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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2005 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	passage (2005)	54 birds	A1
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	passage (2005)	360–3,180 birds	A4i
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	passage (2005)	3,000–3,500 birds	A4i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	passage (2005)	12,000–50,000 birds	A4i
Smew Mergellus albellus	LC	passage (2005)	1,250 birds	A4i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	passage (2004)	1,200 birds	A4i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	passage (2005)	9,500–10,860 birds	A4i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	passage (2005)	2,670–2,740 birds	A4i
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo	LC	breeding (2005)	< 50 birds	A3
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo	LC	passage (2005)	2,100–8,400 birds	A4i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	passage (2004)	37–588 birds	A4i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	passage (2005)	146–838 birds	A1, A4i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	passage (2005)	1,340–1,350 birds	A4i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	CR	passage (2007)	30–227 birds	A1, A4i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	passage (2005)	2,545–5,360 birds	A1, A4i
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage (2005)	22,530 birds	A4i
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus	LC	passage (2005)	24,600–32,500 birds	A4i
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni	NT	breeding (2006–2007)	100–144 pairs	A1, A3
Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis	LC	breeding (2005)	260 pairs	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage (2005)	21,200–83,300 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2005. The most recent assessment (2015) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Mute Swan Cygnus olor	400 / 400 (birds)	100	good
Greylag Goose Anser anser	350 / 3,000 (birds)	12	very poor
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	15,000 / 50,000 (birds)	30	very poor
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	1,304 / 2,500 (birds)	53	poor
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	450 / 375 (birds)	100	good
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	4,500 / 530 (birds)	100	good
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola	2 / 2 (birds)	100	good
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	22,006 / 83,300 (birds)	27	very poor

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	70	Rivers & streams; Standing brackish & salt water; Standing fresh water; Water-fringe vegetation
Grassland	25	Humid; Steppes & dry calcareous
Artificial/Terrestrial	5	Arable land
Shrubland	minor (<10)	Low bushes

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	40
fisheries/aquaculture	30
rangeland/pastureland	20
agriculture	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Uyalyshalkar Lake System (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/uyalyshalkar-lake-system-iba-kazakhstan on 23/12/2024.