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

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	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	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% 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 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 (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Sultansazligi	SIT (Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No. 2863) (-)	39
2006	Sultan Marshes	National Park (II)	100

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

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 23/12/2024.