resource for the independent birder in Kazakhstan. Here, in addition to a complete list of the birds occurring in Kazakhstan with details of regional specialities, you will find information on where to watch birds, accommodation, travelling around, useful bird books and links to many other web resources for those interested in bird watching in Kazakhstan.

....Nature Reserves in Kazakhstan - this site provides brief descriptions

of nature reserves, including the number of species found at each one.

site contains brief information about:
• Kourgaldzhin & Tengiz Lakes
• Lakes of the lower Turgay & Irgiz

known for its incredible diversity of predatory and migratory birds. There are few places where so many types of eagles and falcons can be found in one place. The reserve provides one of the largest, protected nesting areas for Imperial eagles and Saker falcons.

species of birds of prey, 16 of which are breeding, have been recorded in the Naursum State Reserve. 

expedition from Glasgow University and The Institute of Zoology (National Academy of Sciences, Kazakstan) to northern Kazakstan to locate unknown populations of Europe’s rarest bird, the slender-billed curlew, and to survey other threatened European species such as the white-headed duck. 

Threatened Species. This was a joint expedition between staff of the RSPB of the United Kingdom and of the Institute of Zoology and Animal Genofund of the Ministry of Science - Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakstan to assess the breeding populations of globally threatened birds in major wetlands in south east Kazakstan. The data gathered will be used to identify these wetlands as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International. The expedition concentrated on the Ile river delta and Lakes Alakol and Sasakol. 

report is in .pdf format. 

By Dave Hanford. I have very many memories of The Wonders of the Tien Shan Mountains" (with a bird list of 230 species) but the sheer variety of the flowers of the high passes almost makes me want to change from birds to flowers.

Goose Expedition. October 4th to 15th 1996. The aim of the expedition was to check the places of the satellite transmitter locations in October 1995 from an adult male L. W-f. Goose Anser erythropus of the endangered Fennoscandian population. The expedition was arranged by the Lesser White-fronted Goose working group of WWF Finland. 

courtesy of Urs Geiser's Trip Report Archive.  June 25 - July 16, 1997 - by Graham Tebb. From 25 June to 11 July 1997 I was on a business trip to Almaty and Kurchatov in Kazakhstan and to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. As it was my first time in the area, I wanted to do a little sightseeing afterwards and was joined by my wife, a non-birdwatcher but very tolerant of my peculiarities, and we went to Samarkand, Shakhrisabz and Bukhara as well as to Sijjak, a small mountain village not far from Tashkent. There is no doubt that there are many interesting and unusual species in these two countries. Unfortunately, though, there is basically no infrastructure to support the independent birdwatcher. There is also little local expertise to guide visitors to the best sites to watch birds. 

This trip report is provided courtesy of Urs Geiser's Trip Report Archive. July 26 - August 8, 1997 - by Stuart Reeves. This trip report gives a list of the bird species I saw on a trip to the Tien Shan Mountains in Kirghizstan in July/August 1997. The trip was an organised trekking group rather than a birding group, so birding was opportunistic, rather than the main purpose of the trip. 

Geiser's Trip Report Archive. May 27 - June 5, 1999 by Don Taylor. 

very many memories of The Wonders of the Tien Shan Mountains" but the sheer variety of the flowers of the high passes almost makes me want to change from birds to flowers.

Also available with an Altai extension to June 7, 2004. Kazakhstan is situated between the Caspian Sea and the borders of western China and stands at the crossroads of history and cultures. Situated on the great Silk Route, it has an immense diversity of habitats ranging from huge canyons to sand deserts and beautiful Spruce forests.

Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has it all - birds, mammals, insects, flowers, fantastic scenery. Whatever your interest you'll find Kazakhstan an experience never to be forgotten, a place of outstanding natural beauty that never stops producing new surprises and delights. If you want to see such hard-to-find species as Ibisbill, Relict Gull, Himalayan Snowcock, Eversmann's Dove, Black Lark, White-winged Lark and Himalayan Rubythroat, along with hordes of Rosy Starlings and many other mountain and steppe specialities, set in a scene of mountains, wild flowers and clean air, then Kazakhstan Birdtours is the company for you.