Data Zone
Country/territory: Kazakhstan
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 49,690 hectares (496.90 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2007 | poor | high | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2007 baseline)
The site is situated on the north-western outskirts of the Betpak-Dala desert region, 100 km north-north-east of the district centre of Zhezkazgan.
The landscape is a combination of rough, eroded clayey plains and sands. The area includes the western fringe of the sand dunes of the Karakoiyn and Zhetikonyr sand massifs extending in a latitudinal direction from an area of alkali soil depressions at the foot of the moderately high Betpak-Dala plateau escarpment to the region enclosed by a large bend of the Sary-Su river. The area represents the distinct frontier zone of prolific sands and clayey semi-desert plain and the narrow strand of alkaline land covered with a patchwork of Lasiagrostis splendens, supportinging on its verges a belt of sparse Elaeagnus and Haloxylon forest.
Key biodiversity
The area’s main importance is the high breeding population of Aquila heliaca. During the mid-April 2007 survey, 10 nests were found and it is estimated that the total population is 15-18 pairs. One extensive area of wetland in the northern part of the site held 2 pairs of Circus macrourus but total numbers for the site are unknown. Beside one derelict cattle farm building 6 pairs of Falco naumanni were found breeding. Buteo rufinus is present, but the overall numbers are thought to be low (<3 pairs - only one nest found and one additional bird seen). At the edge of the sands a pair of Tetrax tetrax was seen once. In the heart of the sand massifs there are large coveys of Perdix perdix.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western edge of the Karakoyin and Zhetikonyr Sands (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-edge-of-the-karakoyin-and-zhetikonyr-sands-iba-kazakhstan on 25/12/2024.