Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2004 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | EN | breeding (1998) | 2 pairs | A1, B2 |
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | LC | winter (1993) | 19,400 birds | A4i, B1i |
| Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina | LC | winter (1996) | 345 birds | B1i |
| Common Crane Grus grus | LC | winter (1993) | 39 birds | B1i |
| Common Crane Grus grus | LC | breeding (1994) | 6 pairs | B1i |
| White Stork Ciconia ciconia | LC | passage (1994) | 9,550 birds | A4i, B1i |
| Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus | LC | breeding (1989–1996) | 10 pairs | B2 |
| Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica | LC | breeding (1998) | 50–70 pairs | B2 |
| Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus | LC | breeding (1989–1996) | 15 pairs | B3 |
| Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni | LC | breeding (-) | 12 pairs | A1 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (1993) | 21,327 birds | A4iii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2004. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2016 | very poor | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Wetlands (inland) | very poor (<40%) | very poor (<40%) | very poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Esmekaya Sazligi | SIT (Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No. 2863) (-) | 100 |
| 2002 | Tuz Golu OCKB | Specially Protected Area of Marine Importance (Barcelona Convention) (-) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 63 | Humid grasslands |
| Other | 35 | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 2 | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| not utilised | 60 |
| water management | 20 |
| agriculture | 10 |
| hunting | 10 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eşmekaya Marshes (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eşmekaya-marshes-iba-türkiye on 25/12/2024.