Turkmenistan’s wetlands and coastal areas along the Caspian Sea serve as critical habitats for migratory waterbirds, which travel seasonally from northern countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan in response to food availability, water levels, climate conditions, and human activity. These birds, including ducks, geese, waders, grebes, gulls, and other species, arrive each year to rest, feed, and overwinter, creating unique ecological communities in the region.
Some species, such as redshanks and large geese, arrive early in August–September and continue their journey south after regaining strength, while others remain through the winter months from November to February. During this time, they exploit the rich food resources of shallow waters and marshes before returning north in March–April to their breeding grounds. Key species also use small islands along the Turkmen coast, particularly near Türkmenbaşy and Balkan regions, for nesting and protection. Notable species include the pied avocet, black-winged stilt, ruddy shelduck, mallard, and green-headed duck.
The international significance of these wetlands has been recognized since 1971, when the Türkmenbaşy and Northern Çeleken lagoons were included in the Ramsar Convention list of valuable wetland areas. In 1976, the Caspian State Nature Reserve was awarded a special diploma by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and in 2008, Turkmenistan rejoined the Ramsar Convention as an independent state.
Since 1967, global winter counts of waterbirds are conducted simultaneously in over 100 countries every January. In Turkmenistan, the Caspian State Nature Reserve organizes these counts under the guidance of ornithologists and researchers, such as Dr. Eldar Rustamov and Alexander Shcherbina. Monitoring involves small motorized boats on water, vehicles along shores, and on-foot surveys to track bird species, population numbers, migratory paths, and resting areas.
Experts at the reserve also implement measures to protect biodiversity from natural and anthropogenic threats. Safeguarding rare and endangered species, preserving the aesthetic beauty of Turkmenistan’s wetlands, and ensuring the survival of these habitats for future generations remain core responsibilities of the reserve staff. These efforts not only support ecological balance but also maintain Turkmenistan’s international commitments to wetland conservation and biodiversity protection.
The seasonal presence of waterbirds demonstrates the ecological richness of the Caspian coast and emphasizes the importance of ongoing research, monitoring, and conservation programs to ensure these critical ecosystems continue to thrive.
Source: mineco gov tm
