On September 13,
2024, the School of Natural Sciences organized a meeting between first-year
students of the program "6B05101 Biology" and representatives of the
Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK). ACBK
coordinator Enlik Kayirssynova introduced the students to the activities of the
Association. ACBK research scientist and national coordinator of the
"Sociable Lapwing" project, Ruslan Urazaliev, delivered a lecture on
projects related to the study and conservation of birds in Kazakhstan. The
project on studying the migration of sociable lapwings is implemented with
funding from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK). The sociable
lapwing is a steppe species on the verge of extinction. There are just over
11,000 individuals left in the world, with more than 95% of them nesting in
Kazakhstan. As Ruslan Urazaliev explained, the birds will be equipped with
satellite trackers, which will allow experts to study their migration routes
and identify the key habitats necessary for the species' survival. The
protection of birds is a critical task for all humanity, as they play a vital
role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems.
The lecture
sparked great interest among the students. The lecturer presented the
university library with a field guide to the birds of Kazakhstan.