Kazakhstan to boost birdwatching tourism for global visitors

Photo by Gennady Dyakin / kz.birding.day

Birdwatchers from Europe, the U.S. and Russia are increasingly flocking to Kazakhstan to observe its diverse avian species. While birdwatching or avitourism is a popular form of ecotourism in Europe and North America, it remains relatively unknown among most Kazakhstanis.

Both local and Russian ornithologists organize expeditions and photo tours across Kazakhstan.

Kursiv.media takes a closer look at the species that attract foreign birdwatchers and how enthusiasts can join a birdwatching tour in Kazakhstan.

When to watch birds

International visitors prefer to come during the «golden hour» of birdwatching season, i.e. late spring to early summer. This is when birds arrive at nesting grounds and begin lekking (singing and displaying), allowing observers to spot the highest number of species in the shortest time.

«Once nesting begins, birds fall silent and become far more difficult to see,» said Natalya Borovaya, organizer of the Wings of Alakol festival.

In contrast, local birdwatchers can enjoy observing birds year-round.

«At different times and in different landscapes, you’ll see different species,» Borovaya added.

What birds are foreigners looking for?

Photo: Kz.birding.day

According to ornithologist Victoria Kovshar, co-author of «A Field Guide to the Birds of Kazakhstan,» international birders travel to Kazakhstan to see several rare or regionally unique species. These include the steppe kestrel, demoiselle crane, saxaul sparrow, sociable lapwing and both the black and white-winged larks.

«These larks are what we call conditional endemics — 95% of their global population lives in Kazakhstan. If you want to see them, you have to come here,» Kovshar explained.

Birdwatchers are often overwhelmed with excitement upon seeing these species in the wild.

«People tell me, ‘I’ve read so much about this bird. I never thought I’d see it in real life!’» Kovshar said.

Another must-see for visiting ornithologists is the Caspian plover.

«They tell me outright, ‘If I don’t see it, the tour is a failure,’» she added.

Top birding locations in Kazakhstan

Near Astana, birdwatchers focus on wetlands, where they might spot the endangered white-headed duck. Bird diversity peaks in the foothills surrounding Almaty, where birdwatchers seek out species such as the painted tit, black-breasted rubythroat and bearded vulture.

«The painted tit can be found near Big Almaty Lake. But most people walk right past it and never notice,» Kovshar said. «You have to listen carefully for small birds like that before you can find them among the junipers.»

One of the top birdwatching destinations in Kazakhstan is the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, where tourists often go to see flamingos. Other hotspots include the Ili River Delta, the shores of the Aral Sea and the Mangystau region, each offering sightings of rare and regionally unique bird species.

Who organizes birdwatching tours?

Pink pelican, photo by Askar Isabekov / kz.birding.day

According to ornithologists, there are only a handful of professional guides in Kazakhstan qualified to lead birdwatching tours.

«You can’t train a guide like this in just a few months,» said Kovshar, who has been leading birdwatching expeditions for over 30 years. «You have to know what the bird looks like, what its song sounds like. We detect about 70% of birds by sound. Birdwatchers ask thousands of questions: about biology, migration and how different species are related.»

The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) also organizes birding tours for international visitors. Additionally, the organization promotes beginner-friendly experiences such as the Almaty Bird Fest on the Ili River. During last year’s event, participants spotted and photographed nearly 90 species, including the kingfisher, flycatcher and wryneck. The 2025 festival is scheduled for Aug. 22-24.

The next major event for birding enthusiasts is the Wings of Alakol festival, which will take place on June 20-22 at the Pelican Alakol base. Now in its 13th year, the festival is organized by the Veter Stranstviy (Wind of Wanderings) digital media outlet. The event includes ornithological excursions and workshops on bird identification. Attendees typically observe more than 80 bird species, including rarities like the common crane, Dalmatian pelican and relict gull.

This year’s general partner is the tour operator Kompas, which sees growing potential for birdwatching as part of Kazakhstan’s domestic tourism strategy.

Other individuals and organizations offering tours include:

Ruslan Urazaliyev, a research fellow at ACBK in Astana. Andrey Kovalenko, an ornithologist with the Kazakhstan Birdwatching Community (kz.birding.day portal) in Almaty. Asia Discovery and Travel Club, which offer packaged tours.

Want to stay local?

Even if you’re not ready to travel, you can still take part in Kazakhstan’s birdwatching culture. The Wings of the Steppe competition, hosted by Qazaq Birds, challenges participants to photograph birds in their area using any camera, including a phone, and submit their images online. The next round of the nationwide «competitive birding» contest runs Sept. 1-15.