Black–tailed godwit: Red Data Book of Armenia

Sandpipers - Scolopacidae

Status. A rare species of rapidly decreasing population in Armenia. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 3.1) as Near Threatened NT. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Vulnerable VU A2b.

Distribution. The range expands from Iceland to the Kamchatka Peninsula, including the southern coastline of the Black Sea, South Caucasus, Caspian Sea, Central Asia, Mongolia. Winters in Europe, South Asia, Africa, Australia.

Distribution in Armenia. Occurs during the spring and autumn migrations in the basins of the lakes Sevan and Arpi, and on the Ararat Valley.

Habitats. Prefers river mouths, wetlands, swamps.

Biological traits. Nestles in riparian vegetation, beneath the shrubs. Eggs are light greenish, 4/clutch, size 48–59 mm. The brooding period is 24 days. Hatchlings grow up fast and can fly after a month.

Population size and its trends. No relevant research was carried out.

Major threats. Uncontrolled hunting and poaching during migrations.

Conservation measures. Protected in Sevan National Park and Lake Arpi National Park. It is essential to curb uncontrolled hunting, strengthen anti–poaching activities and to estimate population size during migrations.