Current view: Text account
Site description (2005 baseline):
Site location and context
Lake Hajigabul lies in the Kura valley near of Ali-Bairamly town. The lake itself play important role for wintering of water birds and system of fish pounds (with reach overgrows of reed) is suitable habitat for lots of breeding birds. Area of the lake (together with fish pounds and some shoals) is 2500 ha.
Although this lake had relatively few reed stands, many waterbirds rest there in winter (e.g.
Anas platyrhynchos, diving ducks and sometimes
Fulica atra). In the past, good numbers of
Anser anser,
A. albifrons,
A. erythropus and
Branta ruficollis were recorded resting during the day after feeding in the Shirvan steppe. The three
Anser species still occur at Lake Hadjikabul, but their numbers are very low (Vereshchagin 1950; M. Patrikeev,
in litt.). In February 1998,
Oxyura leucocephala were observed at Lake Hadjikabul (Cranswick
et al. 1998).
Some fish farms are working on the territory of the lake. Surrounding lands use for agriculture (animal husbandry and farming).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threat is unstable water supply from Kura river and as result strong declining of water level in breeding season.The hunting and activity of wish farms are also significant disturbance for birds, especially on fish pounds.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Lake Hajigabul is one of key sites of the project "Monitoring and Conservation of Globally Threatened Species in Azerbaijan". Within this project regular monitoring (December 2004 - March 2005) of winter bird's population was done.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Hajigabul (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-hajigabul-iba-azerbaijan on 23/12/2024.
