The Spoonbill — a Rare Bird Listed in CITES Appendix II
2025-10-22 16:00:00 / News
It breeds and migrates through wetlands of the southern Aral Sea region and the basins of the Syr Darya, Amu Darya, Surkhandarya and Zarafshan rivers, as well as in the Fergana Valley. The species’ range extends to Kazakhstan, Siberia, Europe, North Africa and China.
In the 1960s the species was commonly encountered in the southern Aral region, but it has now disappeared from many former sites. Presently, there are approximately 200 individuals in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, and roughly 50 breeding birds each in the Fergana Valley and in the Aydar-Arnasay lake system.
In spring (April–May) spoonbills migrate and breed colonially in reedbeds, often alongside other waterbird species. Their diet consists of small fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates.
The principal cause of the species’ decline is habitat loss driven by alteration of the Aral Sea basin’s hydrological regime.
Hunting of spoonbills is strictly prohibited. The species occurs on lakes Arnasay, Karakyr and Dengizkul. In addition, captive-breeding programmes in numerous zoos across Europe and Asia contribute to efforts to bolster wild populations.