A scientific seminar was recently held at Baku State University (BSU), led by Abulfaz Taghiyev, head of the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the Faculty of Biology. The seminar focused on the topic: "Trophic and Biotopic Relationships of Birds on the Southwestern Coast of the Caspian Sea."

The speaker presented findings from a long-term research project conducted between 2015 and 2024 in Absheron, Shirvan, Gizylagaj National Parks, and the Kura River Delta. The study revealed that declining water levels in the Caspian Sea have significantly affected bird populations—altering their food sources, habitat structure, and population dynamics.

Notably, some species, such as Microcarbo pygmaeus (pygmy cormorant) and Nycticorax nycticorax (black-crowned night heron), have shown marked changes in their breeding behavior. These birds have begun nesting in newly formed colonies within forested buffer zones around agricultural fields.

The seminar emphasized the ecological importance of these shifts, particularly regarding biodiversity management and conservation efforts. Using GIS technologies, researchers mapped and analyzed the trophic and biotopic relationships of 126 bird species during their breeding and wintering periods. Additionally, the presence of 22 rare bird species listed in the Red Book was recorded during the study.