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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	passage (1991–1995)	30–1,246 birds	A1, A4i, B1i
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (1999–2001)	101–830 birds	A1, A4i, B1i
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca	VU	winter (1995–1996)	75–97 birds	B1i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	winter (-)	1,826–2,496 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1996)	14,952 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	breeding (-)	300–350 pairs	B2
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (-)	150–200 pairs	A1, B2
Garganey Spatula querquedula	LC	breeding (-)	150–200 pairs	B2
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (1993–1999)	4,564–5,930 birds	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding (-)	200–250 pairs	B2
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis	LC	winter (1995)	5,900 birds	A4i, B1i
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio	LC	breeding (-)	50 pairs	B2
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1993–1999)	27,511–49,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding (-)	40–50 pairs	B1i, B2
Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan	VU	winter (1995)	1,000 birds	A4ii, B1ii
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	breeding (-)	30–35 pairs	B2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (-)	76 pairs	B1i, B2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	passage (-)	3,200 birds	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (1992)	200–250 pairs	B2
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea	LC	breeding (-)	475–500 pairs	B2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	passage (1987)	3,200 birds	A4i, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	winter (1999–2002)	176–210 birds	A1, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	passage (1992)	180 birds	A1
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus	LC	breeding (-)	40–50 pairs	B2
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding (-)	250–300 pairs	B1i
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	breeding (-)	65–115 pairs	B1i, B2
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus	LC	passage (1992–1993)	3,000–41,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina	LC	breeding (-)	4–5 pairs	B2
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria	LC	breeding (1987)	125–175 pairs	B3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (-)	23,140–93,132 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 (2017) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1979	Kizilirmak Deltasi	Game Reserve (-)	17
1994	Kýzýlýrmak Delta	SIT (Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No. 2863) (-)	35

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Doğa ve Yaban Hayatı Koruma Derneği	2004

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	70
Forest	5	Alluvial and very wet forest
Marine Intertidal	5

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	60
agriculture	20
tourism/recreation	15
hunting	15
other	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kızılırmak Delta (Türkiye). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kızılırmak-delta-iba-türkiye on 23/12/2024.