A note from Mike Jennings & OSME about a new publication:
The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia was published in the middle of July, as Volume 25 of Fauna of Arabia. This journal is a joint publication of the Senckenberg Institute Frankfurt a.m. and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In its 770 or so pages it covers the 273 breeding birds of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra (including 23 endemics) with notes on 24 other species that may breed. Breeding birds are mapped and illustrated. There are over 100 colour photos of birds and habitats etc and numerous other general maps.
OSME has been happy to support and encourage the ABBA project since it started in 1984. A review will appear in a future issue of Sandgrouse. A copy of the atlas will be available to view on the OSME stand at the British Birdfair Rutland Water on 20-22 August.
It is a hardback produced to a high standard, in A4 format and printed in Germany. Please note that because of the relatively short print run there are likely to be limited opportunities to obtain a copy of the atlas.
Anyone wanting to buy a copy can obtain one as follows:
1. It is currently available from the Swiss distributors:
Andrea Murdoch (Ms)
Karger Libri
International Subscription Agency Ltd
Journals Administration & Book Series
Petersgraben 31, 4009 Basle.
phone: +41 61 306 15 23
fax: +41 61 306 15 67
Delivery will be made on prepayment. Orders can be made by email, fax or mail. (Free postage on orders of 5 or more at one time.)
Alternatively customers can use the electronic order form on their website (
http://www.libri.ch/App_Web/DE/services/faunaofarabia.aspx#03).
Major credit cards such as VISA and Mastercard are accepted.
Karger Libri have a general website at
http://www.libri.ch/Default.aspx
2. It is also currently offered by the Natural History Book Service (
www.nhbs.com/index.html). If NHBS brings it to the Birdfair, purchasers can get it postfree.
3. There will be a very few copies for sale by Mike Jennings on the OSME stand at the Birdfair at a special price which also includes a donation to OSME. Preference will given to those OSME members who have contributed any records to the ABBA project since 1984. Those likely to purchase should advise Mike Jennings at
[email protected] before Thursday midday that they intend to collect in person, so he can bring the correct number of copies. It is first come first served. You can nominate someone to collect on your behalf but nominees will need to convince Mike who is ordering.
Buyers should be aware that the Atlas contains a few photos that are printed too dark, so they may wish to see a copy before committing the full price. Also it is possible that there may be a cheaper commercial version printed later. However there are as yet no definite plans to do this and no offers from commercial publishers to do it.
Mike will be happy to answer any questions about the book before you purchase
[email protected].
Ian Harrison
Secretary, OSME & MEBirdnet Coordinator
