The Ecolider Volunteer Club of NIS Aktau, together with the active members of the Karakol Guardians team, took part in the 60th International Waterbird Census (IWC) — an international winter count of waterfowl and wetland birds — held at Lake Karakol, which is part of the Karakia–Karakol State Zoological Reserve.

For the past ten consecutive years, the Ecolider Club, actively contributing to environmental awareness, has been a regular participant in this international monitoring programme.

In addition to NIS students, the anniversary census was attended by Adilbek Kozybakov, Chairman of the ECOJER Regional Environmental Council and Deputy Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Central Asian Ramsar Regional Initiative, as well as Kaldybai Mamayev, Deputy Director of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve, along with its researchers and inspectors.

“First-time participants from the Ecolider Club were deeply impressed when they heard the distinctive call of the whooper swan, listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan, and witnessed the white-tailed eagle soaring high in the sky. Many students expressed their emotions through essays,” said Bakytgul Zhaksylykova, Environmental Coordinator of NIS Aktau and Head of the Ecolider Volunteer Club.

As a result of the census, the following bird species were recorded at Lake Karakol:
mute swan — approximately 200 individuals,
Eurasian coot — about 150,
black-headed gull — about 100,
mallard — about 50,
garganey — 18,
whooper swan — 7,
northern lapwing — 3,
white-tailed eagle — 2,
grey heron — 1 individual.

At the conclusion of the census, on behalf of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve, Kaldybai Mamayev expressed his gratitude to the Ecolider Volunteer Club and the Karakol Guardians team for their contribution to fostering environmental culture among the public, presenting them with certificates of appreciation and the book “Flora of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve.”
Bakytgul Zhaksylykova was also awarded a letter of appreciation for her significant contribution to biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and the effective implementation of environmental protection activities.