In Azerbaijan, where birds are highly celebrated in literature and culture, birdwatchers warn overdevelopment, unsustainable agriculture and poaching are putting local and migratory populations at risk.

Birdwatchers like biologists Abdin Abbasov, 34, and guides Zulfu Farajli, 25, and  Elvin Mammadsoy, 30, are trying to protect at-risk bird populations by increasing public awareness and interest in birdwatching. They are also eager to help bring up future generations of local birdwatchers.

“Azerbaijan's uniqueness lies in its diverse landscapes, despite being a small country. From east to west, north to south one can witness various landscapes. This diversity creates a unique habitat for birds, with 410 species, some of which are not found in Europe. Europeans are increasingly interested in visiting Azerbaijan for its unique bird species,” says Abdin Abbasov.

Abbasov started birdwatching in 2012, following a joint Azerbaijani-German bird-watching camp. He says: “There was someone who actually sparked the passion for birdwatching in me, it was Jonathan Etzold (from the University of Greifswald, Germany). I have learned this profession from him, from his behavior in nature, and his reaction to birds.”

Zulfu Farajli, a professional guide and co-founder of Birdwatching Azerbaijan, a local organization, has been fascinated by birds his entire life. 

“When I used to come home from school, I had a routine: have lunch and sit on the balcony to watch birds,” he recalls. “As a child, I enjoyed watching documentaries about animals. There is a scene vividly etched in my memory: in our yard a hawk tried to catch one of the sparrows, and I was amazed because I had seen this in documentaries, but now it was happening right before my eyes as if I was watching a National Geographic show.” 

Farajli and Abbasov met when Farajli started looking online for more information on birds in the Azerbaijani language and discovered that Abbasov was sharing this information through his Facebook page.

“Raising awareness and educating [people] about the protection of endangered species, including those listed in the Red Book, is necessary,” Farajli says. “Governmental institutions are responsible for implementing policies, but citizens, public support, and environmental organizations can also play a crucial role. However, creating interest in this topic is challenging in our country due to the social and economic problems faced by people. For someone operating a tractor, their priority is managing the tractor, as their income depends on it, not preserving a bird's nest. In such circumstances, we end up facing more difficulties.”

They see hope in teenagers like Elman Imanov, 17, who became interested in birdwatching nearly two years ago.

“My school biology teacher told me that there was no future in this field and even called my mother to school to say that they shouldn't waste money on this. After that, I stopped studying,” Elman says. “I will never give up on birdwatching. If you have been infected with it, you won't let it go. Even my parents already accepted it.”

Bulbula Lake is Elman’s favorite place to visit in his neighborhood. Previously surrounded by reeds that hosted birds, now there is an ongoing reconstruction to transform it into a park with a lakeside boulevard. Lake infilling and what appear to be pollution from sewage and wastewater have been observed there, too.

Elman got a real-life lesson in the impact of human activity on bird habitats during a recent visit to Bulbula Lake. “When I came here 2-3 months ago, it was all reeds, but when I returned after a week, I was shocked to see that they were all gone,” Elman says. “I wondered where they had disappeared to.”

Bulbula Lake is a host to Red Book species, including the white-headed duck. Usually seen during colder months, this year a couple of them were spotted and registered in May and stayed for the breeding season.

While the white-headed duck’s appearance in May caused excitement, it was also a reminder of the toll climate change is taking on birds.

Elvin Mammadsoy, an environmental activist and co-founder of Birdwatching Azerbaijan, notes that birdwatchers have observed migratory changes in several species.

“In our region, there is a saying about the hacı leylək (pilgrim stork). In reality, it is the white stork. The local name originates from the fact that the birds migrate southwards and Mecca is in the south,” he explains. “But for the past 5-10 years, we have been seeing white storks in the southern regions of Azerbaijan. Here subtropical climate allows them to stay during the now less harsh winters and offers sufficient food resources.”

Mammadsoy got hooked on birdwatching after he met Farajli in 2019 and visited Shirvan National Park, which is known as a paradise for birdwatching. Now Farajli proudly says that Elvin is his best student.