Protecting the Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwing
Helping Conserve the key migratory stop-over site in Uzbekistan hold 33% of the world's population
$1,480 raised
$5,000 goal
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The Bird Conservation Fund in collaboration with the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) is seeking to raise $5,000 to support the Uzbekistan Society for the Protection of Birds (UzSPB) in their efforts to protect a site where at least 33% of the world’s Sociable Lapwings visit on Fall Migration.
Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is a migratory shorebird that is one of only 223 bird species listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List on the basis of severe population declines across its range. Based on current counts the global population may be about 15,000 individuals. Research on the species’ demography suggests that low adult survival is the likely cause of population declines. Studies using satellite transmitters has identified two clear migratory routes, one to the west where birds migrate from the breeding grounds of Kazakhstan into south-west Russia, Turkey, the Middle East and north-east Africa (Sudan); and a shorter route heading south from Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and then on to Pakistan and India.
On the southern flyway, the cross-border ‘Talimarzhan reservoir’ in Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan and the foothills (adyrs) of Turkmenistan is the only migratory stopover for up to 50% of the world population of Sociable Lapwing on its autumn migration. The site is recognised as an IBA/KBA and has been legally protected since 2021. Importantly, the Uzbek part of the KBA, which is the focus of this project, represents resting, foraging and roosting places for up to 33% of this species’ world population for 45 days on autumn migration. Protection of this site is crucial to the conservation of the Sociable Lapwing along this southern flyway.