Results from the International Waterbird Census in Central Asia and the Caucasus 2003-2005

The Wetlands International office in Moscow has principal responsibility for the coordination of the IWC in
Central Asia and the Caucasus. In 2003-2005 the IWC was organized in nine countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The counts covered the majority of wetlands, which were considered to hold any number of waterbirds
during January. In total 248 sites were counted at least once, including 174 sites in 2003, 194 sites in 2004 and 95 sites in 2005. Eight countries reported annually, although in 2003 Kazakhstan submitted data only from one site. Georgia was significantly involved in 2003, but did not contribute thereafter. 57 sites were reported to hold more than 20,000 waterbirds and thus met the Ramsar criterion on waterbird congregations. Among all countries,  Turkmenistan had the highest number (15) of sites with more than 20,000 waterbirds. Across the region, nine of these sites are already designated as internationally important sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which is nearly 16% of the total number of sites counted with more than 20,000 waterbirds. Altogether, 2.9 million waterbirds were counted in January 2003; 3.1 million in January 2004 and 2.3 million waterbirds in January 2005. In total, 108 species of waterbirds, 16 wetlanddependent raptors and 10 other bird species were identified.

Over the reporting period, the highest species count was recorded for the Mallard (635,621, January 2004). The other most abundant species in different years were the Coot (504,015), Red-crested Pochard (372,727), Common Pochard (331,048), Tufted Duck (310,824), Greylag Goose (153,611), Common Teal (121,788), Eurasian Wigeon (70,178), Yellow-legged Gull (61,863), and White-fronted Goose (59,879). Among birds of prey, the Western Marsh Harrier (798) and White-tailed Eagle (533) were the most numerous species. Five species of globally threatened waterbirds and three species of globally threatened raptors were counted, namely the Dalmatian Pelican (Vulnerable), Lesser White-fronted Goosem (Vulnerable), Red-breasted Goose (Vulnerable), Marbled Teal (Vulnerable), White-headed Duck (Endangered), Pallas’s Fish-eagle (Vulnerable), Greater Spotted Eagle (Vulnerable) and Imperial Eagle (Vulnerable). Additionally, a total of four Near Threatened species were recorded, namely the Ferruginous Duck, Black-tailed Godwit, Red Kite and Pallid Harrier. Summarized data on numbers and distribution of waterbirds and wetland dependent species are presented for each country. Distribution maps are available for 30 selected species of waterbirds and wetland-dependent raptors.