Mark Barter at the Scaly-sided Merganser Workshop in Russia (May 2010) © Chang-yong Choi

A very sad day indeed for many. The EAAF Partnership Secretariat sadly reports the passing of Mark Barter on 21 November 2011. Mark was an outstanding and enthusiastic conservationist who has contributed to migratory waterbird research and conservation in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. Over the past 3 decades Mark’s contribution has been instrumental to:

• the development of the Australasian Wader Studies Group and its conservation activities (Chair, 1987-1997). -the development and oversight of the East Asian – Australasian Action Plan (1997-2001) and his role as Chair of the Shorebird Working Group during this time.

• conducting a program to train Nature Reserve staffs in bird recognition and survey methods at various wetland sites and, with them, undertake surveys of tidal flats from Fujian in southern China to the border with DPR Korea.

• promoting global recognition of the critical importance of the Yellow Sea for migratory shorebirds in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway.

• advancing our understanding of the importance of the Middle and Lower Yangtze wetlands for Anatidae, and establishing a waterbird monitoring program for the Yangtze wetlands in China.

• facilitating the development of international collaborative waterbird research programs that linked scientists in Asia, Europe and North America.

All his friends, colleagues, and Secretariat staffs greatly value his contribution as a leader, a scientist and as a trainer and mentor in this region. We will miss you, Mark!