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Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is situated in the southwestern part of the Kyzylkum Desert and includes Lake Tudakul, a small swamp and Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir.
Lake Tudakul is situated 23 km NE of the town of Bukhara and Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir 1 km NW of Tudakul. The water in Tudakul is saline. Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir was created to provide the areas situated in the arid zone with drinking water. the western and northern parts of Lake Tudakul are free of any shoreline vegetation; the south and eastern parts are overgrown with reeds and tamarisk, from 10-15 to 150-200 m in width. The lake is more or less spherical, its average width is 30 km, average depth reaches 5-8 m. The western part of the lake has a high and precipitous coast. Beyond it is a marshland with isolated waterbodies surrounded with reed. Several open islets rise in the central and northern parts of the marshland.
The water is the reservoir is fresh. High islets and promontories occur in the central and northern parts, which shelter cormorants, gulls and birds of prey. The shores are mainly stony and precipitous; they are practically free of vegetation. Flat coasts are overgrown with halophytes and saltwort.
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.
No special studies of the avifauna of Lake Tudakul and adjoining areas have ever been carried out, but the fauna of the desert part of Bukhara province and its water bodies is well explored. More than 250 bird species have been recorded there.
Both pelican species are recorded during migration and Dalmatian Pelican winters, as well as two species of Cormorant. In these seasons, five species of Podiceps; 4 species of Pelecaniformes; 12 Ciconiiformes; 1 Phoenicopterus; 23 Anseriformes; 18 Falconiformes; 5 Rallidae; 2 species of cranes; 29 shorebirds and 14 Laridae have been recorded. The wetland avifauna has developed comparatively recently with the development of reedbeds and formation of conditions suitable for habitation. Therefore, the numbers of nesting birds are on the increase but have not been evaluated fully.
Three species of rare birds included in the IUCN Red List nest - Oxyura leucocephala, Marmaronetta angustirostris and Aythya nyroca. Pelecanus crispus, Branta ruficollis, Anser erythropus, Haliaeetus leucoryphus and Chlamydotis undulata are recorded on migration and wintering. There are also four species included in the national Red Data Book nesting - Platalea leucorodia, Plegadis falcinellus, Egretta garzetta and Phalacrocorax pygmaeus. Pelecanus onocrotalus, Cygnus olor, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila nipalensis, Falco peregrinus and Larus ichthyaetus are migratory and wintering Red Data Book species.
This territory is of international importance for the sustainability of migratory and wintering waterbirds. In winter 2000, 55.345 birds were recorded during the aerial count. In 2003, during the terrestrial counts, were recorded 143.392 waterbirds in 2003; in 2004, 168.533 birds; in 2005, 96.358 birds.
Non-bird biodiversity: The following mammals have been recorded: Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes corsac, Felis lybica, Mustela eversmanni, Vormela peregusna, Meles meles; of rodents, Rhombomys opimus, Meriones tamariscinus, Ellobius tancrei, Nesokia indica, Allactaga elater, A. severtzovi and Spermophilus fulvus are resident; Lepus tolai and Hemiechinus auritus are common. In recent years, the introduced Ondatra zibetica and Myocastor coypus have been noted.
Amphibians are represented by Rana ridibundus and Bufo viridis. Reptiles are represented by Agrionemys horsfieldi, Natrix tesselata, Coluber karelini, C. ravergieri, Erix miliaris, Psammophis lineolatum, Phrynocephalus helioscopus, Phrynocephalus interscapularis, Eremias lineolata, Eremias scripta, Trapelus sanguinolentus, Cyrtopodion caspius and Teratoscincus scincus.
The fish fauna is comprised of 10 species.
The flora has not been studied in detail, but it includes species typical of wet parts of the desert areas of Bukhara.
Wetlands (the lake and reservoir) are situated in the Kyzylkum desert, which is being developed owing to the availability of freshwater in the Amudarya river. The desert in the vicinity of Tudakul is very sparse, stone-sandy. The shores are overgrown with thickets of reeds, cattail and in some places tamarisk. Fisheries are developed on this lake. There are about 10 fishery teams operating.
The western and southern parts of Lake Tudakul are actively used for recreational activities. The eastern shore is used for growing agricultural crops. Small livestock (goats and sheep) are grazed everywhere in the area.
The lake is divided between two hunting farms and seasonal hunting of ducks, geese and coot is carried out.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The IBA ecosystems are under growing anthropogenic pressure because of the development of recreational activities and agriculture. This is resulting in the degradation of the coastal vegetation and other changes, including changes in the wintering grounds and areas of roosting of migratory waterfowl. Of particular threat for diving birds is the use of fixed nets. Disturbance also negatively influences the birds.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Two winter aerial counts were conducted in January and February 2000, within the framework of the project "Protection of Uzbekistan's Wetlands and their Waterfowl".
In 2000, expeditions were carried out with the support of NABU - the German BirdLife partner.
In 2001-2003, field trips were organized to search for the wintering grounds of Anser erythropus, which were supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Use and Fisheries through their embassy in Moscow.
In 2003-2005, international winter censuses of waterbirds were carried out with the support of Wetlands International.
Year round monitoring of the avifauna of Lake Tudakul and Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir has been conducted by associates of the Biology Faculty of Bukhara State University in recent years.
Counts of birds were conducted from April to September 2006 and species composition, as well as the length of stay of birds in spring-summer and early autumn, were clarified within the framework of Uzbekistan IBA project.
Currently, only one water protection zone of the Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir is protected. It is of importance as a source of fresh drinking water and roosting area of migratory and wintering birds. It is necessary to create an ornithological reserve on the Kuyu-Mazar Reservoir and beyond the dam of Lake Tudakul, on the marshy area which is the breeding ground of Marmaronetta angustirostris, Aythya nyroca and Oxyura leucocephala. For Lake Tudakul, it is necessary to develop a management plan for coordinated use of the area. The majority of the wintering and migrating birds is concentrated in the territory of the hunting farms.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tudakul-and-kuymazar-reservoirs-iba-uzbekistan on 27/12/2024.
