Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult juvenile flock breeding plumage
2013-04-23 Sorbulak lake, Almaty region 2021-11-28 Aktau, Karakol lake2009-06-26 Bugun reservoir, South Kazakhstan oblast2012-03-24 Sorbulak lake	© Vassiliy Fedorenko © Qanatbek Kenzhegulov© Andrey Kovalenko© Gennadiy Dyakin

Distribution

Breeding in Syrdarya valley, Balkhash-Alakol and Zaysan depressions, irregularly on Kamysh-Samar lakes, in lower reaches of Turgay river, in Naurzum Reserve and on Kurgaldzhin lakes. Between 1980-1990 a colony existed on Sorbulak lake close to Almaty, where birds also nested since 2001 to now. In recent years nesting renewed on northern Caspian Sea, near delta of Ural river. During migration and dispersal they occur everywhere, including Southern Altai (Markakol lake) and Zailiyskiy Alatau ridge. At end of October some flocks can be observed over Almaty (up to 100-150 birds) migrating in direction of Issyk-Kul lake.

Biology

Common but locally rare breeding migrant. Inhabits only fish lakes and reservoirs, sometimes salty. Arrives after opening of reservoirs, in March in southern areas, and early – mid-April in North. During migration and dispersal, flocks from 5-10 up to several hundred occur. Breeding in large colonies, sometimes numbering up to a thousand pairs, but more often smaller. Frequently nests together with Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Night Heron, Pelican, etc. Breeding begins in April. Bulky nests are built among reed-beds, on shore rocks and on stony or sandy islands, on flooded trees, or in forest-belt on small islands, from dry twigs or reed stems; inner cup lined with grass and reed leaves; nest are often very close one another. Breeding is prolonged even in one colony. Fresh eggs found from mid – end April up to mid-June. Very late nesting recorded in Ile river delta and may be connected with first time breeders which tend to nest much later than adults. Clutches of 3-5 eggs end April – mid-June. Both parents incubate 28-30 days. Young fly as early as June. Later they are united in flocks and live a nomadic life. Migration from northern half of Kazakhstan in September (last birds seen early October), from south in October – mid-November, though some birds observed in early December.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.