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close| Location | Turkey, Bursa |
| Central coordinates | 28o 29.00' East 40o 23.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 6,971 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 20m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information This site is important for breeding, wintering and passage waterbirds. Several species of woodpecker also breed. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (one of the few confirmed Turkish sites).
Site description A complex of coastal lakes, marshes and forests on the southern shores of the Sea of Marmara, where the Kocaçay river enters the sea. The western half of the delta comprises two lagoons, reedbeds (Phragmites), extensive Fraxinus, Alnus and Salix alluvial forest, and a wide dune strip. The eastern half is more open with one large lagoon, arable land, orchards, dunes, reedbeds and Salicornia- and Tamarix-covered mudflats. Human activities include cattle-grazing.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | breeding | - | 70 breeding pairs | - | A1, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | - | 10 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus | passage | - | 800 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | passage | 1994 | 63-150 individuals | - | A1 | Least Concern |
| Common Coot Fulica atra | winter | 1996 | 42,610 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | breeding | - | 70-90 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | breeding | - | 80 breeding pairs | - | B1i, B2 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | - | 27,986-46,291 individuals | - | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 40% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 15% |
| Coastline | Lagoons; Sand dunes & beaches | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 15% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 10% |
| forestry | 5% |
| hunting | 5% |
| tourism/recreation | 5% |
| not utilised | 60% |
Management considerations Forests and other natural habitats are cleared for arable land and Populus plantations. Yeniköy is developing as a tourist centre and further expansion eastward should be halted. Sand-dunes are destroyed to fulfil the demand for sand. Housing complexes are encroaching from the east; the recent demolition of illegally built houses indicates this is now less of a threat. The effects of urban and industrial pollution on the delta's ecology are unknown. Effective management of the wetland is constrained by disputes over land ownership.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kocaçay Delta. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013
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