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close| Location | Kazakhstan, Akmola region,Kostanay region |
| Central coordinates | 67o 15.00' East 50o 27.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii |
| Area | 8,818 ha |
| Altitude | 326 - 360m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information The fields around the lakes provide good feeding areas for geese.
Site description The IBA consists of a group of 4 lakes (Zharkol, Shoyndykol, Sabyndy and Taldy), positioned at the corners of a notional polygon with an area of c6 x 10 km, situated 25 km to the north-east of Arkalyk. The site is divided by the Shoiyndy-Arkalyk highway. The most important is the slightly brackish Zharkol Lake, nearly oval in shape, with an area of c3.8 x 4.2 km and depths of 1.5 - 2 m. Zharkol is 4 km north-west of the village of Shoiyndykol and 1.5 km from a seasonal lake of similar size – Shoyndykol - to which it is connected by means of seasonally dry channels. The northern and southern shores of the Lake have a few cliffs. The lake has one main seasonal inflow but the main water input, as is the case with all the other lakes in the vicinity, is provided by multiple seasonal run-offs. Lake Taldy (4 x 1.8 km) shows drastic fluctuations of water-level, sometimes completely drying-up. In years of plentiful water, when levels are more stable, extensive reedbeds develop. A similar regime is shown by the neighbouring Sabyndy lake (about 4 x 2 km). Although there are 4 lakes, in practice the IBA consists of three waterbody clusters: Zharkol-Shoiyndykol, Sabyndy and Taldy. Agricultural is well developed throughout the entire Region and fields are widespread and sometimes extend right to the shoreline.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | passage | 2004 | 85,000 individuals | good | A4i | Least Concern |
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus | passage | 2004 | 13 individuals | medium | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Greylag Goose Anser anser | passage | 2004 | 215,000 individuals | good | A4i | Least Concern |
| Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula | passage | 2004 | 660 individuals | medium | A4i | Least Concern |
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | passage | 2004 | 48 individuals | medium | A1 | Endangered |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | passage | 2004 | 309,030 individuals | medium | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 10% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 80% | |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 10% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 10% |
| Notes: Crop-producion activities. | |
| rangeland/pastureland | 20% |
| Notes: It stands to reason that the most frequented by cattle plots occasioned to be verdant meadows in depressions. | |
| hunting | 100% |
| Notes: The terrtory is assigned as a huntng area to "Ubileyny" Company. | |
Management considerations An unstable hydrological regime, largely climatic; illegal hunting; and disturbance by grazing livestock.
References Yerokhov S. N. Results of ornithological survey of Zharkol Lake. Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin of 2004. Almaty, 2005. p. 31-32. (in Russian)
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Zharkol Lakes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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