Bird Conservation International

Table of Contents - 2010 - Volume 20, Issue 02  

Cambridge Journals Online - CUP Full-Text Page
Bird Conservation International (2010), 20:186-199 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © BirdLife International 2010
doi:10.1017/S0959270910000031

Research Articles

Wader, gull and tern population estimates for a key breeding and stopover site in Central Kazakhstan

HOLGER SCHIELZETHa1, JOHANNES KAMPa2, GÖTZ EICHHORNa3, THOMAS HEINICKEa4, MAXIM A. KOSHKINa5, LARS LACHMANNa6, ROBERT D. SHELDONa7 and ALEXEJ V. KOSHKINa8

a1 Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str 5, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany, Current address: Uppsala University, Evolutionary Biology Center, Nobyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden, holger.schielzeth@ebc.uu.se
a2 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Conservation Science Dept., The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK
a3 Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Département d’Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, 20 CNRS, UdS, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087, Strasbourg cedex 02, France.
a4 Chausseestr. 1, 18581 Vilmnitz, Germany
a5 Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK), Off. 203, Orbita-1, 40, Almaty 050043, Republic of Kazakhstan
a6 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), European Programmes Dept., The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK
a7 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), RSPB Scotland Headquarters, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP, UK
a8 Korgalzhynskii Zapovednik, ul. M. Rakhimzhanova 20, p. Korgalzhyn 474210, Republic of Kazakhstan
Article author query
schielzeth h [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
kamp j [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
eichhorn g [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
heinicke t [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
koshkin ma [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
lachmann l [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
sheldon rd [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
koshkin av [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]

Summary

Population size estimates of waders, gulls and terns passing through or breeding in Central Asia are very scarce, although highly important for global flyway population estimates as well as for targeting local conservation efforts. The Tengiz-Korgalzhyn region is one of the largest wetland complexes in Central Asia. We conducted surveys in this region between 1999 and 2008 and present estimates of population size as well as information on phenology and age structure for 50 species of Charadriiformes. The Tengiz-Korgalzhyn wetlands are especially important for Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus and Ruffs Philomachus pugnax with, respectively, 41% and 13% of their flyway populations using the area during spring migration. The region is also an important post-breeding moulting site for Pied Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta and Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa used by, respectively, 5% and 4% of their flyway populations. Besides its key importance as a migratory stopover site, the study area is a key breeding site for the Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius, the Near Threatened Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni and for Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus with 16%, 6% and 5% of their world populations, respectively. We identified 29 individual sites that held more than 1% of the relevant flyway populations of at least one species of Charadriiformes. Including data on other species of waterbirds (mainly waterfowl), there were 93 sites that qualify for Important Bird Areas (IBA). About half of them are protected in a state nature reserve, while an additional 20% are recognised as IBAs. Nevertheless, 28 important sites are currently not recognised as IBAs nor are they protected by other conservation means. These sites require conservation attention.

(Received December 05 2008)

(Accepted May 15 2009)

(Online publication March 09 2010)