UZ024
Oygaing River Valley


Country/territory: Uzbekistan

IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 138,896 ha

Uzbekistan Society for the Protection of Birds
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2016 not assessed high low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2007 baseline)
The IBA covers part of the basin of the Pskem river (the middle section of the Oygaing river and adjoining southern mountainside of the Maydantal range in the Western Tyan-Shan), in the Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region. The borders of the IBA are well defined. The site covers all of the southern mountainside of the Mayantal range from the Oygaing river to the ridge of the range, from the mouth of the Tyuzashu river valley to the mouth of the eastern Ayutor river and includes the slopes of these river valleys. The altitude ranges from 1,900-3,050 m above sea level.

Key biodiversity
The distribution of some birds in the Western Tyan-Shan is very interesting and Eremophila alpestris and Carpodacus grandis are completely absent. The avifauna includes 213 species, including Ciconia nigra, Aegypius monachus, Gypaetus barbatus and Aquila chrysaetos which are included in the national Red Data Book. M.N.Korelov (1956) recorded Columba eversmanni here. The Pskem valley runs from south-west to north-east and in spring serves as a major migration route, especially for large species which take the shortest route and avoid the strong anthropogenic influence in the foothills. Grus virgo, Ciconia nigra and raptors are common. The IBA is situated in the widest, middle part of the valley, has a lot of water and provides safe roosting away from settlements. Aegypius monachus, Gyps fulvus, Gyps hymalayensis and a large complex of mountain species occur on the surrounding slopes.

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include 38 species, the most intersting are increasing populations of Uncia uncia and Cervus elaphus songaricus. Sus scrofa, Canis lupus, Ursus arctos isabellinus and Lynx lynx are common. Marmota caudata and Ochotona rutila are numerous and Capra sibirica occurs.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Oygaing River Valley (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/oygaing-river-valley-iba-uzbekistan on 22/11/2024.