Baraba Steppe Gull

Larus barabensis (Johansen 1960)

		adult in flight
2011-07-23 Burabai, Akmola oblast 2010-04-08 Karamendy settlement, Naurzum region, Kostanai oblast	© Gennadiy Dyakin © Aleksey Timoshenko

Distribution

Breeds in northern part of Kazakhstan from Ural valley eastward to Irtysh valley. Southern border of breeding range isn’t explored. In summer regularly recorded on Markakol lake.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the forest steppes, shores of steppe lakes and big rivers. In spring appears in early April, the latest migrants recorded in first decade of May. Breeds mostly in colonies of up to 25-30 pairs; colonies are formed on the islands, in the reed beds, on tussocks among shallow water, or on shore; often together with other gulls and terns; the singly nesting recorded rarely. Nest is built from the dry grass stems and reed, and is lined with the soft grass. Clutches of 1-3 eggs produced in end April – mid-May. Juveniles begin to fly in end June – mid-July. Autumn migration begins in August, latest birds observed until the lakes freezing.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Рябицев В. К., Ковшарь А. Ф., Ковшарь В. А., Березовиков Н. Н. «Полевой определитель птиц Казахстана», Алматы, 2014.