Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
This reservoir is situated in the foothills of hilly steppe 2-3 km from Kumkurgan town in the bed of the Surchandariya river. It is 3.2 – 6.2 km wide, about 20 km long and with an average depth of 9.9 m and a maximal depth of 27 m. The water level is not stable, but it does not flood or freeze in winter. There is an absence of shoreline vegetation and the shores are mainly flat. In the northeastern part of the reservoir the shore consists of loess cliffs 10-15 m in height. The adjacent territory is an agricultural landscape and rural settlements.
Specific ornithological research has not been carried in the area of the reservoir. As the site does not freeze it is a regular site for wintering waterbirds. Counts of wintering waterbirds were carried out within the framework of the international winter counts of birds in January 2003-2005. In 2003 38,398 birds of 23 species wintered on the reservoir. The main species were Anas platyrhynchos (29,564), Fulica atra (3,066) and Phalacrocorax carbo (2,814). In 2004 27,117 birds of 18 species were counted with the main species being Anser anser (5,243) and Anas platyrhynchos (21,355). In 2005 23,207 birds of 26 species were counted, the main species being Anas platyrhynchos (19,426), Aythya ferina (686), Netta rufina (632) and Phalacrocorax pygmaeus (579).
Small numbers of two globally threatened species have been recorded at Kumkurgan: Branta ruficollis and Pelecanus crispus, plus 4 species from the National Red Book: Larus ichthyaetus, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus, Haliaeetus albicilla and Aquila nipalensis. Of Passeriformes, in winter it is possible to find flocks of Sturnus vulgaris, Alauda arvensis and Motacilla alba.
In June 1962 D. Yu. Kashkarov recorded Marmaronetta angustirostris on the reservoir (Poslavskiy, 1992) and it is possible that the species may still breed in areas of overflow water from reservoir. However, there have been no recent summer ornithological surveys and this is therefore a major research requirement.
Non-bird biodiversity: Animals of note are Bufo viridis and Natrix tesselata. The shore is visited by domestic dogs.
Habitats consist primariliy of open water and silted clay shallows. The shores are marshy and lacking in vegetation. There are some areas of arable crops and small marshes where the reservoir overflows. They are characterized by an indented shoreline and the presence of islands. On the coast and islands there is a small amount of reed and bush-wood vegetation (tamarisk and willow).
The reservoir is freshwater and it is used for agricultural irrigation. The presence of fish has led to the development of fishing.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Unstable water levels and excessive water draw down in winter causes a decrease in water area and negatively influences the number of wintering birds. There is an increasing number of fishing parties using more nets which is increasing the number of diving bird mortalities and increasing disturbance.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
A winter international waterbird count was carried out in 2004 within the framework of the WWF-Russia and Wetlands International project “Development of strategy on protection waterfowl birds and wetlands on Central - Asian flyway”.
The 2005 winter count was carried out within the framework of the «Ecological survey and monitoring of the Common Crane in wintering grounds in Southern Uzbekistan» project under ICF patronage. This project was primarily carrying out ecological research and a search for wintering places of Grus grus.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yuzhno-Surkhan (South-Surkhan) Reservoir (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yuzhno-surkhan-(south-surkhan)-reservoir-iba-uzbekistan on 26/12/2024.
