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Site description (2008 baseline):

Shagyrkol lake is located in the central part of the Sypsynagashsky hollow, in 10 km to the southwest from the Svobodnoe village, where there is an earth road to the lake. Mamyrkol lake is located in 9 km to the northwest from village Svobodnoe and in 20 km to the southwest from village Druzhba. Both lakes are located on the territory of the Kamystinsky district of Kostanaysky region

Lakes are used as a place of a stop for migrating waterbirds, with the total single number up to 50 000 individuals. Red-breasted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Whooper Swan, Common Crane and Steppe Eagle refer to the most important globally threatened migrants species including in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. Many of species – Greylag Geese (more than 1 % of population) and Greater White-fronted Geese Long (more than 1 % of population) stop on the lake. A Grey crane stops here regularly.

Thus, lakes of Shagyrkol and Mamyrkol are key places of stops of migrating anseriformes birds, including globally threatened species.

Lakes are an important habitat of waterbirds in the periods of nesting and seasonal migrations in particular. Mew Gull and Little Gull, Common Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Red-necked Grebe are the most numerous on nesting. From among globally threatened species of waterbirds Whooper Swan nests here. During spring and autumn passages Greater White-fronted Geese and Greylag Geese form big on the lake with Red-breasted Goose and Red-breasted Goose stopping here too. Migrating Common Cranes, Mallard and Oystercatchers are numerous too. Thus, the lake supports a great number of populations of waterbirds, including rare and globally threatened ones, in spring and autumn migrations.

Criterion А1 is using for the Red-breasted Goose and Lesser White-fronted Goose.

Criterion А4i is using for Common Crane, Whooper Swan, it is possible for a Greylag Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and some species of ducks in seasonal migrations.

Use of lands adjacent to the potential IBA for growing grain-crops (wheat) to be considered as a factor that undoubtedly promotes increase of density of populations of migrating birds as it provides birds with food and places of rest during autumn flights.

On the other hand ploughing up lands and grazing of livestock are factors of disturbance of birds during spring and autumn periods. And also the main threats are increase of hunting, poaching and unstable water schedule. 

1. To conduct explanatory works among local hunting societies and private hunting areas, distribution of leaflets, booklets and other printing materials among hunters.

2. On the base of hunting areas to establish a rehabilitation centre for saving wounded Lesser White-fronted Geese and returning them to the nature.

3. To take effective nature-conservative measures on protection and to regulate rigidly hunting in the periods of autumn and spring migrations of geese.

4. To conduct an extensive monitoring in order to specify and get more precise information on number of geese.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shagyrkol and Mamyrkol lakes (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shagyrkol-and-mamyrkol-lakes-iba-kazakhstan on 23/11/2024.