birding...

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo Machiel Valkenburg http://www.centralasiabirding.com

Kazakhstan is the eighth largest country in the world, situated in the middle of the Eurasian Continent. It stretches almost 3,000km from the Volga Delta in the west to the west border of Mongolia in the east, and 1,600km from Russia in the north to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kirghizstan in the south. It occupies a territory of 2,700,000km2. Plains cover 60% of this territory, hummocks 30% and mountains and foothills to 10%. The Western Tien Shan, Northern Tien Shan, Dzungarian region and Altai are the largest mountain regions in Kazakhstan. About 34,500 lakes are scattered over the country and are most abundant in northern regions. Some of these lakes are intermittent. The largest and famous are Caspian Sea and Aral Sea, and lakes Balkhash, Zaisan, Alakol, Tengiz and Kushmurun. The majority of rivers such as Ural, Irgiz, Turgai, Sarysu, Nura, Ili etc. belong to the closed catchment-areas of large lakes. Only the rivers Irtysh, Ishim and Tobol flow to the Arctic Ocean.

This typical inner-continental country has great diversity of landscapes: different types of steppes and north desert, foliaceous and coniferous forests, large lakes, and river valleys, huge mountains with magnificent gorges and white-capped picks. The northernmost region is represented by the forest-steppe ecosystems of the Western-Siberian Lowland. Further south, these ecosystems change for the steppe ones followed by extensive desert covering over 44% of the total area of the country. The mountains belts include different types of forests, alpine meadows, tundra, permanent snow belts and glaciers.

This geographical location and diversity provide a rich composition of flora and fauna with over 6,000 species of vascular plants and 835 vertebrate species. There are 489 bird species, including 396 breeding species, the rest are migrating and wintering species. Some of them are familiar species, but also there are encounter many wonderful and rare birds such as: Greater Flamingo, Red-breasted Goose, White-headed Duck, Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Saker, Black Grouse, Siberian White Crane, Great, Houbara & Little Bustards, Sociable Lapwing, Pallas`s, Black-bellied & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, White-winged & Black Larks and many others. Between the near 178 species of mammals there are also very interesting species: Snow Leopard, Persian Gazelle, Saiga, Asian Wild Ass, Bukhara Red Deer, Argali, Ibex.

North-west Kazakhstan - Kostanay Oblast

Many regions of Kazakhstan are very interesting for birdwatchers. Kostanay oblast on the north-west of country is one of them. This region with steppe, lakes and forest patches, including Naurzum State Nature Reserve, have very diverse bird fauna, especially during migration time, and some special species that possible encounter only here, of which Black Lark and White-winged Lark are endemic of steppe of Central Asia.

Naurzum Reserve situated in the south dry steppe of Kustanai Oblast, but this region, together with typical landscapes, also has contrasting landscapes that attracted an extraordinary wealth of animals and world of vegetation. Steppe, lakes, meadows and forests create an interesting combination of habitats. Typical, short feather grass steppe and other variants occupy majority of this territory. In the spring, a variety of flowers cover the steppe; afemerals and flowering adonises, Pulsatilla flavesceus, different tulips and irises. In June, the flowering feather grass transforms the steppe into a shimmering silver sea. Three forested areas situate in different soil condition lead to them composition and structure. Severe conditions of growth limits the composition of tree species by pine, aspen and different species of birch. The pines are dispersed on multiple large and small sand hills, where they grow as small pine islands surrounded by steppe vegetation. Numerous large and small, fresh and salt lakes, situated here, are intermittent. The species of different landscapes zones are found in the fauna of this area. The largest animal in the reserve is the Moose. Before 1990, in the summer, grazing herds of Saiga (Saiga tatarica) could be seen in steppe areas and would seek shelter among the Naurzum pines. Altogether the fauna is composed of 337 species: 44 mammals, 278 birds, 3 reptiles, 3 amphibians and 9 fish.

This area is the best place for observation of the Birds of Prey. Overall 25 raptor species, including 16 breeding, occur here. In the forests of reserve breed 53 pairs of Golden, Imperial & White-tailed Eagles and many other birds of prey species like Saker, Red-footed Falcon, Kestrel, Hobby, Merlin etc. In a steppe area breed Steppe Eagle and Pallid & Montagu`s Harriers, on a lakes - Marsh Harrier. Black Grouse, Golden Oriole, Oriental Turtle Dove, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Azure Tit, Swift, Redstart, Eagle and Scops Owls are some species from typical for forests. The Central Asian endemic species White-winged & Black Larks are abundance in some steppe place, also Sociable Lapwing, becoming more rare last years, occur here and common Little Bustard & Demoiselle Crane. There are some passerine - Wheatear & Isabelline Wheatear, in bushes - Barred & Booted Warbler, Red-backed & Lesser Grey Shrike (very rare- Isabelline Shrike); Bluethroat and others. Some species like Roller, Hoopoe, Rose-coloured Starling encounter in different habitats.

Bird fauna of the lakes is most rich and diverse with a lot of waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines. There are many interesting species: Dalmatian & White Pelicans White-headed & Ferruginous Ducks, Great Black-headed, Yellow-legged & Little Gulls, Gull-billed, Caspian, Black & White-winged Terns, as well as of more or less common waders and ducks and some passerine species - Paddy-field, Reed, Great Reed, Cetti`s, Savi`s Warblers, Reed & Red-headed Bunting, Bearded Tit, Stonechat occupying reeds and bushes around the lakes.

The lake is also famous for being a very important roosting lake of migratory birds, especially in the autumn. Hundred thousand birds: geese (Greylag, White-fronted, Lesser White-fronted and Red-breasted); swans (Whooper, Mute and Tundra); different ducks and waders species found a rest and shelter here. Such rare species as Siberian White Crane also make regular stops. The biggest night roost has been counted at 160,000 geese in one lake in October 1998. The best time of the year for bird watching is May and June, for observation of arctic geese and other migratory birds - the end of September and beginning of October. Tourist`s firm Kostanai Intour situate in Kostanai city: Tel.: (007 3142) 53-53-63 Fax.: (007 3142) 53-56-17 E-mail: kostintour@mail.kz

South Kazakhstan - Almaty Oblast

This region is very interesting, because include North Tien Shan Mountain with gorges, lakes, foliaceous and spruce forest, the canyons of Charyn River, sandy and clay desert and wetlands - large and small lakes in desert. The center of the region Almaty is the largest and one of the most beautiful cities of Kazakhstan. It was first capital of the country. The bird fauna of North Tien Shan Mountain are very diverse, including near 200 species. There are possible meet a lot of interesting and beautiful birds: Lammergeier, Himalayan Vulture, Golden Eagle, Ibisbill, Himalayan Snow Cock and especially passerine - Blue Whistling Thrush, Blue-headed, and Eversmann`s Redstarts, Severtsov`s Tit Warbler, White-throated & Brown Dippers, Brown & Black-throated Accentors, Red-mantled Rosefinch, Himalayan Rubythroat, Red-fronted Serin, White-winged Grosbeak, Hodgson`s Rosy Finch, Alpine & Himalayan Accentors, Guldenstadt`s Redstart, Brandt`s Rosy Finch, Red-breasted Rosefinch.

The Canyon of Charyn River is a truly spectacular place. With surrounding area there are very specific bird fauna, which include some raptor species: Golden Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, Long-legged Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Lesser Kestrel and other birds such as Black Stork, Chukar, Short-toed, Bimaculated & Horned Larks, Isabelline & Pied Wheatears, Rock & Blue-rock Thrushes, White-capped, Grey-necked, Rock & Red-headed Buntings, Hoopoe, Roller, Rock Sparrow, Rose-coloured Starling, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Lesser Grey Shrike.

The typical Northern type desert represented by Saryesik-Atyrau desert and Taukum desert. Saryesik-Atyrau is mainly sandy, where in some places have preserved Saxaul forest. In Taukum desert clay valleys and sand hills combine. There are some specific species like Black-bellied, Pintail & Pallas`s Sandgrouse Lesser Short-toed Lark, Desert Wheatear, Great Grey Shrike Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Brown-necked Raven, Turkestan Tit, Saxaul Sparrow, Rufous Bush Robin, Desert Wheatear, Desert Warbler and most rare species - Short-toed Eagle & Pander`s Ground Jay. Some new species - Bluethroat, Isabelline Shrike, Eversmann`s Dove, White-winged Woodpecker - encounter in Turanga trees groves near Ili river.

The lakes of this region attract very lot of Waterfowl and water birds. There are Dalmatian and White Pelicans, different species of ducks, including White-headed & Ferruginous Ducks, Great Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed & Caspian Tern, waders with some interesting species like Caspian & Greater Sand Plovers, Collared Pratincole and some species of Warbler.