Birdwatching

MOUNTAINS.....


Mountains and highlands occupy 37% of the Mountains varying from the low Carpathians and Urals to the gorgeous Altai and inaccessible Pamirs.
The tallest peaks reach wel over 7000m. The avifaunas of the Caucasus and the central Asian mountans are probably the most interesting and distinct.

In the former, the highlights include Caucasian SNOWCOCK and Caucasian Black Grouse whereas the latter hosts a number of exciting birds like Ibisbill, tree species of snowcock and several interesting passerine species. Bird species occurring in the mountain habitats, can be classified as follows... truly






Two species occurring both in tundras elsewhere as well as in corresponding mountainous habitats such as Willow Grouse, Horned Lark and Dotterel.
Tree Species not closely associated with the mountain habitat itself but occurring in corresponding habitats in the plains, like raven magpie, Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle and many others.

4 Species typically inhabiting taiga or dark coniferous forest elsewhere but also occurring in coniferous forests in the mountains, often involving populations strongly isolated from the mainbreeding range.
Among these are Nutcracker, hawk owl, crossbill and three toed woodpecker.

These forests, particularly in the Tien Shan, are also inhabited by endemic species and sunspecies, like blue headed redstart and songar tit. 5 species closely associated with mountain streams. In the central Asian mountain this group includes dipper grey wagtail, blue whistling thruch, little forktail and river chat white capped redstart.

The mountains hold a numer of nature reserves which play an important role in bird conservation and bird study. Recently these reserves are becoming more easily accessible to western visitors and birders. Among the most beautiful and exciting are Aksu Dzabagly, the oldest reserve in Kazakhstan, establihe in 1927; in the Talass Alastau range more than 250 bird species, and the Alma Ata in the Trans lli range of the northern Tien Shan. Have a nice birding trip...