 The Bolonsky Reserve was established in November 1997. Formerly it was called the regional Simminsky zakaznik located in the North-Eastern part of Middle-Amur lowland. The Reserve includes the lower parts of the Simmi and Selgon river basins, the shallow delta of Kiltasin and Albite lakes, and Yorsuyn island. The Reserve is situated at the delta of the Kharpi river and on the southern shore of Bolon Lake on the territory of the Amursky and Nanaisky districts of the Khabarovsky krai. The reserve occupies 103,6 thousands hectares.
The core of the Reserve is the Bolon lake located in the center of the wetlands in the Amur river valley. The Bolon lake is of high biological and geographical importance: the concentration of wetlands here is very high and the biological diversity is extremely various. The Bolon lake is located on a unique cross-road of several migrating bird routes. The Bolon Lake is also included in the List of Wetlands of International importance according to the Ramsar Convention. In addtion, the Bolon lake is especially important as a nesting area for rare and endangered species.
The winding Simmi and Kharpi rivers flow into the lake. These far-flung rivers with numerous adjacent reservoirs and lake shores create a big wetland habitat for waterfowls. Therefore this region is noted for its high concentration of birds and nesting grounds.
The Bolonsky Reserve is famous for a great number of bird species. In spring and in fall one can see thousands of swans, geese, ducks, cranes, different birds of prey and small-sized migrating birds. Mainly, waterfowl live in the local wetlands. Almost all types of migrating bird species of Priamurye and the Russian Far East can be found here. The bird list of the Reserve includes 250 species, 160 of them nesting in this area.
The number of rare bird species is 24, overall with migrating species no less than 35. Such a concentration of rare birds is the largest in the region. In addition, several endangered species nest here: Oriental White Stork, Japanese and Hooded Cranes, Mandarin duck, osprey, peregrine falcon, and others.
The Reserve is of interest to Russian and foreign ecologists, ornithologists, tourists and students interested in studying of wetland birds.
Bolonsky Nature Reserve
Director: Vitaly A. Tyagunin
Amursk, GOS 5, P.O. 30
Khabarovsky Krai
E-mail: bolon@mail.amursk.ru
Price-list:
Accomodation (meals, service) - $25 per person per day
Guide-ornithologist and Interpreter service - $10 per person
Fare for drive excursion from Serebryanaya river channel - $10 per person
Video camera rent - $100 per day, photo camera rent - $50 per day
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