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Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
The lake is situated in the central part of the Kyzylkum desert 20 km to the south of Uchkuduk town. It is a large brackish lake, created in a basin of warm water artesian wells, in a hollow with no outflow. The total area of the lake system is constantly increasing due to the wells and a large catchment area. The water levels fluctuate seasonally, being at their lowest in August. The general size of the lakes is about 10 km by 2-4 km. Clay cliffs occur on the northern and eastern shores. In winter, in the vicinity of the wells, the lake does not freeze and many birds concentrate there.
Although only a few sites have been formally proposed under the A3 biome-restricted criteria (for biome CA04b Eurasian Desert and Semi-desert), many of the IBAs in the Kyzylkum Desert region support populations of biome-restricted species and, effectively, form a network of sites throughout the area.
The Rogatoe lake system is situated in the centre of the desert between the Amudar’ya and Syrdar’ya rivers, therefore it is very important for migratory birds. Migrants are attracted by the variety of habitats (reedbeds, deep water and open brackish shoals), rich feeding areas and comparative calmness.
The breeding bird community is typical of reservoirs in desert areas: Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps ruficollis, Fulica atra, Gallinula chloropus, Netta rufina, Anas platyrhynchos. Sterna hirundo, Sterna albifrons, Gelochelidon nilotica, Himantopus himantopus and, in some years, Recurvirostra avosetta. Vanellus leucura and Charadrius alexandrinus are numerous. Passeriformes (practically all inhabitants of reed thickets) include Locustella luscinioides, Acrocephalus melanopogon, Acrocephalus stentoreus, Acrосephalus agriсola, Panurus biarmicus and Remiz macronyx.
In the adjoining ravines good numbers of Tadorna tadorna and Tadorna ferruginea nest. There is also a high number of nesting and migrant immature Bubo bubo which is typical for desert reservoirs.
The variety of migratory species is very large. More than 200 species have been recorded, many of them being very numerous especially ducks, sandpipers, predators and Passeriformes. Significant number of birds stay throughout the winter on the unfrozen shoals and stretches near the thermal wells.
Non-bird biodiversity: In the vicinity of the lake, in the desert and on the plateau Gazella subgutturosa is rather common. It uses the lakes and wells for drinking. On the adjacent plateau there are isolated colonies of rare species of jerboas - Turkmen Jerboa, Bobrinski's Jerboa and Lichtenstein's jerboa - Allactaga bobrinskii, Jaculus turcmenicus and Jaculus lichtensteini. Equus hemionus formerly occurred. Similarly Sus scrofa is now rarely encountered. There is an
isolated population of Meles meles. Vulpes corsac and Vulpes vulpes are usual. Felis libyca and Vormela peregusna are numerous. There is a rich fauna of reptiles, among them Agrionemys (Testudo) horsfieldi, Varanus griseus, Eryx miliaris and Phrynocephalus reticulatus.
The area of water-fringe vegetation isn’t large but there are well developed reedbeds. There are also many low saltmarsh areas difficult to acces. The lake is situated 20 km from Uchkuduk town, connected by an earth road. Formerly it was a recreation zone but currently the number of visitors is low and they visit only 2-3 primary thermal springs. There are no fishermen because there are no big fish in the lake. Ten years ago the area was a site of mass hunting but now hunters are not numerous.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rogatoe Lake (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rogatoe-lake-iba-uzbekistan on 23/12/2024.
