Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
Tuyabuguz is a large water reservoir, 13-15 km long and 3 km wide and although the shore of the lake is very indented the area is only 2,000 ha. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Akhangaran river in the agricultural zone of Tashkent region. It attracts large numbers of waterfowl, especially on migration and in winter. West, north and south of the reservoir are well developed recreation areas with holiday homes, boarding houses and cottages. The recreation pressure is small in the eastern lower part of the reservoir where the Akhangaran flows into Tuyabuguz. The area of this region is 10 km2, it has stands of tugay forest, many small water bodies and reedbeds which have little access. There is also an important system of low flat small islands in this shallow part of reservoir. During periods of warm weather, there are many holiday people and fishermen from industrial towns such as Tashkent, Almalyk, Akhangaran, Bekabad, Pskent and others. At that time disturbance is very high, and nesting birds are not numerous. In the late autumn and winter hunters are regular, therefore birds concentrate on inaccessible islands at night and in the centre of the reservoir during the day. The reservoir is accessible to visitors as there are highways on the dam (western shore) and near the eastern shore. The site is situated 70 km south of Tashkent.
During the breeding season the only breeding waterbirds are those that can tolerate high levels of recreation – Sterna albifrons, Sterna hirundo, Himantopus himantopus, Glareola pratincola, Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps ruficollis and Fulica atra. The list of breeding ducks is unknown, but they only nest in single pairs. There is large colony of Ciconia ciconia (50 nests). During migration many species of waterbirds use the reservoir and numbers amount to many thousands and the site is very important for wintering ducks and others waterbirds. There are large assemblages of Larus ichthyaetus, Egretta sp., Ardea cinerea and geese. One of the most numerous species is Anas platyrhynchos, and a characteristic feature of this species is a predominance of males. Phasianus colchicus are numerous in the scrub on the eastern shore.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals are not diverse. Sus scrofa occurs randomly and singly. There are many Vulpes vulpes and Canis aureus near the coasts. Felis libyca has been observed, the presence of Felis chaus is uncertain. Lepus (capensis) tolai is regularly observed, and there is a single record of Ondatra zibethicus. Natrix tessellata are numerous.
West, north and south of the reservoir are well developed recreation areas with holiday homes, boarding houses and cottages. The recreation pressure is small in the eastern lower part of the reservoir where the Akhangaran flows into Tuyabuguz. The area of this region is 10 km2, it has stands of tugay forest, many small water bodies and reedbeds which have little access. There is also an important system of low flat small islands in this shallow part of reservoir. During periods of warm weather, there are many holiday people and fishermen from industrial towns such as Tashkent, Almalyk, Akhangaran, Bekabad, Pskent and others. At that time disturbance is very high, and nesting birds are not numerous. In the late autumn and winter hunters are regular
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
During periods of warm weather, there are many holiday people and fishermen from industrial towns such as Tashkent, Almalyk, Akhangaran, Bekabad, Pskent and others. At that time disturbance is very high, and nesting birds are not numerous. In the late autumn and winter hunters are regular, therefore birds concentrate on inaccessible islands at night and in the centre of the reservoir during the day. The reservoir is accessible to visitors as there are highways on the dam (western shore) and near the eastern shore. The site is situated 70 km south of Tashkent.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The ornithological situation of Tuyabuguz Water Reservoir is little studied apart from separate short-term visits. Ideally for IBA work regular observations, including counts during migration and in winter, are required.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tuyabuguz Reservoir (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tuyabuguz-reservoir-iba-uzbekistan on 22/12/2024.
