Griffon Vulture
Status: V category, Vulnerable, VU, C1. A rare species whose population is declining. One of four species of the genus in the fauna of Kyrgyzstan. Monotypic species.
Distribution general and in the country. Forest-steppe zone from Moldova to eastern Transbaikalia. Morocco, Eurasia. In Kyrgyzstan, it is mainly found in the Chuy Valley and in the Issyk-Kul region [66], more often in the southern part of the country.
Habitat. Prefers foothill areas and does not ascend to altitudes above 2000 m above sea level. It favors areas with woody vegetation [66].
Population. There is no data for Kyrgyzstan. In 1997, one bird was recorded in the foothills near Bishkek during migration, noted wintering near the Toktogul Reservoir.
Life style (life cycles). Migratory bird. Arrives in March, departs in September. The clutch consists of 1-3 eggs, incubation lasts 43 days. Feeds mainly on medium-sized rodents.
Limiting factors. Reduction of the food base. Nest destruction through the removal of chicks. Death on electrical poles.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). No known cases of breeding.
Existing conservation measures. Listed in the Red Book of the USSR [39]. Included in the List of Animals Subject to State Protection in Kyrgyzstan in 1975. Included in the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” [3].
Recommended conservation measures. Combat poaching. Develop methods for breeding in captivity. Identify factors limiting the population.
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809
Status: V category, Vulnerable, VU, C1. Monotypic species. Rare migrating and nesting bird in lowlands of Chu Valley and Issyk-Kul Region. Systematic data on numbers are not available. One bird was observed in uplands near Bishkek in 1997. Arrives in March, departs in September, occasionally winters. Lays 1-3 eggs, incubates for 43 days. Uses rodents for food. Limiting factors: illegal removal of chicks by smugglers, death at electrical poles. No data on holding Eagles in captivity. Included in the USSR Red Book. It is recommended to fight against poachers and smugglers, identify and protect nesting sites, and develop techniques for breeding in captivity.