Birds of Armenia
There are currently about 10,000 species of birds existing in the world, however the mentioned number is not constant. It varies for two reasons: at first, scientists regularly discover new species; at second, some species regularly become extinct. The examples of birds extinction as a result of direct persecution is well known from the recent past. That was the reason of extermination of dodo, great auk, passenger pigeon and many other species (nearly 500 species during last 100 years). In response to that, a year after the last passenger pigeon has been killed, the first International Convention for the Protection of Birds was signed in Paris. In the industrial and postindustrial age the direct persecution is supplemented with reduction of birds' natural habitats. In response to that the scientists and nature protection activists started a number of activities aimed at natural habitat conservation.
At the time, when the world's population increases by 2.5 person per second, and requires occupation of more and more terrestrial and marine spaces, it is extremely important to find sustainable solutions, which will allow exploitation of natural resources in a long-term perspective without causing degradation of ecosystems and their flora and fauna. |
Video update |
One of the most important components in the process of identification of such solutions, is investigation of ecological peculiarities and monitoring of population trends of certain species and their communities. It allows implementation of early measures targeted at preventing of unwanted consequences. The monitoring of birds is implemented by various organizations, namely by European Bird Census Council in Europe, by National Audubon Society in USA, etc.
Armenia is situated at the junction of two - European and Irano-Anatolian - zoogeographical provinces. It is a mountainous country with elevation between 375 and 4090 meters above sea level, with contrast climatic conditions and a large range of habitats from dry semi-deserts to alpine meadows.
Armenia is situated at the junction of two - European and Irano-Anatolian - zoogeographical provinces. It is a mountainous country with elevation between 375 and 4090 meters above sea level, with contrast climatic conditions and a large range of habitats from dry semi-deserts to alpine meadows.
Being located between Black and Caspian seas, Armenia is actually one of the bridges, connecting the temperate zone of Eurasia with Middle East and Africa. All those factors substantially determine the richness of birds in Armenia. At present there are 376 species of birds, recorded in Armenia, including 241 breeding and 135 migratory or wintering species (see Checklist to Birds of Armenia). High species diversity in Armenia and in the whole Caucasus was one of the reasons to include the region into the list of 35 Global Biodiversity Hotspots.
After collapse of Soviet Union and the following crisis, economy of Armenia started developing intensively in two main directions: mining and agriculture (including forest exploitation). Obviously, both industries significantly affect the habitats and avifauna. Therefore, activities dedicated to evaluation of species diversity, monitoring and modeling of birds state, as well as investigation of their ecological peculiarities, are crucial for understanding the consequences of political or economic decisions, but are also important for development of wildlife tourism as an alternative approach to use of biodiversity. The described activities, in line with sufficient environmental education of people is an important component of republic's progress. |
|
Threats for birds
In 1932 a decision to drain the wetlands of Gilli area (located at vicinity of Lake Sevan) was made in Armenia. The main rationale for that decision was to use the peat for fuel, and later to exploit the drained lands for agriculture. It affected 62 species of birds, which inhabited the wetlands. Many of them (e.g. Black Tern) didn't find another refuge in Armenia and left the country. Some earlier the semideserts of Ararat plane have been intensively cultivated, and the consequence was disappearance of Houbara Bustard from Armenia. The Eastern Imperial Eagle was lost for avifauna of the country, since it lacked its breeding habitat in result of riparian forests logging. We may continue with the list, however the main priority is not the statement of accomplished facts, but the prevention of new species loss.
Today, the most actual threats for ornitofauna of Armenia belong to four large categories (see IUCN Threat Classification Scheme): biological resource use, pollution, agriculture and aquaculture, energy production and mining. |
Biological resource use
In this category birds are particularly influenced by shortage of sustainable practices in management of game species. It happens not only because there are not enough counters at the stage of planning of game species use, and not enough inspectors at the stage of control, but mainly due to lack of modeling of population dynamics, as an approach to sustainable planning. In forestry the avifauna is influenced by the fact, that practices of forest exploitation are based on approaches, developed as principles of effective management in short-term perspective; besides, avifauna is considerably influenced by poaching: both, intentional, when despite of being aware that the species is under protection, it is still hunted as a source of income (e.g. a large raptor - as a trophy), and casual, when endangered species are hunted during duck hunting as a consequence of insufficient skills of hunters in field identification. Pollution In this category of threats the bird populations are affected by two groups of substances. First group include persistent pesticides, which are widely used as a pest control in agriculture and forestry. Second group includes heavy metals, which enter the food chain, due to two reasons: lack of separate collection of municipal waste and subsequent management of its toxic components, and as a result of mineral industry activities. Both groups of substances accumulate in plant and animal organisms and move up the food chain, reaching increased concentrations in higher levels (predators, fish-eating birds, etc.). The influence of those substances on bird organisms may be lethal, but it can also affect their reproductive capacity. Agriculture and aquaculture In this category avifauna is affected by biotope transformation both as a result of converting of new lands to agriculture and overgrazing. The mentioned practces support in decrease of plant diversity and consequently insect diversity, which influences the avifauna, particularly affecting the specialist species. Energy production and mining In this category of threats the bird populations are affected by mining of rocks and especially valuable metals, such as copper, molybdenum, gold and rare-earth metals. There is only open-pit mining implemented in Armenia, which brings to destruction of some habitats and conduces to their fragmentation. Another threat which comes from metal mining is a pollution of the environment by heavy metals, which is described in the section "Pollution". |
Main directions of activities:
Introduction and maintenance of Bird Monitoring Scheme, the results of which input in better understanding of mid-term and long-term trends of populations, the place of a species in ecosystem, and dependence of species and their communities on various characteristics of ecosystems. The results also allow us to model the consequences of ecosystem management for certain species and their communities. Promotion of Birdwatching in Armenia, aimed to increase the number of tourists visiting Armenia and to develop a community of birders among Armenian people. Introduction and maintenance of Citizen Scientists' Network, which serves three main purposes: cultivation of love for nature in public at large, increase of volume and coverage of data provided, and enlarging the community of birdwatchers, making it more dynamic, informative and interesting. |
|
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas
Important Bird and Biodiversity Area concept has been developed by BirdLife International more than 30 years ago.
Initially, IBAs were identified only for terrestrial and freshwater habitats, however in the past decade, the methodology of IBA recognition and the process have been adapted also for marine environment.
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are:
Initially, IBAs were identified only for terrestrial and freshwater habitats, however in the past decade, the methodology of IBA recognition and the process have been adapted also for marine environment.
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are:
- Places of international significance for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity
- Recognized world-wide as practical tools for conservation
- Distinct areas amenable to practical conservation action
- Identified using robust, standardized criteria
- Sites that together form part of a wider integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment
IBA Site name
Amasia Armash fish-farm Dsegh Gndasar Gorayk Haghartsin Jermook Khosrov Reserve Lake Arpi Lake Sevan Meghri Metsamor Mount Ara Noravank Pombak mountains Sardarapat Tashir Zangezoor |
IBA Criteria
A1, A4i, B1i, B1iv, B2 A1, A4i, B1i, B2 A1, A2, B2 B1iv, B2 A1, B2 A1, A2, A3, B2 A1, B2, B3 A1, A3, B2 A4i, B1i A1, A4i, B1i A1, A2, A3, B2, B3 A1, B1iv, B2 A1, A2, B2, B3 A1, B2 A1, B2 A1, B1iv, B2 A1, B1iv, B2 A1, A2, A3, B2 |
Code
AM006 AM004 AM008 AM013 AM016 AM009 AM015 AM003 AM001 AM005 AM018 AM012 AM010 AM014 AM002 AM011 AM007 AM017 |
Statement
Armenia, like many countries on this planet, is confronted with global challenges, at the same time as having a number of characteristically local problems. Temperature increase and decrease in precipitation, unsustainable management of limited resources of rivers and lakes, deliberate drainage of wetlands and hyper-exploitation of the few forest areas, widespread degradation of meadows and semi-deserts – is not even a full list of factors of destructive anthropogenic impact over the past decade.
These factors are transformed into targeted threats to biodiversity of species and are at the same time amplified by several aspects such as a relatively small area of the republic, imperfect legislation, unsustainable approach to the management of natural resources and poor public involvement in the conservation context. Birds, both nesting and migratory, are an integral and essential part of the entire biodiversity, feeling in full, the catastrophic impact of anthropogenic forces leading to large-scale loss of their natural habitats, degradation of the population and species extinction.
Despite a number of objective difficulties in the economic and political reality of our country, we believe that a systematic shift can be accomplished, and sustainable positive change achieved. This happens when ideas that are vital and meaningful to society are correctly formulated, and associated and united around people with a clean reputation, ready to lead. A new generation of our political leaders have demonstrated this to the full. We believe that this principle is also applicable to conservation activities, which can and should be part of the public life of the country.
These factors are transformed into targeted threats to biodiversity of species and are at the same time amplified by several aspects such as a relatively small area of the republic, imperfect legislation, unsustainable approach to the management of natural resources and poor public involvement in the conservation context. Birds, both nesting and migratory, are an integral and essential part of the entire biodiversity, feeling in full, the catastrophic impact of anthropogenic forces leading to large-scale loss of their natural habitats, degradation of the population and species extinction.
Despite a number of objective difficulties in the economic and political reality of our country, we believe that a systematic shift can be accomplished, and sustainable positive change achieved. This happens when ideas that are vital and meaningful to society are correctly formulated, and associated and united around people with a clean reputation, ready to lead. A new generation of our political leaders have demonstrated this to the full. We believe that this principle is also applicable to conservation activities, which can and should be part of the public life of the country.
Thus, Effective Bird Conservation, will be built around a clearly articulated message (connecting birds and people), have an actual visual symbol (BirdLinks) and combine the main activity aspects (news, conservation, science, advocacy, education, etc.) into a single informational context for the local and global bird-communities on the information platform (www.bird-links.org) closely related to social networks and local media.
We believe that our passion for birds and the enthusiasm of like-minded people, coupled with modern technology and our vision, will become that unifying force that will increase the influence for the protection of birds.We notice that every year more and more young people both in and outside of the country (including people of the global Armenian diaspora), show a keen interest in the birds of Armenia, participating in the conservation projects, educational activities and field research.
We see a generation of modern-minded politicians who are open to new approaches and are ready to support our initiatives on bird-friendly legislation and the development of civilized model for hunting and sustainable resource management while European research colleagues provide us with maximum assistance in frame of the projects in formation of smart resource management tools.
We realize that Armenia has an uncovered potential for birdwatching (global and local) and will make consistent and focused efforts, striving to become one of the observation centres in the region.
We want, in every aspect, to be proud of our country and the people living in it, and we believe that birds will become a symbol of change for Armenia.
We see a generation of modern-minded politicians who are open to new approaches and are ready to support our initiatives on bird-friendly legislation and the development of civilized model for hunting and sustainable resource management while European research colleagues provide us with maximum assistance in frame of the projects in formation of smart resource management tools.
We realize that Armenia has an uncovered potential for birdwatching (global and local) and will make consistent and focused efforts, striving to become one of the observation centres in the region.
We want, in every aspect, to be proud of our country and the people living in it, and we believe that birds will become a symbol of change for Armenia.