Black Stork
Status: VI category, Near Threatened, NT: R. One of two species of the genus in the avifauna of the Kyrgyz Republic. Monotypic species.
General distribution and in the country. Sporadic. Local population in Southern Africa. From the Iberian Peninsula to the Primorye region. North to Leningrad, Vologda, and Kirov regions, the valley of the Podkamennaya Tunguska, the basin of the Vilyuy. South to Albania, Bulgaria, Asia Minor, northern Iran and Afghanistan, southern foothills of the Alay system, Tian Shan, Gobi Altai, Kentey, to eastern Qinghai, further to Gansu up to northern Hubei [7, 45]. In the Kyrgyz Republic, it is found nesting in the Issyk-Kul region, Central, Inner, and Western Tian Shan, and in the Pamir-Alai [2, 3, 6, 31, 32].
Habitat. Prefers isolated wetlands in forest and alpine belts (mainly on wet meadows), often near cliffs and precipices.
Population. Information on population size is scarce. According to some data, up to 25 pairs of black storks inhabit the Kyrgyz Republic [6]. At the same time, up to 20 individuals were observed in the Kirov water reservoir area in August-September 1996 [18]. In the marshy meadows of the mid-mountains of Eastern Issyk-Kul, the abundance is 0.3 individuals/km² [31].
Life style (life cycles). Migratory bird, wintering in Africa, northern India, Pakistan, Nepal, east to Myanmar, as well as in southern China, Taiwan, northern Laos, and Vietnam [2, 15, 19, 20]. Arrives in April-March [23]. In June, nests already contain either fledged chicks or juveniles. The number of chicks ranges from 2 to 5. Young storks that have taken to the wing have been observed by the end of July. Adults and young individuals roam around nesting sites until September, with black storks departing in October-November [3, 6]. They primarily feed on small fish, frogs, mollusks, and less frequently on insects, rodents, and other suitably sized prey [2, 19].
Limiting factors. Drainage of suitable nesting areas, their use for economic purposes. Less frequently - direct extermination by humans.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). There are examples of successful breeding in European zoos. In the Kyrgyz Republic, they are not kept in captivity.
Existing conservation measures. The species is listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan [3]. Hunting in the territory of the republic has been prohibited since 1948.
Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to exclude nesting sites of storks and adjacent feeding grounds from economic use, creating mini reserves based on them, including these lands in the inviolable land fund of the ayil okmotu. If such lands are privately owned, it is necessary to conduct awareness-raising work with landowners and offer them alternative sources of income. It is essential to map all nesting sites, study the biology of reproduction, wintering sites, and migration routes, using satellite antennas, and to develop an interregional strategy for the conservation of the black stork in nesting, migratory, and wintering areas.
Kaрa кунaс
Black Stork
Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status: VI category, Near Threatened, NT: R. Monotypic species. Breeds in Issyk-Kul oblast, Central, Inner, Western Tien Shan, Pamir-Altai Mountains. Prefers wetlands in forest, subalpine and alpine belts, close to cliffs and precipices. There are up to 25 pairs breeding in Kyrgyzstan. Twenty individuals were recorded on the shore of Kirov water reservoir in Talas oblast. Black Stork is rare in wet meadows of Eastern part of Issyk-Kul Region (0.3 individuals per km²). Arrives in April-March. Nest is a thick twigs platform. Lays 2-5 eggs. Fledglings are found in nests already in June. Flying juveniles are seen at the end of July. Uses small fish, frogs, mollusks, rarer - insects, small rodents for food. Limiting factors are drainage of suitable nesting habitats, rarer - illegal game shooting. No instances of holding it in captivity. Included in Kyrgyz Red Book, hunting is prohibited since 1948. It is recommended to create mini protected areas around nesting sites. If such land is privatized it is necessary to conduct awareness campaign and suggest to owners alternative sources of income. It is also necessary to map existing nests and develop an interregional conservation strategy of the species.
