Batpakkol lake


Site description (2008 baseline):

Site location and context

The lake is located on northern gentle slope of the Sypsynagashsky hollow, and in relation to settlements - in 17 km to the West from the village of Druzhba, on the territory of the Kamystinsky district of Kostanay region.



Key biodiversity

Bid accumulations of migrating the Greater White-fronted Goose and Greylag Gooses are formed in spring and autumn migrations on the lake stop as well as Red-breasted Goose and Lesser White-fronted Goose stopping here. Also migrating Common Cranes, Mallard, Northern Shoveler are numerous.

Criterion А1 is applicable for the Common Cranes, Lesser White-fronted Goose and a Whooper Swan.

Criterion А4i is applicable in season migrations for a Common Crane, it is possible for a Greylag Goose, a Greater White-fronted Goose and some species of ducks.



Habitat and land use

The lake is known as an important place of stops of geese, including Red-breasted Geese and Lesser White-fronted Geese. Total 35 species of waterbirds are registered in this place.

The lake Batpakkol was an important wetland this year as well. Despite of its small size toadstools, geese and ducks inhabit here. The reedstands are only in a coastal area of the lake. Adjacent steppe territories are hilly.

The most numerous bird species were the following: Red-breasted Goose - 550, the Greylag Goose - 450, the Common Crane - 292 and Northern Shoveler - 292 Greater White-fronted Goose 3400 and also 86 Lesser White-fronted Gееse were registered.

Red-breasted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Steppe Eagle, Common Crane, Whooper Swan are including in tht Red Book of Kazakhstan.

The powerful reed thickets of bordery-curtain type with an extensive central reach are typical for the lake. A part of the lake is shallow with tuberous reed thickets (Phragmites australis, Bolboshoenus maritimus). There are thickets of Morass-weed (Ceratophyllum demersum) and pondgrass. Communities of Narrow-leaved cat's-tail (Typha angustifolia) and Bulrush (Scirpus lacustris) are typical for shallow mainly flooded  in spring areas behind the external edge of reed thickets.

Such mammals as Grey Wolf, Red Fox, Corsac Fox, European Badger, Steppe Vole, Northern mole vole, Long-eared hedgehog, European Hare inhabit the area.

The nearest cultivations of grain crops (in particular wheat) are located in 7-9 km to a reservoir, and also in summertime in the territory there are cattle pasture. Annually small sites are till under melon fields and kitchen gardens, which watering water from the lake.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threat to steppe and coastal ecosystems and also nesting birds is represented by fires, caused by careless handling of fire, faulty equipment and, possibly, arsons in malice. Fishermen have concern about deaths of birds in fishing nets and as a result of poaching.

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity

Since September 2005-2008, one - two day ornithological excursions were carried out during spring and autumn monitoring of birds passages within the UNEP/GEF/ICF project on «Development of flyways and wetlands for conservation of Siberian Crane and other waterbirds in Asia».

Interventions were not realized on this territory.


1. To conduct explanatory works with local hunting associations and private hunting areas, distribution of leaflets, booklets and other printing materials among hunters.

2. To take effective nature-conservative measures, and to rigidly regulate hunting in autumn and spring migrations of geese.

3. To conduct more extensive monitoring in order to specify information on number of geese.




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Batpakkol lake (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/batpakkol-lake-iba-kazakhstan on 25/12/2024.