The Balkan velayat is rich in natural attractions that amaze the imagination of those who see them for the first time. One of these unique places is the water areas in the southeastern part of the Caspian Sea.

These places, which are part of the Hazar State Natural Reserve of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, are traditional wintering grounds for hundreds of different species of birds.

The Hazar Reserve, known worldwide as an ornithological center, is home to more than 300 species of various waterfowl. In connection with the historic date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention), World Wetlands Day is widely celebrated around the world every year in early February.

Our independent, permanently neutral state joined the Ramsar Convention in 2008. Currently, the water areas of the Turkmen part of the Caspian Sea, which are a habitat for waterfowl, are among the key territories of international importance. The migratory routes of birds from northern countries pass through them, so the Caspian coast is considered the most suitable place for them to spend the winter.

According to experts, more than 70 percent of the birds listed in the Red Book of Turkmenistan live here. It should be noted that the birds that arrive a little earlier on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, having rested and gained strength, continue their journey to the southern countries. The birds that arrive later stay for the winter. They spend several months a year on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. The warm, mild climate and abundance of food on Ogurjaly island, which is part of the reserve, attract flocks of various bird species, especially seagulls, terns and great white herons, which are commercial birds. Currently, hundreds of bird species winter in the Caspian. It is very pleasant to see that among the birds there are many pink flamingos, which are considered the symbol of the reserve.

Today, a friendly team of specialists from the Hazar State Natural Reserve carries out large-scale work on the preservation and scientific study of the water bodies, flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea. For the workers of the reserve, preserving the beauty of the Hazar nature is one of the important tasks, both for scientific research and for transmitting it in its original, natural form to future generations.