The basic field data was stored in databases of local Russian research agencies but most data were never disclosed for the wider scientific audience. Due to excellent cooperation between Russian and Dutch scientists the data were analysed and interpreted in 2005, resulting in the current atlas. It provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of migration movements of waterbirds.

The information provides an insight in the international importance of the west Siberian wetlands for waterbird conservation, such as Lake Chany (a Ramsar site) and Lake Kulundinskoye situated in the Novosibirsk and Altai regions. The region appears to be a crossroad of flyways.  The majority of Western Siberian birds fly in a south to south-westerly direction and spend the winter on the Indian sub-continent, in Southwest Asia, the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea basins and also in Africa. A substantial number of birds have been recovered in central and western Europe and a few have been found as far as Japan.  Southwest Siberia appears to be of great importance as a breeding, moulting and staging area for a variety of duck species. In addition, it hosts also many breeding and migrating waders, gulls and terns. New migration patterns have been revealed that need to be taken into account for the development of flyway conservation.  

The knowledge of migration patterns is also relevant in relation to risks of spreading of various diseases that can be carried by migratory birds, including the Avian Influenza. As pre-publication this report already carried its weight in last year’s discussions on the wisdom for special measures in western European poultry farming in view of the potential of contamination by migratory waterbirds coming from Western Siberia. 

Full citation: Veen, J. Yurlov, AS.K., S.N. Delany, Mihantiev,A. I., Selivanova, M.A. Boere, G.C. 2005. An atlas of movements of Soutwest Siberian waterbirds. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.