and further research is needed as a matter of urgency

Nesting parameters of Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur arenicola breeding in Bahrain.

The Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur arenicola (E Hartert, 1894) breeds from Morocco east to Tripoli, and from Iraq and Iran east through Afghanistan, Turkestan and Khirgiz steppes to northwest China (del Hoyo et al 1997). Within the Arabian peninsula it has been recorded breeding in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen in addition to Bahrain. It has not been recorded breeding in Qatar though suitable habitat exists there (Jennings 2010). Turtle Doves are widespread and common migrants throughout Arabia. They are thought to spend the winter in the Sahel and Ethiopia, returning north March–May to breed. Post breeding movements occur July–October and there is no evidence of wintering in Arabia (del Hoyo et al 1997, Beaman \u26 Madge 1998, Jennings 2010). The earliest record of breeding in Bahrain dates back to 1969, with additional records from 1982, 1985 and 1993 (Nightingale \u26 Hill 1993). The largest estimate was of 30 nests in Al Areen wildlife park in July 1985 (Nightingale \u26 Hill 1993). The colony monitored in the current study is immediately south of Al Areen wildlife park, in a group of mature desert broom Leptadenia pyrotechnica bushes, and may be the only Turtle Dove colony in Bahrain. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this breeding colony has been present annually for several decades at least, though recent evidence of birds breeding within the park was not available. The aims of the study were to gather information on the breeding parameters of this Turtle Dove colony, to estimate colony size and to conduct ringing of the chicks in the hope of getting recoveries to elucidate movement patterns of these Bahrain birds

Breeding of Spanish Sparrow in Bahrain

The Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis is found from Europe and North Africa to western China and Afghanistan. This species shows complex movement patterns, some southern populations are sedentary while others are partially migratory or nomadic. North-ease African birds are considered to be winter visitors from breeding populations in the east of the birds’ range. Birds in the Middle East were considered to be primarily winter visitors to southern Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait and north-west Saudi Arabia (Snow \u26 Perrins, 1998; Beaman \u26 Madge, 1998). During the latter half of the 20th Century it began to establish itself as an irregular breeder in Arabia. It has continued to expand its range during this century with records of breeding in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates along the western coastal zone of the Arabian Gulf, while most recently two colonies were recorded from Qatar in 2007 (Jennings, in prep

The Irish grey partridge conservation strategy: an update 1995-1998.

KAVANAGH, B.P., O\u27GORMAN,C.,AND BUCKLEY, C.: THE IRISH GREY PARTRIDGE (PERDIX PERDIX) CONSERVATION STRATEGY: AN UPDATE 1995-1998.In May 1996 a strategy for the conservation of the last remaining population of the Irish Grey partridge was initiated. The strategy is a multipronged approach based on a) predation reduction, b) habitat improvement and c) monitoring of the birds’ response. A full-time game keeper was employed to reduce red fox (Vulpes vulpes), mink (Mustella vison), stoat (Mustella erminea), rat (Rattus norvegicus), grey crow (Corvus corone cornix)and magpie (Pica pica) numbers in a defined study area of 1,000 hectares of cutaway bog at Boora in County Offaly. The habitatis a mozaic of cutaway bogland, conferous forestry, newly created farmland and wetland. The area contianed 6-8 pairs of breeding grey partridge in spring 1996. Bare peat areas within the study area were selected and a mix of either grasser or grains were planted in 0,2 hectare blocks to provide nesting or chick rearing cover for birds. These plots were neither sprayed or harvested and have been left to develop naturally after planting. Fifteen hectares were planted over two years, 1996-97. In spring 1997 a number of male partridges were trapped and fitted with radio collars. Their home range and habitat preferences were recorded continuously for up to ten months. Radio-tracked birds were recorded leaving the keepered area and moving to winter stubble fields on adjoining farmland. Two successful coveys were produced in 1996 which resulted in a autumn count of 27 partridges in the study area. In spring 1997 the population in the study area was again 6-8 pairs. Two successful coveys were again produced in 1997 giving an autumn population was 23 birds within the study area. Winter survival in 1997/98 was poor. In spring 1998 only 4-6 pairs of partridges were found in the study area. Partridge numbers continue to decline both within and outside the study area. The remaining population is now less than 20 breeding pairs in total

Home range and habitat use of the endangered grey partridge (perdix perdix) in the Irish midlands.

O’GORMAN, E.C., KAVANAGH, B. and ROCHFORD,J.: HOME RANGE AND HABITAT USE BY THE ENDANGERED GREY PARTRIDGE (Perdix perdix) IN THE IRISH MIDLANDS: The last potentially viable population of native Irish Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) is located over a 25 km2 area at Boora bog, Co. Offaly, in the Irish midlands. The habitat is a mosaic of cutaway bogland, coniferous forestry, newly created farmland and wetlands. Since 1996 a combination of predation control and the provision of habitat strips has been the focus of conservation efforts in Boora in an attempt to increase partridge numbers in the short-term. The aim of this study is to provide baseline information on partridge movements and habitat use in the conservation site. The result of two years fieldwork is presented. An area of 18 km2 was mapped during the course of fielwork. Nine male birds were radio-tracked. The biological time periods (B.T.P.) calculated for breeding pairs were Exploration, Prelay, Lay, Incubation, Brood rearing, Primary and Secondqary covey movements. The home range varied in size and location from one B.T.P. to the next. This was linked to habitat availability. Breeding attempts occurred in young forestry plantations and newly created habitat strips within the cutaway bog area. The coveys left the cutaway bog area in late summer to feed on nerby pasture. A second movement in late Autumn was made to utilise winter stubbles on adjacent farmland. Birds returned to breeding sites in the cutaway bog area the following spring. The practical applications of the findings to the conservation effort are discussed

Bridging the Gap - On Easing the Transition from Arab Secondary to Western Third Level Learning.

Learning and achievement issues among Foundation Year (FY) students at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Bahrain have been responded to by the Language and Culture Unit to address the educational problems that have arisen as a direct consequence of the differences in skills students have on leaving secondary school and the skills that are required at third level institutions. The findings of the study assess the extent to which an integration of sustainable development into course objectives and learning outcomes takes place and how the content of the course responds to specific students’ needs. The research consists of an in-depth quantitative and qualitative case study that evaluates the extent to which the course enables the transition from a secondary to a third level institution and teaches the students the skills required to ‘survive’ at a westerntype university. In support of our claim, the results from this case study will be presented and implications of a more general relevance will be suggested. Our model of an academic skills intervention programme can be applied to other higher education institutions where issues of transition from secondary to third level learning may be problematic

The impact of farming on over-wintering bird populations

Field boundaries and fields in stubble, set-aside, winter wheat and improved grassland in County Kildare were surveyed for birds on 15 occasions between October 2001 and February 2002. A total of 40 species was recorded on all sites during the period of the study. Arable farming that retains stubble throughout the winter supports the greatest species richness and diversity with the lowest being recorded on improved grassland. Individual species showed preference for certain sites. Seed-feeding species, yellowhammer and skylark, preferred stubble while invertebrate-feeding species, fieldfare and meadow pipit preferred grassland. The analysis demonstrated that certain components of habitat were responsible for differences in species present and density

Bridging the Gap: A Program to Enhance Medical Students\u27 Learning Experience in the Foundation Year

Objective: To evaluate students’ perceptions of the intervention program based on small group teaching, regular continuous assessment, science-based tailored study skills program and recorded attendance on students’ enhanced learning experience in the first year of study in an outcome-based medical course. Design: Descriptive study. Setting: RCSI Bahrain. Method: A Twenty-seven-item questionnaire was administered to foundation year students at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) after the completion of the first semester to explore whether these interventions enriched the students’ learning experience or not. Comparisons of pass rates in all modules over the four years were also included. Students’ perceptions of the academic study skills course were collected through a questionnaire activity (version 2007120102) via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Result: The results suggest that local adaptations of undergraduate programs may lead to pedagogical expertise that contribute to enhanced learning experience of students and better integration of pre-university and third-level courses. The majority of questionnaire items were rated positively and the comparison of pass rates showed the highest results in the year the intervention was implemented. Conclusion: Making local adaptations to medical programs without changing the core curriculum can mark good academic practice. Considering specific socio-cultural frameworks of students may lead to improvements in the delivery of programs in universities