1 
THE MIGRATION OF WADERS AND OTHER WATERBIRDS THROUGH INLAND WETLANDS IN 
CENTRAL TURKEY, SPRING 1988 
Marc van Roomen & Hans Schekkerman 
During the last few decades, much research has been carried out on the 
migration of waders and other waterbirds in the East-Atlantic Flyway. 
More recently the eastern part of the Mediterranean area has also received 
attention in this respect, mainly because it has become clear that some 
populations of waders wintering in western Africa migrate to their 
Siberian breeding grounds via the eastern Mediterranean, as well as those 
birds wintering in northeastern Africa. 
So far, systematic work on wader populations in this area has been largely 
restricted to coastal areas, both in winter and, more recently, in spring 
(South Turkey Project 1989, Marteijn & Meininger in prep). However, the 
species involved in this region are often not restricted to coastal 
wetlands, but can be found in a wide variety of wetland habitats. Inland 
wetlands may be particularly important for these species because 
large-scale tidal areas are scarce. So far, systematic data on the use of 
inland wetlands in the eastern Mediterranean during migration have been 
lacking . 
Between 1 April and 25 May 1988, an expedition organised by the Dutch 
Working Group for International Wader and Waterfowl Research (WIWO) 
studied the spring migration of waders and other waterbirds in several 
wetland areas on the central plateau of Turkey. At the same time, another 
WIWO group conducted a similar study at Eber G61U, situated further west. 
The main purposes of the Central Anatolia Project were assessing numbers 
and migration patterns of waders and other waterbirds on several steppe 
lakes on the Anatolian plateau, collecting information on the origin of 
birds using these wetlands, and carrying out observations on habitat 
preferences, feeding behaviour and feeding conditions. 
Five wetland areas (Tuzla GblU, Kiilli Gblu, Seyfe Colli, Yay Gblli/ 
Sultansazligi and Tuz Gblli; figure 1) varying in size, salinity and 
vegetation were visited regularly. A base camp was established at Tuzla 
Gblli. Between 3 April and 27 May, 15 counts were carried out here, and 
3-5 counts each in the other areas. The most numerous wader species were 
Ruff Philomachus pugnax (sum of maximum numbers in individual areas: 9600) 
Little Stint Calidris minuta (4900), Avocet Recurvirostra avocetra (1384), 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus (700), Dunlin Calidris alpina 
(b70), Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (570) and Wood Sandpiper 
Tringa glareola (400). Other interesting waders observed were Red-necked 
Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (85), Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola 
f alcinellus (41), Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenault ii (25; 
breeding confirmed) and Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus (1). Figure 2 
shows the migration patterns of some species, based on regular counts at 
Tuzla Gblli and Kiilli Gblli. 
