Bird Conservation International fills an important niche in the scientific literature by providing a forum for applied research of high utility to conservation biologists, often from research carried out as part of conservation projects. As such, it provides an outlet for research which might otherwise remain in the ‘grey’ literature. This is largely thanks to a cosmopolitan list of contributors, both amateur and professional, including academics and those working for conservation organisations, from all corners of the globe. To anyone reading this who is working in bird conservation research, I hope BCI is near the top of the list of journals you would like to publish your work in.

BCI's remit is to cover ‘subjects relevant to the conservation of birds’, allowing an eclectic mix of topics whilemaintaining a focus on bird conservation. In Volume 10 alone, 17 papers were studies of individual bird species, of which 15 are listed as globally threatened or near-threatened by BirdLife International (2000). A further nine papers were studies of habitats or regions. The focus of papers in the journal is diverse, and last year topics included baseline surveys, comparisons of bird communities in natural and disturbed habitats, conservation management advice, morphological variation, and molecular systematics. Additionally, regular ‘Opinion’ papers provide a forum for the discussion of conservation issues of the day. In covering such a wide range of subjects, every issue should include information of value to those involved or interested in conservation, not only of birds. The journal also has a truly international flavour: papers in Volume 10 resulted from studies in 17 different countries, from six of the world's seven continents, and were contributed by authors based in 14 different countries.

Quantitative differences were assessed in avian mortality by electrocution between the most frequent pole designs and habitat types in south-west Spain. Pin-type insulators in natural habitats accounted for 36.9% of total avian mortality. Including all species, we estimated a mean annual death rate of 4.5 birds per 100 poles (95% confidence interval: 3.0-6.03), of which 53.8% were diurnal birds of prey. We identified all power poles in the distribution area of the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti population of the Doñana area. The estimated total mortality for adults was 0.38 birds per year and for immature eagles 3.38, which was 1.3% of the adult population and 30.0% of the mean annual number of fledged young. Adequate modification of 18.6% of power poles in the distribution area of the eagle population could reduce the total estimated mortality by 51.6%.

Bird surveys were conducted through observations and mist-netting in six forest fragments in the cerrado region of central Brazil, to evaluate the effects of fragmentation on bird species richness and community composition. Smaller forest fragments had fewer species than larger fragments. The proportion of species in most foraging guilds did not change with forest size, except for that of granivores, which decreased as fragment size increased. The proportion of forest-dependent species increased significantly with increasing fragment size while that of semi-dependent species significantly decreased. Forest-dependent endemic birds, however, were not area sensitive, but appeared to be partially dependent on the flooded forests of the region. Conservation policies for the region should conserve both large and small forest fragments urgently, and flooded forests especially.

Olrog's Gull Larus atlanticus is a vulnerable species endemic to the Argentine Atlantic coast. We present information on new breeding colonies, update information on known colonies, and describe habitat and nest site characteristics of Olrog's Gulls breeding at Bahía San Blas, southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Information was obtained during the 1998 breeding season. We recorded four colonies on islets, with a total population size of 305 pairs. Colonies were located on open ground, partly bordered by vegetation. The two colonies at Islote Arroyo Jabalí Oeste were located more than 150 m from the high tide line, while the two colonies at Banco Nordeste were placed only a few metres from the high tide mark (1-6 m). Most nests were located more than a metre away from low Atriplex patagonica bushes (20-30 cm high) and herbaceous species, although a few nests were a few cm from vegetation. Nests were built on vegetation debris, on low herbaceous vegetation, and on gravel and sand. All nests at the four colonies were built with vegetation debris, mainly Spartina densiflora and some Salicornia sp. Mean external and internal diameters of nests were 40.57 ± 5.14 and 19.71 ± 2.21 cm, respectively. Gulls nested in discrete groups at relatively high densities, which ranged between 0.62 and 1.1 nests/m2. Nest occupation and number of eggs per nest varied among colonies. Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus were observed nesting in close proximity to all colonies. Further studies are needed to assess habitat partitioning between these two species, particularly considering that they nest in association at all breeding locations in coastal Argentina and that Kelp Gulls have shown an important population increase in recent decades.

Tristan Albatross Diomedea [exulans] dabbenena is the most genetically distinct of the five taxa that form the Wan dering Albatross superspecies, and has been listed as Endangered. It breeds only on Gough and Inaccessible Islands in the Tristan da Cunha group, central South Atlantic Ocean. The entire breeding population was surveyed during 1999-2000. A mid-September survey at Gough Island recorded 1,129 chicks, equivalent to an annual breeding effort by approximately 1,500 pairs. Only one chick was present at Inaccessible Island in 1999, and another pair laid an egg in 2000. The annual breeding effort at this island has not exceeded three pairs since the 1950s. None were found during an incomplete survey at Tristan, where the species bred in the past, but birds were seen flying over the island. A complete survey and attempts to promote recolonization of Tristan are warranted. Breeding success at Gough Island averaged 63%, and no birds that bred successfully attempted to breed the following year. Breeding success was greater and less variable in a large colony at Gonydale than at a peripheral colony at Tafelkop. Young birds returned to the island after 3-4 years (4-5 years old), and the modal age of first breeding was 8 years, with some individuals breeding as young as 6 years. Most chicks (81%) recruited to their natal colony, but some recruited to colonies up to 3 km from their natal site. Among adults, fidelity to partners and breeding colony was high. Of nine birds recovered away from the island, at least four were killed by longline fishing. Despite its known mortality on longlines, the Gough Island census exceeded demipopulation estimates from the 1970s and early 1980s, possibly due to incomplete coverage by previous surveys and a poor breeding season in 1998. Given the lack of evidence for a population decrease, Tristan Albatross should be listed as Vulnerable. It is the third rarest albatross species, however, and its population size warrants monitoring. We provide guidelines for repeatable censuses at Gough Island.

Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, is within an area of high bird endemism and supports a number of globally threatened and restricted-range species. Data were collected on the bird communities of the Reserve and their habitat in 1995, to ascertain habitat associations of some of the endemic and threatened taxa. Birds were surveyed in circular plots around a recording point. Habitat associations were investigated using Discriminant Function analysis, and populations estimated using DISTANCE.

Seven restricted-range species and 38 restricted-range subspecies were recorded in the survey. The number of contacts with some of the endemic species was low, which limited the statistical investigation of the habitat require ments of these species. When analysis was possible, altitude was the most important of the factors measured determining species distributions, while measures of forest architecture seemed less important. The area appears to support important populations of several restricted-range taxa and, provided that protection and management of the protected area can be enhanced, it remains one of the most important areas for bird conservation in southern Vietnam. Some drawbacks of the techniques used in the survey are discussed.