Kızılırmak Delta Wetland and Bird Sanctuary (KDWBS)
Samsun/TURKEY

The boundary(ies) of the KDWBS

• The Kızılırmak Delta Wetland and Bird Sanctuary (KDWBS) is located in the Black Sea Cost in Samsun Province of Turkey. The KDWBS is 0-15 m above sea level and is made up of fresh and semi-saline lakes, stable and moving sand dunes, reed beds, marshes, flooded grasslands and forest. The delta has be a designated Ramsar site since 1998 and is protected by the Turkish Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets (2863 - 23.07.1983), the Regulation on Protection of Wetlands (04.04.2014 Number of Official Gazette: 28962) and the Terrestrial Hunting Law (4915- 01.07.2003). The total area of the KDWBS is 45378 ha. Off these, 21263 ha is nominated heritage site while 24115 ha is the buffer zone. The delta also has first-degree natural-site protection status (the most strictly protected status desigation within the National Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets/2863 - 23.07.1983). Although the high level of protection provides adequate safeguards for the KDWBS, additionally, the agricultural lands in the buffer zones are designated as protected  agricultural sites (decree dated 12.12.2016, number 2016/9620, Official Gazette; 12.12.2016/9620), while the Black Sea coast surrounding the delta has the protection status as natural sites according to the new ecologically based environmental plan of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. The unusual structure of the buffer zones is due to the second-degree natural site protection status granted by the Ministry in a recent natural-site boundary work awaiting approval by the Ministry which will ensure that the KDWBS is efficiently safeguarded.
   
• Coastal sand dunes connect the two main zones of KDWBS, to the east and  west of the Kızılırmak river. In the eastern zone, six shallow lakes (Liman, Balık, Uzun, Cernek, Gıcı and Tatlı) and areas of flooded mixed ash-alder forest are bordered by the sea to north and east, and agricultural land to the south. Three small areas were added to the buffer zone due to the presence of a single small settlement with legally disputed property. The western zone  includes Karaboğaz and Mülk Lakes, with the sea to the west and agricultural lands on the south and east. Again, small privately owned farms excluded from KDWBS have been included as buffer zones. These two large natural areas are linked by 2km wide Black Sea coastal buffer zones. The delta also has small isolated fragments of forestry that are already protected by the Turkish Forest Law (6831-31.08.1956). These woods serve as useful stepping stones for birds to use as nesting sites and find prey.
This is a list of Latin, English and Turkish birds in the Kızılırmak Delta and their status in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species

1. Vanellus gregarius Sociable plover Sürmeli kızkuşu
   Critically endangered, vagrant
2. Oxyura leucocephala White-headed duck Dikkuyruk
   Endangered, breeding, recent arrival, wintering
3. Neophron percnopterus Egyptian vulture Küçük akbaba
   Endangered, vagrant
4. Aquila nipalensis Steppe eagle Bozkır kartalı
   Endangered, vagrant
5. Falco cherrug Saker falcon Ulu doğan
   Endangered, passage migrant
6. Podiceps auritus Slavonian grebe Kulaklı batağan
   Vulnerable, vagrant
7. Puffinus yelkouan Yelkouan shearwater Yelkovan
   Vulnerable, wintering
8. Pelecanus crispus Dalmatian Pelican Tepeli Pelikan
   Vulnerable, breeding, wintering, resident
9. Anser erythropus Lesser white-fronted goose Küçük sakarca
   Vulnerable, vagrant
10. Branta ruficollis Red-breasted goose Sibirya kazı
    Vulnerable, wintering
11. Marmaronetta angustirostris Marbled teal Yaz ördeği
    Vulnerable, vagrant
12. Aythya ferina Pochard Elmabaş patka
    Vulnerable, breeding, wintering, resident
13. Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter Kadife ördek
    Vulnerable, wintering
14. Clanga clanga Greater spotted eagle Büyük orman kartalı
    Vulnerable, wintering
15. Aquila heliaca Imperial eagle Şah kartal
    Vulnerable, passage migrant
16. Otis tarda Great bustard Toy
    Vulnerable, vagrant
17. Streptopelia turtur, Turtle Dove Üveyik
    Vulnerable, breeding, summer migrant
18. Acrocephalus paludicola Aquatic warbler Sarı kamışçın
    Vulberable, vagrant

There are numerous scientific and inventory studies on the natural values of the Kızılırmak Delta. These are the main studies:

·     Dijksen and Kasparek 1985: Birds of Kızılırmak Delta
·     Hustings and Dijk 1994: Bird Census in the Kızılırmak Delta
·     Yarar and Magnin 1997: Important Bird Areas of Turkey.
·     Kılıc and Eken 2004: Important bird areas of Turkey
·     Barıs et al 2010: Kızılırmak Delta, an important natural heritage: Birds
·     Korkmaz and Saglam 2010: Kızılırmak Delta, an important natural heritage: Plants
·     Yeniyurt et al (editors) 2008. Kızılırmak Delta Wetland Management Plan 2008-2012
·     Yeniyurt and Hemmami 2011: Ramsar Sites of Turkey
·     Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs 2014: Terrestrial and fresh water biodiversity inventory of Samsun Province
·     Ministry of Environment and Urbanization 2016: Report on ecological basis of natural sites in Samsun, Sinop, Amasya, Ordu ve Tokat provinces.