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Eastern Alai
Location Kyrgyzstan, Osh
Central coordinates 73o 34.20' East  39o 41.30' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 0 ha
Altitude 2,700 - 4,000m
Year of IBA assessment 2010

Public Association NABS (Affiliate)



Ornithological information Biogeographical territories are linked through the Tarim basin. Criterion A1 is applied to the site because of Snow pigeon (Columba leuconota) – the only localized place for species in Central Asia, breeding Barbary falcon (Falco pelegrinoides), Saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gys himalayensis). Criterion A3 is applied to the site because of a number of species: Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte nemoricola), White-tailed Rubythroat (Luscinia pectoralis), Red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and others.

Site description Terrain: semi-desert and desert and mountain valleys with sagebrush and the mountain-xerophilic vegetation, and at lower altitudes, with ephemeral vegetation. Meadow and meadow-steppe areas of the upper parts of slopes. Juniper and spruce forest with mosaic patches.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug breeding  1986-2000  1 breeding pairs  medium  A1  Endangered 
Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis resident  1986-2000  6-10 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota resident  1986-2000  2-5 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1986-2000  100-300 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Hume's Lark Calandrella acutirostris breeding  1986  unknown [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sulphur-bellied Warbler Phylloscopus griseolus breeding  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-tailed Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis breeding  1986-2000  50-200 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus resident  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis resident  1986-2000  150-200 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-streaked Accentor Prunella himalayana breeding  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens breeding  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta breeding  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Plain Mountain-finch Leucosticte nemoricola breeding  1986-2000  500-1,500 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus resident  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Red-mantled Rosefinch Carpodacus rhodochlamys breeding  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Great Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilla resident  1986  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes resident  1986-2000  7-10 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous; Mixed  20%
Shrubland Scrub  20%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine & boreal; Steppes & dry calcareous  20%
Desert Desert & semi-desert - clay  38%
Rocky areas Scree, boulders & bare rocky areas  2%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 10%
hunting 30%
military 2%
tourism/recreation 2%
urban/industrial/transport 2%

Other biodiversity Range-restricted species: Eremias yarkandensis, Alactaga sp.

Management considerations Fires (C), logging (C), industry/urbanisation (A), selective logging (B)

Acknowledgements Data-sheet compiled in 2006 by V. K. Eremchenko, received by BirdLife Cambridge May 2008, translated by Tsovinar Hovhannisyan in summer 2010, entered into WBDB by Rory McCann in autumn 2010.

References Features of the territorial distribution of birds of Alai valley.// Problems of Geography of Kyrgyzstan. Frunze p. 174-148. Ivanov, A. I. (1969) Birds of Pamir-Alai.// Leningrad. 448 p. Kumushaliev, B. K. (1980) Towards the study Columbidae of Alai valley.// Biology of animals and plants and environmental conservation. Frunze p.34-35.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Eastern Alai. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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