White Pelican A total of 75 individuals was present, mainly at the 
breeding colony on one of the islands. A single chick was observed, 
but many adults were sitting on nests. The breeding population was 
conservatively estimated at 50 pairs. White Pelican is regularly 
observed at (^ildir Golii during the breeding season, these presumably 
involve birds from the Aktas colony. The only other colonies currently 
known in Turkey are at Seyfe Golii and Eregli Marshes. 
Dalmatian Pelican 35 birds were present on two islands. Five 
appeared to have nests on the same island as the White Pelican 
colony. The total number breeding was estimated at 20 pairs. Other 
known colonies of this globally threatened species in Turkey are at 
Manyas Golii, Biiyiik Menderes and Kizilirmak Deltas, (^amalti 
Tuzlasi and most probably at Aksehir Golii. 
Velvet Scoter A total of 725 individuals including many immatures 
was seen. The site probably holds the largest breeding population of 
Velvet Scoter in Turkey. Three other breeding localities are known at: 
Nemrut Dagi crater lake (Tatvan), Balik Golii and (^ildir Golii. 
Other significant bird species recorded at or around the lake included: 
Greylag Goose Anser anser, Pochard Aythya ferina, Tufted Duck 
A.fuligula, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Montagu's Harrier 
Circus pygargus, Common Crane and Armenian Gull Larus (argenata- 
tus) armenicus. 
The lake is obviously of outstanding ornithological importance; the 
pelican colony is apparently the highest knovm above sea level in the 
Palearctic (A. Crivelli pers. comm.). There is no doubt that under cur- 
rent conditions there is no immediate threat posed to the area and its 
birds, but negotiations between Georgia and Turkey to open the bor- 
der at Aktas have recently started. This may result in dramatically 
increased human activity around the lake, if appropriate measures are 
not taken beforehand. DHKD has therefore approached the relevant 
authorities with the proposal to declare the area as a National Park. 
Acknowledgements 
I am most grateful to Gernant Magnin, Sancar Baris and Guy Kirwan for their 
comments on this article. I would also like to thank the military and forestry 
staff in Ardahan, Kars and ^ildir for their permission and assistance in visit- 
ing this area. This visit was one of a series of systematic field surveys of the 
Turkish Important Bird Areas project, sponsored by Garanti Bank, Turkey 
47 
