Birdwatching

Two of cebtral Asia's most important steppewetlands Important Bird Areas (IBAs), Tengiz Korogalzhyn and Naurzum have been recognised as being of the same outstanding natural value as sites such as Yellowstone National Park and the Galapagos Islands.

During its 32 session in Quebec the UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced this week that they were to include the territory of SARYAKA steppe and lakes of Northern Kazakhstan into the list of unesco natural world heritage sites. The Tengiz Korgalzhyn and Naurzum nature reserves the two sites forming Saryaka, are located in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan and are two of the most important IBAs in Central Asia. Both are crucial migration stop over sites for several million birds each year on the African Eurasian Flyway. They also hold large breeding populations of many globally threatened species.

This World heritage nomination represents a significant step in the safeguarding of these vitally important sites.
Nazurzum is particularly important for LESSER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE , RED BREASTED GOOSE and the Critically endangered Siberian crane.
The Tengiz Korglazhyn is used by an estimated 2 million waterbirds during migration, and is also a key site for global breeding population of DALMATIAN PELICAN , BLACK WINGED PRATINCOLE and SOCIABLE LAPWING.

Both sites are located in the steppe zone and cover important habitat. This is home not only to birds but for many rare species of mammal such as SAIGA ANTELOPE AND STEPPE MARMOT

This World Heritage Nomination represents a significant step in the safeguarding of these vitally important sites, and ther are very beautiful, look outs in nature...I now.

Audubon California has announced that it has reached an agreement with a farmer to safeguard an single colony of about 80.000 Tricoloured Blackbirds nearly a theird of the world's population of this Endangered species.

The estimated global population of Tricoloured Blachbirds is 250000 to 300.000 birds, with at least 95% of these occurring in California.
tricoloured Blackbirds have declined dramatically in the past century as native wetlands habitat has been lost and the species has consequently been classified as Endangered.
Tricomoured Blackbirds form just a few large nesting colonies each year, and in most cases these occur in crop fields. This puts the colonies in grave danger when farmers cultivate the field before young birds are able to fly.

This is really a great victory for conservation, and an example of how consernation and agricultural interests can work together to find real solutions.
The Tricoloured Blackbird is an important part of California's natural beauty, and this agreement combined with other conservation measures, will help to ensure that it has healthy future.

Through a cooperative agreement with Audubon California, the farmer will delay the harvest of 65 hectares where the colony is nesting. This delay will provide enough time for the young to leave the nest, ensuring the success of the state's largest breeding colony.
Because the delay in harvesting will reduce the market value of the crop, Audubon California has agreed to compensate the farmer for any lost value.

This is really a great victory for conservation, and an example of how conservation and agricultural interests can work together to find real solutions.....