IB A Survey Work 1993 
Guy Kirwan 
Introduction 
Between 12 May and 9 June 1993 Mick Davies and I collected data for the 
Birds of Turkey Project (see Bulletin 30: 17). 
Our objectives were: 
1 To continue the programme initiated and organised by DHKD of 
visiting known Important Bird Areas (and identifying new sites) to 
collect data for the formcoming revised Turkey IBA book, due for 
publication in late 1994. 
2 To collect data for the BirdLife International Dispersed Species Project 
by conducting line transects in a variety of habitats not normally 
surveyed by birdwatchers in Turkey. 
Fieldwork was concentrated at wetlands around Van Golii, which have 
received little systematic coverage, and in the montane forests of the 
north east near Ikizdere (Rize province). The following main areas were 
visited: Bitlis province - Ahlat Sazligi; Van province - north and south 
Van Marshes, Erc,ek Golii, Cenge Golii, Bendimahi Deltasi; Dogubayazit 
province - Saz Golii; Mus province - Bulanik; Rize province - Ikizdere, 
Ispir and Sivrikaya. 
Methods 
Transport was by bus, dolmus, hitch-hiking or walking. Daily activities 
were organised so that 30 minute transect counts could be conducted in 
the early morning or evening, to coincide with peaks in bird activity. 
Such surveys were often restricted to peripheral habitats - wet grassland, 
semi-steppe, cultivated areas, rock outcrops - around the site being 
visited. 
Ornithological observations 
Small heronries were found or suspected at most wetland sites, and a 
booming Bittern Botaurus stellaris was at Bulanik, apparently a new 
locality for this species (Kasparek 1986, Kirwan and Martins in prep). Of 
the globally endangered species, Marbled Teal Marmaronet ta angustirostris 
were seen only at south Van Marshes, where at least 2 pairs were present; 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus only at Bulanik where breeding 
was suspected but unproven; and White-headed Duck Oxyura leiicocephala 
was found to be breeding at 3 localities - Cenge Golii, Er^ek Golii and 
Bendimahi Deltasi - but appeared to be absent from Van Marshes. 
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