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close| Location | Turkey, Van |
| Central coordinates | 43o 37.00' East 38o 39.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 20,380 ha |
| Altitude | 1,890 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information This site is important for breeding and passage waterbirds.
Site description A highly alkaline lake (max. depth 30 m) situated in a tectonic depression 20 km east of Lake Van (site 096). It has steep rocky shores on the northern and western sides; in the east and south the shores are shallow with mudflats. The Memedik river enters the lake in the east, forming a small delta with reedbeds (Phragmites) and wet meadows. Human activities include stock-grazing.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea | non-breeding | - | 3,030-9,000 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna | non-breeding | 1989 | 2,500 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | breeding | - | 2-3 breeding pairs | - | A1, B2 | Endangered |
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | non-breeding | 2000 | 18-39 individuals | - | A1 | Endangered |
| Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis | non-breeding | - | 3,500-4,430 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus | breeding | 2000 | 350 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | non-breeding | 1989 | 2,000 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus | breeding | - | 75-85 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii | breeding | - | 10-15 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica | non-breeding | 2001 | 365 individuals | - | B1i | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 5% |
| not utilised | 95% |
Management considerations The water-level has risen dramatically in recent years, inundating a village, 1,000 ha of arable land and meadows, and the Turkey- Iran railway. DSÝ plans to construct a hydroelectric power- station west of the lake˜the ecological impacts of this proposal are unknown.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Erçek Lake. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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