Rapid surveys in early 2023 identified important sites for the Little Bustard in Azerbaijan, where a geographic bottleneck funnels populations breeding to the north into concentrated wintering areas. Researchers note poaching as the most critical conservation concern to these flocks, and identify the opportunity for Azerbaijan to develop a reputation as a key haven for this species if existing conservation laws are better enforced.
Research paper [pdf] by Farajli & Mammadsoy in the journal Sandgrouse
Photo: P. Alfrey, Little Bustard flock wintering in Azerbaijan