Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The lake is located in the
south part of the region in relation to the settlements: the Russkiy Zharkol
lake is located in 25 km to the south-east of the city of Arkalyk, from which a field road leads to the
lake through wheat fields; also it is located in 20 km to the south-west of
Tersakan township (Matrosova).
Administratively – on the
territory of Arkalyk district of Kostanay region.
The
main reason for allocation of the area is due to its being well preserved and
also its importance for migrating birds. Total number of species which are met
here in different seasons is approximately over 50. Among them, more than 6
species are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the International Red
Book. The concentration of some of them is significant. In the periods of migrations,
the following birds stop at the lake: Red-breasted Goose - Branta ruficollis, Lesser White-fronted
Goose - Anser erythropus,
Whooper
Swan - Cygnus Cygnus.
The
main reason for allocation of the area is due to its being well preserved and
also its importance for migrating birds. Total number of species which are met
here in different seasons is approximately over 50. Among them, more than 6
species are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the International Red
Book. The concentration of some of them is significant. In the periods of migrations,
the following birds stop at the lake: Red-breasted Goose - Branta ruficollis, Lesser White-fronted
Goose - Anser erythropus,
Whooper
Swan - Cygnus Cygnus. Such
mammals as Grey Wolf, Red Fox, European Badger, wild boar, vole, European
(brown) hare are typical for this area; in summer also saigas come to this area.
The territories adjacent
to water bodies are actively used for cultivating grain crops, in particular,
wheat.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The
use of lands, which are directly adjacent to the potential IBA, for sowing
grain crops is to be considered as a factor promoting the increase of
population density of birds of passage, as that provides birds with food and
places of rests during autumn flights. On the other hand, ploughing up of the
lands and grazing livestock are factors of disturbance in spring and autumn
periods. And also the main threats are increase in hunting, poaching.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
No
surveys were conducted in this area.
1. To conduct an extended IBA monitoring in order to determine the species
composition, number and role of the area in vital functions of birds.
2. To work with the heads of hunting areas, Territorial division of the Forestry and Hunting Committee on the issues of prohibition and
limitation of hunting certain species of water birds, propaganda among hunters
on renunciation from hunting those species, etc.
3. To create a rehabilitation center for saving wounded lesser
white-fronted geese and reintroduction them to nature.
4. To take effective measures on protection of
the study area and strict regulation of hunting in the periods of autumn
migrations of geese.
No
State - individual farmers.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Russkiy Zharkol (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/russkiy-zharkol-iba-kazakhstan on 23/12/2024.
