Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | EN | passage (2004–2006) | 1–8 individuals | A1 |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | passage (1997–2006) | 400–500 individuals | A4i |
| Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis | VU | passage (1987–2006) | 120–500 individuals | A1 |
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus | VU | passage (1997–2007) | 15–40 individuals | A1 |
| Siberian Crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus | CR | passage (1998–2000) | 2–3 individuals | A1 |
| Common Crane Grus grus | LC | passage (1998–2006) | 500–700 individuals | A4i |
| Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax | NT | breeding (1998–2007) | 30–60 individuals | A1, A3 |
| Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni | NT | breeding (1998–2006) | common | A3 |
| Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus | NT | breeding (1998–2006) | 5–25 breeding pairs | A1, A3 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | passage (2006) | 20,000-49,999 individuals | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2010) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2010 | unfavourable | high | not assessed |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Wetlands (inland) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed | not assessed |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 60 | Mesophile grassland & tall grass steppe; Dry grassland on sandy soils |
| Wetlands (inland) | 40 | Standing brackish & salt water; Standing fresh water; Temporary water bodies; Water-fringe vegetation; Rivers & streams |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | minor (<10) | Arable land |
| Shrubland | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| rangeland/pastureland | 40 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 30 |
| hunting | 30 |
| agriculture | minor (<10) |
| water management | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sankebay Lakes (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sankebay-lakes-iba-kazakhstan on 21/01/2025.