Bearded Vulture
Status: Category VI, Near Threatened, NT: R. The only representative of the genus in the fauna of the Kyrgyz Republic. Inhabits the subspecies G.b. aureus (Hablizl, 1783).
Distribution general and in the country. The range is fragmented. Mountain areas of North Africa, south to the Drakensberg. The Pyrenees in Europe. In the past, it nested in the Alps and Sicily. In Asia, from Asia Minor and Yemen in the west to the Sino-Tibetan mountains in the east, north to the high mountains of the southern Palearctic, Afghanistan, the southern slopes of the Himalayas, to the northern part of Yunnan [7, 15, 64]. In the Kyrgyz Republic, it is found in all major ridges of the Western, Northern, Central, and Inner Tien Shan, as well as Pamir-Alai [2, 3, 42].
Habitat. Prefers high-altitude and mid-mountain areas of the Tien Shan mountain country and Pamir-Alai, adhering to fragmented terrain, less often in plains inhabited by wild ungulates, as well as areas of pastoral livestock farming.
Population. No specific counts of Bearded Vultures have been conducted; however, recent observations confirm that the Bearded Vulture is a common resident bird of the highlands. Its population is higher in the southern part of the country. While in the north, 1-2 birds are observed along the accounting route (0.01-0.4 individuals/km²), in the south, groups of 3-5 individuals are not uncommon, and in the Mazar Say area of the Nookat district, up to 12 Bearded Vultures were simultaneously observed on September 27-28, of which 5 were adults. Overall, during observations from August to October 1992, at least 34 Bearded Vultures were recorded across the republic, of which 21 were adults, 12 individuals were 1-3 years old, and only one individual was a fledgling of that year [31, 42].
Life style (life cycles). A sedentary species. The first clutches appear in winter, incubation lasts up to 2 months [23]. The nest may contain 1-2 eggs, but usually only one chick survives to fledging. Fledglings can be observed in August-September. Judging by the observed age structure of the Bearded Vulture population in the Kyrgyz Republic, it is evident that adult Bearded Vultures do not breed every year [16, 65].
Limiting factors. Reduction of the food base due to the decline in wild ungulate populations. At the same time, the increase in private livestock populations positively affects its numbers, as fallen livestock is often not utilized [16, 31]. Less frequently - direct extermination by humans.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). Successfully bred in zoos. Not kept in captivity in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Existing conservation measures. Listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan [3]. Hunting of this species has been prohibited in the republic since 1968.
Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to protect nesting sites, including through funds obtained from organizing observations of Bearded Vultures as part of the ecological tourism industry, in places of artificial feeding. Local community residents should be engaged as potential organizers of such eco-tours and suppliers of fallen domestic livestock to specially arranged feeding sites. Conduct precise mapping of nesting sites. Carry out an information campaign based on research results among the local population regarding the conservation of this species.
Kёk жору
Lammergeier
Gypaetus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758), ssp. aureus (Hablizl, 1783)
Status: VI category, Near Threatened, NT: R. Occurs in all major ridges of Western, Northern, Central, Inner Tien Shan, as well as in Pamir-Alai Mountains. Prefers highlands of Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai Mountainous Systems, next to wild goats and sheep. Lammergeier is one of the usual resident birds of prey in highlands. The density of it in the north of the country is 0.01-0.4 individuals per km². There were bigger flocks recorded in the south, altogether 34 Lammergeiers were observed for August-September, 1992. Out of those, 21 were adults, 12 - 1-3 years old and only one - juvenile of this year. Starts to nest quite early in winter time, lays 1-2 eggs but only one chick usually survives. Juveniles are seen in August-September. Feeds on carcasses, occasionally hunts after marmots, hares, and other appropriate prey. Limiting factors are reduction of wild sheep and goats stocks. Lammergeier is not held in captivity in Kyrgyzstan. Included in Kyrgyz Red Book of 1985. Hunting of it has been prohibited in Kyrgyzstan since 1968. It is recommended to protect breeding colonies, organize ecological tourism by making hides near sites with artificial feeding. It is necessary to obtain exact figures on numbers of Lammergeier populations in Kyrgyzstan.