Latest news

01-09-2009 New guide : Dick Forsman

We at Central Asia Birding are very happy to announce that no one less than raptor specialist Dick Forsman will join both of our tours to Kazakhstan. We welcome you Dick with great pleasure!

27-02-2009 - Nature holiday to northeast Kyrgyzstan full

The 2009 nature holiday in northeast Kyrgyzstan is fully booked. Bookings for the July 2010 tour can now be made! A tripreport of the tour is expected to be placed on our website beginning of August which can be downloaded from our tour reports page.

27-02-2009 - Cancellation of birding holiday to southeast Kazakhstan

Due to the result that the minimum amount of participants of 7 has not been reached we of Central Asia Birding decided to cancel the tour for the 2009 season, most a pitty! Bookings are open for the 2010 tour in southeast Kazakhstan from now.

22-01-2009 - Agreements between ACBK and Central Asia Birding

During an interesting conversation promising agreements have been reached by Edith Mayer, employed at the ACBK (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan) as Central Asian Coordinator for Conservation Education, and the two founders of Central Asia Birding, Machiel Valkenburg and Madina Dyussebayeva.

The ACBK took a few years ago the great initiative by starting organizing birdclubs at universities throughout the country. With the aim to increase support for nature doing this by giving attention to birds. So far it has resulted in no less than seven bird clubs in seven different cities, including Almaty and Astana. The clubs are actively involved in several projects as the Birdlife IBA-project (Important Bird Area).  

During the meeting, two important points emerged. CAB will try, where possible, to let students, of the birdclubs, join on travels through Central Asia as being an assistant of the tourleader. For the students it will be a good opportunity to get in contact with foreign birdwatchers from who they can hopefully learn. Another advantage is that they can travel trough their own country, which for many is a luxury they don’t have.

The second point on what agreement was reached was on the organization of a nature camp in the summer of 2010 in the Almaty region. In the economic heart of Kazakhstan, Almaty, it seems difficult to establish a healthy birdclub with many participating members, at the time being the club has one participant. In 2010, an organized nature camp for 10-13-year olds residing in the Almaty region will be held. During the camp lessons will be given which will focus for the bulk on nature. The intention is to create attention and support for nature at a younger age as they will be part of the new determining generation of Kazakhstan.