Winter 1991/1992 around the 
Kizilirmak Delta, Turkey 
Lieuwe ] Dijksen and Michel Klemann 
Bird numbers and species composition last winter were quite remarkable 
in the Kizilirmak delta in particular and Turkey as a whole. During the 
mid- winter waterfowl counts, for instance, numbers of White-headed 
Ducks Oxyura leucocephala on Burdur Golii were much lower than usual, 
but the birds seemed to be more widespread over other wetlands. There 
were, however, tens of thousands of the normally scarce Red-headed 
Pochard Netta rufina (pers comm Gemant Magnin and DHKD). 
There were huge numbers of Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus in the 
Kizilirmak delta. Large groups were foraging like Starlings Sturnus 
vulgaris in the wet meadows. 
Along the coast, little Gulls L^rws minutus were more common than usual. 
In the Samsun harbour 2,500 were counted (pers comm Sancar Baris). 
Also the numbers of Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus were 
exceptional. They could be found on every spot of water in the delta, 
even on pools of a few square metres. We did not make a total count, but 
easily came to a number of about 1,000, of which 368 were swimming in 
the fast flowing river itself between Bafra and Korukler Koy . The total for 
the whole delta and adjacent sea must have been several thousands, 
many more than counted in the mid-winter waterfowl counts of 1970- 
1973 and 1986-1990. 
Many of the grebes were in a very bad condition and /or were dying. 
They hardly showed any fear, and most were not foraging. At sea, 
feeding conditions were poor because of the strong winds and 
subsequently high waves. In the pools and canals hundreds died in 
fishermen's nets, while hunters also took their toll. To a lesser extent the 
same applied to Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricolHs. 
Much of these phenomena could be explained by severe winter conditions 
in the northern parts of the Black Sea but unfortunately we can not 
confirm this. 
Lieuwe } Dijksen and Michel Klemann, Fonteinsweg 9, NL-1797 RK Den Hooth 
Texel, The Netherlands 
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