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Western Alai, Kok-Suu river
Location Kyrgyzstan, Osh
Central coordinates 72o 11.30' East  39o 36.20' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 10,000 ha
Altitude 2,100 - 3,000m
Year of IBA assessment 2010

Public Association NABS (Affiliate)



Ornithological information Site hosts more than 150 bird species. Species are seen during the fall migration include Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Teal (Anas crecca), Garganey (Anas querquedula) and Shoveler (Anas clypeata). Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) and Sand martin (Riparia riparia)breed here.

Site description Administratively situated 8 km south-west of Darsut-Korgon village, where Kok-Suu and Kizil-Suu rivers merge. Floodplain of Kizil-Suu river bed is shrubs and bushes, as well as small-leaved shrub willow. Terrain is clay-stony semi-desert, in some places with rock outcrops. The length of Kizil-Suu river is 50-150 m with gravel.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis resident  1975-1976  20-60 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni breeding  1975-1976  2-10 breeding pairs  poor  A1  Least Concern 
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus breeding  1975-1976  1-3 breeding pairs  poor  A1  Endangered 
Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis resident  1975-1976  2-8 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus resident  1975-1976  1-6 breeding pairs  poor  A1  Near Threatened 
Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii breeding  1975-1976  2-4 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Hume's Lark Calandrella acutirostris breeding  1975-1976  unknown [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sulphur-bellied Warbler Phylloscopus griseolus breeding  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-streaked Accentor Prunella himalayana resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta breeding  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Red-mantled Rosefinch Carpodacus rhodochlamys resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Great Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilla resident  1975-1976  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous; Native coniferous  51%
Shrubland Scrub  70%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine & boreal  50%
Desert Desert & semi-desert - stony  20%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams  20%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  30%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  10%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
forestry 30%
hunting 50%
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -

Management considerations The main threats are afforestation 40%, fires 15%, logging and sanitary logging.

Acknowledgements Data-sheet compiled in 2006 by B. C. Kumusaliev (researcher, BIP NAN PROVINCE), received by BirdLife Cambridge May 2008, translated by Tsovinar Hovhannisyan in summer 2010, entered into WBDB by Rory McCann in autumn 2010.

References Kidiraliev A. K. (1975) On the distribution of avian fauna of Alai valley.// Problems of geography p. 147-148 Kidiraliev A. K. (1977) Bar-headed Goose, Ibisbil and Black stork in Tian-Shan-Alai mountain system. // VII- Pan Soviet Union Ornithological conference. Kiev p. 225-226 Kidiraliev A. K (1992) Features of landscape-ecological formations of birds in Alai valley.// Bio resources of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek p100-102 Kumushaliev B.K. (1978) Number of migratory birds in Alai valley.// Thesis of pan Soviet Union conference about Birds migrations 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: Western Alai, Kok-Suu river . Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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