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close| Location | Turkey, Istanbul |
| Central coordinates | 28o 43.00' East 41o 4.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i |
| Area | 11,690 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 200m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2004 |
Ornithological information The site holds significant numbers of wintering waterbirds.
Site description A natural brackish lagoon (20 m deep) situated west of Ýstanbul on the Sea of Marmara. Fringe vegetation is confined to an area of reedbed (Phragmites) in the north of the lagoon. Unplanned buildings surround the site; the only relatively undisturbed area lies within the grounds of the nuclear energy research centre and military camp on the east shore. A motorway passes to the north.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | passage | 1995 | 126-160 individuals | - | A1 | Least Concern |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | winter | 1993 | 10,200 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | - | 21,177-21,273 individuals | - | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 10% |
| not utilised | 80% |
| hunting | 10% |
Management considerations The construction of a drinking water reservoir on the Sazlý stream has reduced freshwater inflow˜the lagoon may become more saline as a result of seawater intrusion. Urban and industrial pollution is a problem that will intensify with further development of the lake surrounds.
Protection status National None International None
Related state of the world's birds case studies
- BirdLife Partners are helping to restore island ecosystems by eradicating invasive alien species
- An ambitious eradication project is currently underway on the Antarctic island of South Georgia
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Küçükçekmece Basin. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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