Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
The site is a small mountain range, branching from the southern part of the large Tarbagatai mountain massif, covering 16.9 x 8.7 km and is situated in the Makanchy district of the East Kazakhstan region, just north-west of the Chinese border. It is oriented south-east to north-west. The gently sloping northern side of the range is intermediate semi-desert/dry-steppe, while the southern part is predominantly barren and cut by numerous rocky gorges.
During the three year period of intra-seasonal study of the Karabas Range area, 110 species were recorded. Passerines are common, with wheatears and buntings being most numerous. Common breeding raptors are Saker, Steppe Eagle and Long-legged Buzzard.
Non-bird biodiversity: Spirea bushes cover the floor of the gorges and depressions on the slopes.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Fires and commercial exploitation are the priciple threats to Sakers and other birds of prey. These are being trapped and their nests robbed either for sale as hunting birds in the Arab states or for catering to the Chinese market in exotic foods.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karabas Mountains (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karabas-mountains-iba-kazakhstan on 23/11/2024.
