Previously, a significant number of swans wintering in this region were recorded in Issyk-Kul, but in recent years, there has also been an improvement in the situation with pheasants, whose population had significantly decreased in the past.
In winter, pheasants require not only protection but also care. These birds prefer to inhabit forests and shrubs, and their main diet consists of sea buckthorn berries. In conditions of severe frost, there is often a lack of food, which necessitates the implementation of special biotechnical measures. In particular, environmental service workers are engaged in feeding pheasants in their natural habitat.
The organization of such activities is carried out by the Ak-Suu District Department of the Regional Administration of the Issyk-Kul Region of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the local hunters' society. Currently, these organizations are jointly ensuring the feeding of wild birds.
Experts note that, unlike 4-5 years ago, there are virtually no hunters left who would shoot pheasants for entertainment. This is due to the tightening of responsibility for damage caused to nature. The main predators threatening pheasants at present are wolves and jackals, so regular measures are conducted in the region to control their population.
Ecologists and hunters emphasize that, despite the harsh winter conditions, the feeding of birds will continue until spring. The positive results of these efforts are already visible: during the autumn count in the Ak-Suu District, about 1,200 pheasants were recorded, which significantly exceeds the figures of previous years.
