Advice on Africa

[Brent Burt]

        I am a graduate student at the University of Arizona planning field
work in Africa and would like advice from people either from Africa or with
experience working in Africa.  I am studying the systematics of the avian
family Meropidae (bee-eaters) and the evolution of cooperative breeding
behavior in this group.  Field work will have two major goals:  1)
collection of tissue and voucher specimens for molecular work, 2) gather
detailed breeding behavior data on at least one bee-eater species for which
little is known.  The countries that would best suit my needs are:
Nigeria, Zaire, and Kenya.  Other possibilities include:  Burkina,
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Senegal, Gabon, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
        Specifically I would like recommendations/comments on 1) ease of
obtaining permits (collecting and banding) and whom to contact, 2)
logistics of travel and housing (field stations?).  Is anyone planning work
in these countries that might let me join your team?  I can provide a C.V.
and more detailed research plans if needed.  Any information would be
appreciated!

                Thanks,
                Brent Burt

====================================================================
Brent Burt      DBBURT at CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ  85721
(602) 621-1889
====================================================================