Data Zone
Country/territory: Uzbekistan
IBA criteria met: A1 (2016)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,555 hectares (15.55 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2006 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2006 baseline)
This site is situated 30 km to the SE of Bukhara city. Zekry was formed in the beginning of the 1990s as a result of emergency evacuation of water from a drainage network to the naturally low sand desert. Currently it is a shallow reservoir with a gently sloping shore and well developed reedbeds. There are tamarisk bushes along the lakeside. The water is brackish and comes to the lake through the collector channel. The lake floods extensively during times of high waterlevels. The site is important for concentrations of migrating and wintering waterbirds.
Key biodiversity
During four winter counts 42 species were recorded including the globally endangered species - Pelicanus crispus, Aythya nyroca, Oxyura leucocephala and Aegypius monachus. Phalacrocoraх pygmaeus, Pelecanus crispus, Cygnus olor, Cygnus cygnus, Aythya nyroca, Оxуurа leucocephala, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila nipalensis and Larus ichthyaetus are included in the National Red Book. Fulica atra and Anser anser dominate wintering numbers in different years. Subdominant species are Aythya ferina, Netta rufina and Anas clypeata.
Non-bird biodiversity: Jackal, Steppe Cat and Libyan Jird are common in the area. Fish include common carp, rudd, khramulya and zander. In the adjoining sand desert are Tolay hare, Great gerbil, Brandt's hedgehog, Corsac fox, Steppe tortoise, Desert monitor are Phrynocerhalus interscapularis. Desert monitor is included on the IUCN Red List. Plants are represented by typical desert associations.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zekry Lake (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zekry-lake-iba-uzbekistan on 22/12/2024.