The Tallymerjen Plain — One of Turkmenistan’s Ornithological Monitoring Centers
The Tallymerjen Plain was granted state protection in 2009 and is considered one of the most important ornithological regions of our country. Since then, regular bird-monitoring activities have been conducted here during the autumn and spring seasons. These works are carried out jointly by ornithologist scientists and the research staff of the Köýtendag State Nature Reserve.
One of the bird species endangered worldwide is the cinereous vulture (black-headed vulture), which also migrates across the territory of our country. Most of them stop in the Tallymerjen Plain every year in September–October to feed and rest. Therefore, this area is regarded as an important link along the eastern route of their migration.
Cinereous vultures are large birds belonging to the vulture family and are characterized by their black-colored heads. They build their nests in the vast steppes of Kazakhstan and the border regions of Russia. During migration, their route continues through the Caucasus, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. They also winter in southern Pakistan, north-western India, and north-eastern Africa.
These birds live in flocks. One flock usually consists of 20–30 individuals, and in some cases can reach 150–300. Since the cinereous vulture is a globally endangered species, it is included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Tallymerjen Plain is one of the key sites in Turkmenistan where many rare species listed in the national Red Book stop over or winter. In these vast wetland areas, various species of geese, ducks, and grebes are widely observed in winter. Endangered species such as the lesser white-fronted goose, demoiselle crane, houbara bustard, eagle, kestrel, short-toed snake eagle, and other birds of prey are also recorded here.
According to the plan of the Köýtendag State Nature Reserve, a regular autumn bird census was recently conducted on the Tallymerjen Plain. The results of these observations provided grounds for high evaluation of the scientific team’s work. Based on the census, more than 3,000 cinereous vultures were recorded in the area. It was also found that some flocks contained between 300 and 600 birds. Additionally, eagles, steppe eagles, buzzards, kestrels, snake eagles, and griffons were observed. Among mammals, tracks of goitered gazelles, foxes, hares, and wolves were recorded during monitoring.
The continuous research conducted in this field is of great importance for both local and international ornithologists. Maintaining the protected status of the Tallymerjen Plain ensures the sustainability of bird migration routes.
