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CN091
Burqin River and Kanas Lake
Location China (mainland), Xinjiang
Central coordinates 87o 0.00' East  48o 20.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3, A4i
Area 210,000 ha
Altitude 490 - 3,000m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description Located in the southern part of the Altay Mountains, near to the Chinese borders with Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, 100 km west of Altay City and 450 km north of Urumqi. The Burqin River is a tributary of the Ertix River, which flows into the Arctic Ocean. There are extensive reedbeds and grasslands along the Burqin River, and it is important for breeding and migratory birds.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Common Merganser Mergus merganser unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo passage  2008  10,000 individuals  unknown  A4i  Least Concern 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Least Concern 
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Great Bustard Otis tarda unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Pale-backed Pigeon Columba eversmanni unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Hanasi Nature Reserve 250,000 protected area overlaps with site 100,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   -
Grassland   -
Wetlands (inland)   -

Other biodiversity Nationally protected animals include Ursus arctos and Cervus elaphus, and the fish Hucho spp.

Conservation response Established as a nature reserve in 1980, and upgraded to a national nature reserve in 1986 (with an area of 250,000 ha, of which 100,000 ha overlaps with the IBA).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Burqin River and Kanas Lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife