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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	breeding	1989-1996	20 breeding pairs	A1, B2
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	winter	1990	267-539 individuals	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	non-breeding	-	215-2,283 individuals	A4i, B1i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding	1989-1996	5 breeding pairs	A1, B1i, B2
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	passage	1998	121 individuals	A1, A4i, B1i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina	LC	breeding	1994	300-400 breeding pairs	B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding	1991	30-50 breeding pairs	A1, B2
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding	1989-1996	20 breeding pairs	B2
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter	1999	5,710-23,732 individuals	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	passage	1992-1994	6,500-59,150 individuals	A4i, B1i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding	1989-1996	20 breeding pairs	B1i, B2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	winter	-	43-150 individuals	B1i
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	passage	1988	138 individuals	B1i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	breeding	1989-1996	75 breeding pairs	B2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding	1997	70-100 breeding pairs	B2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	passage	1992-1996	50-850 individuals	A1, B1i
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus	LC	breeding	1994-2000	50-200 breeding pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B3
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	passage	1994	2,115 individuals	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding	1994	200 breeding pairs	B1i
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii	LC	breeding	-	50-100 breeding pairs	B1i, B2
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding	1989-1996	100 breeding pairs	B2
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus	LC	breeding	1989-1996	20 breeding pairs	B2
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	breeding	1989-1996	50 breeding pairs	B2
Little Tern Sternula albifrons	LC	breeding	1989-1996	100 breeding pairs	B2
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding	1989-1996	400 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, B2
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica	LC	breeding	1989-1996	50 breeding pairs	B2
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	1999	27,373 individuals	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	-	27,258-129,801 individuals	A4iii

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2004) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Sultansazligi	SIT (Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No. 2863)	39
1994	Sultan Marshes	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	39
2006	Sultan Marshes	National Park	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Standing brackish and salt water, Water fringe vegetation	55
Grassland	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland	40
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land	5

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	50
tourism/recreation	20
not utilised	20
agriculture	10
other	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sultan Marsh (Türkiye). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sultan-marsh-iba-türkiye on 22/11/2024.