Corncrake
Status: Category VI, Near Threatened, NT. The only representative of the genus in the fauna of the Kyrgyz Republic. Monotypic species.
Distribution overall and in the country. Eurasia from the Pyrenees eastward to the Chona Valley in the upper and middle parts of the Vilyuy and the basin of the upper Angara River in southeastern Pre-Baikal. To the north up to the southern parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. In Karelia up to the 62nd parallel, to the mouths of the Onega and Northern Dvina, in the Pechora Valley up to the 63rd parallel, in the Ural Mountains area - up to the 61st parallel, in Western Siberia and in the Yenisei Valley - up to the 62nd parallel, in the Lower Tunguska basin - up to the 62nd parallel, in the Chona Valley - up to the 63rd parallel. To the south up to the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, northern Italy, northern Greece, Asia Minor, northwestern Iran, Khorasan. East of the Caspian Sea to the south to the mouth of the Volga, the mouth of the Ural, Mugodzhary, eastward to the 50th parallel. Along the Irtysh, the southern boundary of the range descends to Zaisan and from there stretches southwest to Semirechye, south to the Gissar Range. Further east, the southern boundary of the range runs in the area of the Eastern Tian Shan, southern Altai, and the valley of the upper Angara. Islands: British, Orkney, Hebrides. [7]. In the Kyrgyz Republic, it is found during nesting and migration in the Chui Valley, in the Issyk-Kul basin, in Suusamyr, and in the floodplains of the Naryn and Atbashi rivers [2, 31, 75].
Habitat. Prefers non-settled anthropogenic and meadow landscape areas of low and mid-mountain regions.
Population. Common in the coastal thickets of Lake Issyk-Kul (2 individuals/sq.km), in fields (3 individuals/sq.km), in the meadows of the forest-meadow-steppe belt [14, 31, 48]. During migration, the number of corncrakes increases. In May, dozens of corncrakes feed in the marshes of the Chui Valley [75]. In the spruce forests of the Tian Shan, the number of corncrakes is generally low, only locally common [76].
Life style (life cycles). A nesting and migratory species. The corncrake arrives in early May, and 15-20 days after arrival, it begins to display, mainly at night. In dense grass, the corncrake prefers to run rather than fly. Birds remain until the end of summer. It primarily feeds on insects but also consumes seeds of agricultural crops. The nest usually contains 8-10 eggs. The chicks hatch in the second half of June. Corncrakes depart in early September.
Limiting factors. The corncrake and its chicks are ideal targets for harriers and other predatory birds that prefer similar habitats. Domestic animals can pose a threat to corncrake nests in fields and meadows.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). Not kept in captivity in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Existing conservation measures. There are no special conservation measures in the republic. The species is listed in the IUCN Red List under Category VI, Near Threatened.
Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to protect areas suitable for nesting.
Corncrake
Crex crex (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status: Category VI, Near Threatened, NT. Monotypic species. Migrates and breeds in the Chu and Suusamyr Valleys, Issyk-Kul Region, floodplain vegetation of the Naryn and At-Bashi Rivers. Prefers cultivated and meadow habitats in low- and midlands. Common in shore bushes of Issyk-Kul Lake (2 individuals per square km), in the fields (3), in the meadows of the forest belt. During migration, the bird numbers grow, dozens of Corncrakes feed in marshes of the Chu Valley in May. It is rare in spruce forests. Arrives in the beginning of May and starts to display, usually during nighttime. Prefers running among grass rather than flying. Feeds on insects, rarer in seeds of the crops. Lays 8-10 eggs, fledglings appear in the second half of June. Departs in September. Limiting factors are birds of prey and domestic animals. There is no information on keeping it in captivity. No special protection measures have been developed and introduced in the past. It is recommended to protect nesting sites.
