Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The valley and flood-plains of the Murat river, which here is fast-flowing with islands and gravel spits. One island complex lies to the north of the town of Bulanýk, whilst another large vegetated island is situated to the west. To the north, the plain is bordered by hills; to the south of the river are large tracts of arable land and hay-meadows. Cattle graze on the flood-plain.
The site is important for breeding waterbirds and raptors.
Otis tarda occurs regularly in significant numbers and is thought to breed in the surrounding area. The IBA is the best-known Turkish locality for
Anthropoides virgoseveral pairs breed (max. 21 individuals).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
DSÝ plans to construct a large reservoir (Alpaslan 1) that will flood the western part of the IBA up to the point where the Hýnýs and Murat rivers unite. Agriculture in the remainder of the area will be intensified.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bulanık and Malazgirt Plains (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bulanık-and-malazgirt-plains-iba-türkiye on 26/12/2024.