Halfway through the counting season at Besh Barmag

Text © Michael Heiß

Visitors on World Migratory Bird Day © Elvin Məmmədsoy

The Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count is currently halfway through the season. Remarkable six weeks have been counted for autumn 2023 and six more will follow. In the first half of October, five dedicated counters, namely Leyla, Elvin, Zülfü, Moritz and Lasse, undertook the daily routine of tracking bird migration. Their efforts were generously rewarded with sightings of some of the finest bird species engaged in their remarkable journeys.

Among the standout species observed during this period was the Oriental Sky Lark, migrating on 6 October and found resting on 10 and 11 October. This species was so far noted on five separate occasions in 2023, including two sightings in September. Additionally, a Richard’s Pipit was spotted heading south on 7 October.

Notably, on 5 October, an impressive number of White Wagtails (6669 individuals) and Tawny Pipits (179 individuals) were observed flying south. Highest day counts at Besh Barmag for both species. You can find the full details of the day at this link: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20231005.

While the Black-winged Pratincoles are still on the move, their numbers have dwindled to fewer than 50 individuals over the last two weeks. Jay migration continues, and the team remains hopeful of spotting a Spotted Nutcracker, a rare occurrence that has happened before, as documented here: https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20110905.

Checking pictures in the evening © Leyla Muslim

The waterbird migration has been relatively slow in the past two weeks, with only a few hundred ducks and terns seen on their migration path. As the weather becomes colder, with temperatures dropping to a chilly 12°C on 12 October, late autumn birds have commenced their migration. This includes a significant increase in the number of Starlings (eg 19,406 heading south on 6 October) and Rooks (5,059 heading south on 13 October). The numbers of larks, buntings and finches are also on the rise, while the numbers of bee-eaters, wagtails, swallows, and pipits are diminishing with each passing day.

Despite the occasional slow pace of migration, the team experienced some exceptional days, particularly on October 5 (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20231005), October 6 (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20231006), and October 13 (https://trektellen.nl/count/view/1533/20231013).

Students from the Baku State University joining the counters for a day © Leyla Muslim

Learning bird count techniques © Abdin Abbasov

On the social side, the counters were visited by various groups (eg students from the Baku State University) that learned about the importance of the Besh Barmag bottleneck for migrating birds and enjoyed the sunny weather and colourful birds.

So far, 495’330 south-flying and 91’438 north-flying birds have been counted. Much more will follow in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates!

If you’re interested in supporting this naure conservation project in Azerbaijan, here are several ways to get involved:

Join Us: We still have available slots for participation in November. This is an excellent opportunity to witness the diversity and abundance of eastern species. More information
Make a Donation: Even small contributions can have a significant impact on our financial stability and our ability to continue this vital work in the following year. Consider making a donation at https://birdingazerbaijan.org/donate/.
Explore Azerbaijan: Birding Azerbaijan offers tailor-made tours and collaborates with tour operators. The proceeds from these tours directly support the Besh Barmag Bird Migration Count. Why not join a spring trip in Azerbaijan in 2024? Learn more at https://birdingazerbaijan.org/travel/.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing more remarkable bird migration experiences with you on this blog, Facebook and Instagram.

The Besh team also thanks OSME and FairWind for financial support!