География и геология/4.Биогеография, биоресурсоведение, биоразнообразие.

Ст. преподаватель, Хасанова А.И.

Костанайский государственный университет имени А. Байтурсынова, Казахстан

White-headed duck is the bird of year in Kazakhstan

The territory of Kazakhstan among other countries of Central Asia is the most important for the water and marsh birds occupying Northern Asia during nesting and periods of molt and flight. Every year the number of nesting bird species reaches 10 million. 2-3 million birds arrive on a molt and about 50 million migratory birds stop on our reservoirs during spring and autumn migrations [5].

White-headed duck is included in the Red List of Kazakhstan with category 1 – "species under the threat of disappearance" - a rare relic species of the ducks, differing by unusual appearance with a "humpbacked" blue nose, the white head and standing up while swimming rigid tail. And this year such an extraordinary interesting duck is officially called "a bird of year" in Kazakhstan. Bird of year was chosen by the Association on Biodiversity Preservation of Kazakhstan (ABPK) together with the Union of Protection of Birds of Kazakhstan. To receive such rank for our winged brothers means to become officially "inviolable" for the whole year.

White-headed duck is a thickset duck of the average sizes. The length of the bird is 43 - 48 cm and the weight is 500 - 900 grams. The length of the wing of males is 15,7 - 17,2 cm, females – 14,8 – 16,7 cm, wingspan is 62 - 70 cm. Coloring of dress of male bird in the period of marriage is very characteristic: the white head with small black "hat", the blue beak "blown up" at the basis. Coloring of the body consists of a combination of auburn, brown and ocher colors with small dark specks in the form of shapeless rashes or streaks. Female’s coloring as a whole as male’s but the head has the same color as body. The whole life of white-headed duck passes in water and it never comes to land. Characteristic feature of white-headed duck is its manner to float with the tail raised vertically. At danger this duck plunges into water very deeply, sometimes only the back top sticks out of water. White-headed duck perfectly dives and floats under water 30-40 m. Emerging from water it is able to dive immediately. White-headed duck dives silently without splash as if it sinks. It flies up reluctantly from long running start against a wind. Flies reluctantly and at danger prefers to dive into depth [2].

White-headed duck feeds mainly at night diving on various depths. This duck eats mollusks, insects and their larvae, worms, crustaceans, leaves and seeds of aquatic plants.

Loss of habitats, death in fishing nets, illegal shooting and anxiety from people are the main threats for white-headed duck in Kazakhstan and very dangerous to this careful bird. In the XX century the total number of species was sharply reduced on not absolutely clear reasons. White-headed duck completely disappeared from the territory of Italy, France, Albania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Israel, Egypt. In total in the world according to various estimates there are 8000–13000 such birds. The most part of flying Central Asian population of species nests in Kazakhstan [3].

The campaign "A bird of year" has been held for some years, namely since 2006. In the whole this noble action exists as promotion of protection of birds and drawing attention to those from them which deserve special relation. Steppe sandpiper – a kretchatka began campaign in Kazakhstan in 2006. Then ecologists marked out a rural swallow, a black crane and a lark, an ordinary starling, a big titmouse and a symbolical and well known in our country steppe eagle. Last year in 2013 the lesser white-fronted goose officially had "an inviolability title". In flight is very similar to a bausond goose on which it is still possible to hunt. None of hunters doesn't listen what sound is made by a bird over their heads – usual or high squeaky (for what the goose was called lesser white-fronted). According to the researches of ABPK because of such confusions for the last 30 years the number of lesser white-fronted geese was reduced almost seven times.

In 2013-2014 by ASBK (Association on Biodiversity Preservation of Kazakhstan) is carried out the project on white-headed duck monitoring in its key habitats and clarification of the main threats to such species in the country. Support is provided by the Program for leadership support in the field of conservation (Conservation Leadership Programme, CLP) and Ornithological society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia, OSME). 4 year students of the specialty 5B060800 Ecology are involved in the project.

The task of students participating in the project for monitoring of white-headed duck’s key habitat is to convey information to the population. They plan to release posters featuring white-headed duck, hold various environmental actions and propaganda to as many as possible students and pupils to know about the bird of the year. Obtaining any information on white-headed duck from nature lovers will help to study and preserve the species in Kazakhstan and in the world.

References:

1.E.I.Gavrilov. "Fauna and distribution of birds of Kazakhstan." Almaty, 1999.

2.Gordienko N.S, Drobovtsev V.I, A.I Koshelev. Biology of White-headed duck in northern Kazakhstan and southern West Siberia / / Rare, endangered and lesser known birds of the USSR. Moscow: Nauka, 1986. - Pp. 8 - 15.

3.Birds of Central Asia. T. 1. Almaty: Publisher NAS RK, 2007. - 574,

4.Dolgushin I.A Birds of Kazakhstan. T. 1. Alma-Ata: Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, 1960. - 469.

5. Report of the Information Analytical Center Environment. Astana, 2008.