Uzbekistan’s growing passion for birdwatching was celebrated in early January as prizes were awarded to winners of the national «Great Year-2025» competition, which has encouraged enthusiasts to explore the country through observing and photographing birds.
The contest sent participants across mountains, deserts, lakes and city streets in search of rare and striking species. In total, birdwatchers documented 335 different species in 2025, one of the highest results in the competition’s history.
The overall winner was American birdwatcher Emilio Zapata, who recorded 287 species during the year. He was followed by Marina Almazova with 259 species and Erik Salimov with 224. Almazova said the experience showed that birdwatching is not only about nature, but also about people, travel and shared conversations along the way.
Special awards highlighted unusual discoveries, including sightings of flamingos at the Sudoce lake system, a yellow wagtail spotted in winter in Tashkent, and rare species photographed in Karakalpakstan and the Fergana Valley. A newcomer prize went to Margarita Davydova, who documented 214 species in her first year.
Organisers say the competition has helped revive interest in birdwatching across Uzbekistan, linking wildlife observation with local culture, travel and a deeper appreciation of the country’s natural diversity.
Kursiv uzbekistan also reports that CCA Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s first permanent centre dedicated to contemporary art, will officially open in March 2026, marking a major milestone for the country’s cultural landscape.
