TR001
Meriç Delta


IBA Justification

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
Mute Swan Cygnus olor LC winter (1993–1999) 1,244–8,900 birds A4i, B1i
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC winter (1996–1998) 214–1,200 birds A4i, B1i, B3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU winter (1996) 15,528 birds A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca LC winter (1999) 12,400 birds B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra LC winter (1999) 31,300 birds B1i
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC breeding (1989–1996) 40 pairs B1i, B2
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC passage (2000) 231 birds A4i, B1i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus LC breeding (1989–1996) 100 pairs B2
Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus LC breeding (1989–1996) 50 pairs B2
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax LC breeding (1989–1996) 200 pairs B2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides LC breeding (1989–1996) 300 pairs A4i, B1i, B2
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea LC breeding (1989–1996) 100 pairs B2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC breeding (1993–1994) 400 pairs A4i, B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus NT winter (1993–1998) 51–610 birds A1, A4i, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus LC winter (1994–1998) 128–20,000 birds A1, A4i, B1i
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC winter (1999) 9,300 birds A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC breeding (1994) 300 pairs A4i, B1i
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola LC breeding (1989–1994) 200 pairs A4i, B1i, B2
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC breeding (1989–1996) 200 pairs B2
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LC breeding (1989–1993) 500 pairs A4i, B1i, B2
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga VU winter (-) 6 birds A1
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (-) 48,440–73,212 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

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 moderate 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
Marine Coastal/Supratidal good (>90%) moderate (70–90%) moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) rapid decline (>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 Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1992 Merýc Deltasý SIT (Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No. 2863) (-) 46
2010 Gala Lake National Park (II) 100
2020 Meriç Deltası Wetland of National Importance (-) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial 50 Arable land
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture 25
military 25
fisheries/aquaculture 20
water management 20
hunting 5


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