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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2005 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (1996–2004)	55–1,890 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Mute Swan Cygnus olor	LC	winter (1996–2004)	750–12,593 birds	A4i, B1i
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	600–9,200 birds	A4i, B1i, B3
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	37 birds	B1i
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis	VU	winter (1996–2004)	120–340 birds	A1, B2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1996–2004)	3,500–19,200 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	winter (1996–2004)	2,200–11,950 birds	B1i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus	VU	winter (1996–2004)	1,100–3,652 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	LC	winter (1996–2004)	2,500–6,500 birds	A4i, B1i
Smew Mergellus albellus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	75–971 birds	B1i, B2
Goosander Mergus merganser	LC	winter (1996–2004)	175–850 birds	B1i
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	LC	winter (1996–2004)	420–1,560 birds	B1i
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter (1996–2004)	4,100–4,600 birds	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	winter (1996–2004)	950–1,800 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (1996–2004)	200–1,600 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	winter (1996–2004)	16,000–188,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1996–2004)	31,000–197,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (1996–2004)	520–4,100 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	LC	winter (1996–2004)	25,000–81,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	winter (1996–2004)	1,400–28,000 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Garganey Spatula querquedula	LC	winter (1996–2004)	1,600–4,000 birds	B1i
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1996–2004)	12,000–41,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1996–2004)	7,000–21,000 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1996–2004)	11,000–120,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1996–2004)	30,000–93,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1996–2004)	7,000–25,000 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1996–2004)	18,000–70,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis	LC	winter (1996–2004)	5,640–6,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena	LC	winter (1996–2004)	300–3,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	1,650–2,400 birds	B1i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	LC	winter (1996–2004)	2,600–3,500 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	3,750–14,500 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio	LC	resident (1996–2004)	10,000–44,500 birds	A4i, B1i, B2
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1996–2004)	62,000–265,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax	NT	winter (1990–2004)	2,800–30,000 birds	A1
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	800–1,350 pairs	A4i, B1i, B2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	900–3,000 pairs	A4i, B1i, B2
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	3,000–4,700 pairs	A4i, B1i, B2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding (1996–2000)	3,800–16,800 pairs	A4i, B1i, B2
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	1,400–54,000 pairs	A4i, B1i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1996–2004)	200–983 birds	B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	1,000–13,500 pairs	A4i, B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1996–2004)	23–190 birds	A1, A4i, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	breeding (1996–2004)	2,000–11,200 pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	winter (1996–2004)	7,100–9,825 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	LC	winter (1996–2004)	5,000–12,046 birds	A4i, B1i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter (1996–2004)	1,800–4,250 birds	A4i, B1i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	CR	winter (1996–2004)	40 birds	A1, A3, B2
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1996–2004)	1,234–1,500 birds	B1i, B2
Sanderling Calidris alba	LC	winter (1996–2004)	6,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	winter (1996–2004)	4,060–7,653 birds	B1i, B2
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans	LC	winter (1996–2004)	2,600–3,620 birds	B1i
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (1996–2004)	14 birds	A1, B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding (1980–1989)	60,000 pairs	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1996)	180,000–362,000 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2005. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	likely in long term (>4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1929	Gizilaghaj State Nature Reserve	State Nature Reserve (Ia)	67
1978	Lesser Gizilaghaj State Nature Sanctuary	State Nature Sanctuary (IV)	8

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Gyzylagach branch of Azerbaijan Ornithological Society	2006

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Desert	10	Semidesert
Grassland	5	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland
Shrubland	5
Wetlands (inland)	major (>10)	Standing freshwater; Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation; Shingle or stony beaches; Sand dunes and beaches
Artificial/Terrestrial	-	Arable land

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	80
nature conservation and research	70
agriculture	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gizilagach (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gizilagach-iba-azerbaijan on 22/12/2024.