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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
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (1997–2004)	5–10 pairs	A1
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	winter (1997–2004)	300–1,295 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1997–2004)	100–9,390 birds	B1i, B3
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (1997–2004)	24–640 pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1997–2004)	5,674–7,777 birds	B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1997–2004)	600–19,350 birds	B1i
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	2–200 pairs	B1i, B2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	breeding (1990–2004)	250–6,000 pairs	A4i, B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	250–1,000 pairs	B1i, B2
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	LC	breeding (1990–2004)	850–1,500 pairs	A4i, B1i
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	54–100 pairs	B2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	825–3,000 pairs	A4i, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	125–800 pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding (1997–2004)	604–2,500 pairs	A4i, B1i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding (1996)	12,000–15,000 pairs	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1996)	10,000–40,000 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)	good (>90%)	moderate (70–90%)	moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Some of area covered (10–49%)	No management planning has taken place	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	low

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

Name	Year formed
info avialable at AOS	2005

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

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	80	Salt marshes; Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation
Artificial/Terrestrial	-	Arable land
Desert	-	Semidesert
Shrubland	-	Scrub

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture	major (>10)
agriculture	minor (<10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Mahmudchala (Azerbaijan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-mahmudchala-iba-azerbaijan on 27/12/2024.