Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
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periods, am<strong>on</strong>g the birds observed in high numbers are stork (Cic<strong>on</strong>ia cic<strong>on</strong>ia) (12439),<br />
great white pelican (Pelecanus <strong>on</strong>ocrotalus) (1550), flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)<br />
(5000), Eurasian spo<strong>on</strong>bill (Platalea leucorodia) (147), dunlin (Calidris alpina) (650) and<br />
ruff (Philomachus pugnax) (3200).<br />
In 2005, 163 bird species are observed in the site. Am<strong>on</strong>g these 48 bird species are<br />
recorded as breeding in the site. Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) 390 couples,<br />
little tern (Sterna albifr<strong>on</strong>s) 357 couples, collared pranticole (Glareola pratincola) 79<br />
couples, spur-winged plover (Vanellus spinosus) 12 couples, Smyrna kingfisher (Halcy<strong>on</strong><br />
smyrnensis) 2 couples and marbled duck (Marmar<strong>on</strong>etta angustirostris) 1 couple are the<br />
species that provide justificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the important bird area criteri<strong>on</strong>.<br />
3.259 waterbirds are counted in 2005 mid-winter waterbird census and 32.954 in 2010.<br />
Mammals<br />
Ceyhan Delta supports 35 mammal species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 families. Egyptian m<strong>on</strong>goose<br />
(Herpestes ichneum<strong>on</strong>), a rare mammal species, ranges in Aleppo pine forest. The<br />
Egyptian m<strong>on</strong>goose is thought to be endangered and its populati<strong>on</strong> is decreasing due to<br />
degradati<strong>on</strong> in its habitats.<br />
Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), European hare (Lepus europaeus), gray dwarf<br />
hamster (Crice-tulus migratorius), Nehring's blind mole rat (Nannospalax nehringi),<br />
black rat (Rattus rattus), gray wolf (Canis lupus), European badger (Meles meles) and<br />
European otter (Lutra lutra) are am<strong>on</strong>g the mammal species in the site.<br />
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS<br />
Past and Current Land Use<br />
The great part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ceyhan Lower Basin used to comprise fresh and saltwater marshes,<br />
meadows, sand dunes and lago<strong>on</strong>s until the end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1940s. However, the site has started<br />
to change due to the flood c<strong>on</strong>trols by the dams c<strong>on</strong>structed <strong>on</strong> Ceyhan River.<br />
Following the flood c<strong>on</strong>trols, natural areas started to be transformed into agriculture<br />
lands. Since the sandy soil is appropriate for peanut producti<strong>on</strong> and with the increasing<br />
early greenhouse vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> this process has accelerated. The transformati<strong>on</strong><br />
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