Red-breasted Merganser
Status: Category VII, Least Concern, LC. Monotypic species.
Distribution general and in the country. Inhabits North America and northern Eurasia. In the republic, it breeds in the Issyk-Kul basin. Previously, it inhabited not only Lake Issyk-Kul but also smaller water bodies. Currently, it has survived in the eastern part of the lake.
Habitat. Nests on water bodies, building nests on the ground in shrub thickets. Population. Unknown, but likely does not exceed 10-15 breeding pairs.
Life style (life cycles). Breeds in May-June. Nests are built in thickets of coastal vegetation, lining them with down plucked from the breast and belly. The nests contain 8-10 eggs. Often, one can see combined broods of 20-30 chicks of different ages with one female. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, as it is difficult to explain this by the death of females, since such phenomena are widespread. It is likely that most Red-breasted Mergansers winter at Issyk-Kul. They feed on aquatic animals, small fish, and invertebrates [2, 6].
Limiting factors. Mainly die in fishing nets while diving for food. To a lesser extent, the destruction of coastal vegetation and disturbance factors affect the population.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). Unknown.
Existing conservation measures. Protected in areas of the Issyk-Kul State Reserve.
Recommended conservation measures. Limit fishing with nets in Tyup Bay during the nesting season. Organize monitoring in distribution areas and account for the population.
Uzuntumshuktuu Kytai
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator Linnaeus, 1758
Status: Category VII, Least Concern, LC. Monotypic species. The Red-breasted Merganser is a resident species. Breeds in the eastern part of the Issyk-Kul Region in May-June. The estimated number is 10-15 breeding pairs. Builds nest under bushes near the lake coastline. Eggs - 8 to 10. Limiting factors: death in fish nets when diving. It is recommended to limit fishing with nets in Tyup Bay during the nesting season.
