KZ108
Western and northern foothills of the Kalba Range


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2006 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Corncrake Crex crex LC breeding 2006 50-249 individuals A1
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo LC breeding 2006 48 individuals A3
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa NT breeding 2006 250-999 individuals A1
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni NT breeding 2006 < 50 individuals A3
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis EN breeding 2005-2006 300-350 breeding pairs A3
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca VU breeding 2006 2 breeding pairs A1
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus NT breeding 2005-2006 < 50 individuals A3
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni LC breeding 2005-2006 74 individuals A1
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug EN breeding 2006 18 breeding pairs A1
White-winged Lark Alauda leucoptera LC breeding 2006 1,000-2,499 individuals A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2006).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2012 unfavourable high negligible
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Anser anser Greylag Goose 1 38 individuals 100 favourable
Mergus merganser Goosander 4 4 individuals 100 favourable
Spatula querquedula Garganey 1 120 individuals 100 favourable
Mareca strepera Gadwall 1 9 individuals 100 favourable
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard 100 8 individuals 8 very unfavourable
Anas crecca 30 30 individuals 100 favourable
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 96 96 individuals 100 favourable
Fulica atra Common Coot 994 994 individuals 100 favourable
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant 164 164 individuals 100 favourable
Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 2 2 individuals 100 favourable
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 2 2 individuals 100 favourable
Calidris pugnax Ruff 4 4 individuals 100 favourable
Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper 3 3 individuals 100 favourable
Tringa totanus Common Redshank 20 20 individuals 100 favourable
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 526 526 individuals 100 favourable
Larus canus Mew Gull 62 62 individuals 100 favourable
Larus cachinnans Caspian Gull 80 80 individuals 100 favourable
Sterna hirundo Common Tern 48 48 individuals 100 favourable
Milvus migrans 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Upupa epops Common Hoopoe 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Coracias garrulus European Roller 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Alcedo atthis Common Kingfisher 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Pica pica Eurasian Magpie 2 2 individuals 100 favourable
Corvus corone Carrion Crow 8 8 individuals 100 favourable
Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow 12 12 individuals 100 favourable
Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling 30 30 individuals 100 favourable
Passer montanus Eurasian Tree Sparrow 20 20 individuals 100 favourable
Motacilla citreola Citrine Wagtail 10 10 individuals 100 favourable

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Forest Flood-plain 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Forest Native coniferous 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Grassland Humid 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Grassland Steppes & dry calcareous 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Inland cliffs 0 0 moderate (70-90%) good (> 90%) near favourable
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Scree, boulders & bare rocky areas 0 0 moderate (70-90%) good (> 90%) near favourable
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish & salt water 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Wetlands (inland) Standing fresh water 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: large scale happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: large scale happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors utility & service lines happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Unknown Unknown Unknown negligible
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Flood-plain, Native coniferous -
Grassland Steppes & dry calcareous, Humid -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams, Standing brackish & salt water, Standing fresh water -
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Inland cliffs, Scree, boulders & bare rocky areas -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
rangeland/pastureland -
forestry -
urban/industrial/transport -
not utilised -

Land ownership
Mixed, with state ownership accounting for the majority.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western and northern foothills of the Kalba Range. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-and-northern-foothills-of-the-kalba-range-iba-kazakhstan on 04/10/2023.