The western Caspian coast of Azerbaijan is an important stop-over site for migrating waders, with Gyzylagach State Reserve holding the highest numbers of them. Despite the importance of this area it is under-surveyed, as the last counts took part in 1990. According to recent publications, 53% of the wader species of the West-Asian/East-African-flyway have negative population trends.
With
this project I want to contribute to the conservation of Steppe
Whimbrels, which population is estimated at 100 birds or fewer, and the
rapidly declining eastern population of Black-tailed Godwits. I want to
use satellite telemetry to identify migration routes as well as
wintering- and breeding grounds of these two species.
Additionally I want to conduct several counts of resting waders in the area, to bring the 20-year-old data up-to-date.
Within
this project, several conservation approaches are combined. Standard
wader counts and species-specific research tasks will reveal an enormous
increase of the preliminary knowledge of this area. This will help to
understand the threats of the populations of Black-tailed Godwits and
Steppe Whimbrels, which will lead to a direct conservation output.
Furthermore, environmental education provides the possibility of long-term conservation efforts in this region.
Your
support will help to provide recent data from this under-surveyed area
of the Western Palaearctic. You can contribute to the conservation of
these charismatic species and even adopt a Black-tailed Godwit or Steppe
Whimbrel. By donating the costs of a backpack, you can name a bird and
follow its journey. For further information please take a look at the
project description and don´t hesitate to contact me.
The waders and I are deeply grateful!
Crowfunding website:
Project description:
