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Site description (2007 baseline)
The site is located in Tamsag depression, 30 km southwest of Sumber soum centre. It comprises several small lakes (Shuumar, Bayan, and Bayanburd), which are partly covered by reeds. The lakes are surrounded by steppe. The main land uses are livestock grazing and hay collection, and small areas are cultivated. Steppe fires and livestock grazing damage the reed beds and remaining willow trees. The lakes are drying out because of a warmer climate. In addition, illegal hunting of birds has been reported. Other significant threats to biodiversity at the site comprise oil exploitation and steppe fires.

Key biodiversity
The following Globally Threatened species occur at the site in significant numbers: Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN); White-naped Crane Grus vipio (VU); Hooded Crane G. monacha (VU); Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU); and Relict Gull Larus relictus (VU). In addition, Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus (CR) is a regular passage migrant and summer visitor to this site. The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert biome. The following congregatory waterbirds occur in numbers exceeding 1% of their flyway populations: Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus; Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus; Swan Goose Anser cygnoides; Common Pochard Aythya ferina; Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo; and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus.

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals commonly found at the site include Mongolian Gazelle Procapra gutturosa, Grey Wolf Canis lupus and Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides. In winter, thousands of Mongolian Gazelle remain in the area. In 1996, a new fish species to Mongolia, Lefua Lefua costata, was found at Shine Gol. This species was hitherto known only from the Amur drainage of China and Russia.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tashgain Tavan Lakes (Mongolia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tashgain-tavan-lakes-iba-mongolia on 23/12/2024.