Every year after the second week of January, an international winter waterfowl census is conducted in more than 140 countries around the world. In Uzbekistan, this environmental event is held annually on the initiative of the Bird Conservation Society of Uzbekistan.

On January 13 and 21 of this year, ornithological teachers, doctoral students, magistrates and of the bachelor students ornithological club Otus of the Faculty of Biology of Karakalpak State University organized an expedition to Lake Ashshikul, located in the vicinity of the city of Nukus. The expedition was attended by 23 people.

The main goal of the expedition is to conduct an international winter census and observation of waterfowl. During the observation at Lake Ashshikul 645 individuals belonging to 17 bird species were registered. Among them were 12 mute swans Cygnus olor – listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 165 mallards Anas platyrhynchos, 28 red-billed pochard Netta rufina, 7 common gulls Larus cachinnans and other waterfowl.

 

Yakub Ametov

Dean of the Faculty of Biology

Karakalpak State University,

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor