iSTANBUL frNiv:ERSiTESi FEN FAKULTESi

BiYOLO]i DERGiSi
ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY FACUL1Y OF SCIENCE
THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY

Bahtiyar Kurt, Ciineyt KUBAN<;

A Preliminary Survey on Breeding Bird Species of Gok9eada
Gok9eada'nm Ornito-Faunas1 (Jzerine BirOn <;al!ma

CiltNolume 66

Yll/Year 2003-2004

istanbul - 2005

Istanbul Oniversitesi
Fen FakOitesi
Biyo!oji Dergisi
(20032004) 66: 4556

Istanbul University
Faculty of Science
The Journal of Biology
(20032004) 66: 4556

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING

BIRD SPECIES OF GOKCEADA
Bahtiyar KURT, Cuneyt KUBAN<;
Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology,
Vezneciler 34459 Istanbul-Turkey

SUMMARY

This article presents the results of the survey held in May 2000. Prestudies for
this survey were completed in May, June and July 1999 in order to determine the spots
for transect counts. Gokgeada is an Aegean island that is not much known in
ornithological aspects historically. During the study, transect counts were undertaken in
ten different transects, representing different habitat types. Authors recorded 63 nonpasseriformes species all of which were determined to be breeding during the study. In
addition to its Mediterranean type of maquis, other habitats such as rangelands,
.croplands and plantations present suitable breeding habitats to birds. Consequently, the
island has an important conservation value and open to future ornithological researches.
Key Words: Gokgeada, breeding, bird, bird habitat, transect.

GOKyEADA'NIN ORNiTO-FAUNASI UZERiNE BiRON 9ALI$MA

Bu gali~ma 1999 May1s, Haziran ve Temmuz'da transekt say1m noktalann1

belirlemek amac1yla yap1lan on incelemeleri tamamlanan, May1s 2000 gali~masmm
sonuglann1 sunmaktad1r. Ege Denizi'nde bulunan Gokgeada'nm ornito-faunas1 gegmi~te
sistematik bir bigimde incelenmemi~tir. Qali~ma Slrasmda habitat ge~itleri goz 6nunde
bulundurularak 10 ayn transekt belirlenmi~tir. Adada Passeriformes'e ait olmayan 63 ayn
tOr ve bunlann uredikleri tespit edilmi~tir. Adada bulunan makiliklerin yam s1ra meralar,
tanm alanlan ve agaglandmlm1~ bolgeler ku~lara uygun ureme habitatlan sunmaktadir.
Sonugta ada korumac11ik ag1smdan onemlidir ve detayli ornitolojik galimalara ag1kt1r.
Anahtar Sozciikler: Gokgeada, ureme, ku~. ku~ habitat1, transekt.

F. 4

BAHTIYAR KURT- CUNEYT KUBAN9

INTRODUCTION

G6k9eada is the biggest Turkish island in the NE Aegean Sea (40 07'
north, 25 40' east) covering an area of 279 km 2 with coastal length of 92 km.
The island is covered with sedimentary rocks from the Tertiary Time; G6k9eada
with its very rough surface is made up from volcanic masses. The 77% of the
surface of the island covered by mountains, 12% of rough surfaces and 10% of
flat lands. More than eight thousand inhabitants live in 11 villages with some of
them being unoccupied at the moment. Main milestones of local economy are
farming (wheat, watermelon, apple etc.), olive and honey production. Although
the summer tourism is not developed in G6k9eada, winter tourism is relatively
better due to island's attraction for terrestrial hunters. Main game animal
attracting the hunters in G6k9eada is Chukar A/ectoris chukar according to the
local authority of the Ministry of Forestry (MoF).
Although the ornitho-fauna of the island was not surveyed previously, an
excurtion made in 1999 by Dr. COneyt Kuban9 revealed that Yellow-legged
Gulls, Barn Owl and Lesser Spotted Eagle were breeding in the island.
Moreover, a few number of Audouin's Gulls were present in 1999 during the
breeding season and hence suspected to breed around.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The survey has been carried out between 20 and 22 of May 2000.
Between these dates the island's normal climate conditions are 152 C of
temperature at most with rain however during the survey the visibility was clear
and the temperature was above 1
also no winds were encountered
considered as a characteristic of the island. The suitability of the study dates
has been determined in order to record both migrating and resident species.
The latter has a tendency to breed earlier than the former. Furthermore, authors
decided to undertake transect counts methodology during the study period (1 ).
The number of total individuals was recorded and a figure of total breeding
population presented for each species. In order to cover the entire habitat types
present in the island, authors determined 10 different transects (See Figure 1).
This was in order to find the maximum number of breeding birds. Before the
fieldwork, estimates of habitat types, and thus the position of transects, have
been identified by relevant maps and previous experience of Kuban9.

ac

46

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING BIRD SPECIES OF GOKQEADA

,,

..
Figure 1: The distribution of ten transects in G6k9eada Breeding Bird Survey.

During the survey, each transect was visited only once. Two
transects were surveyed in the morning session and a transect was
surveyed in the evening. In the last day, an additional transect was
added to the evening counts. In total, one and half hour was spent for
each transect. As a principle, morning counts started at 07:00 and
evening counts at 16:30 in order to get the maximum bird activity (Bibby
et at., 1998). However, special interest and time was given to the
Aydmc1k Area after the transect work, where the breeding colony of gulls
was present.
In order to indicate the breeding status of the species, Breeding
Categories and Codes of the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Bird
(Hagemeijer and Blair, 1997) were used (See Table 1). The species
without any indication of breeding said to be migrating or late wintering
and are not evaluated within the scope of this article.

47

BAHTIYAR KURT- CUNEYT KUBANQ

Table 1: Breeding categories and codes (EBCC European Bird Atlas).

A:

Possible breeding
Species Observed in breeding season in possible nesting habitat

2
B:

Singing male(s) present (or breeding calls heard) in breeding season

Probable breeding

Pair observed in suitable nesting habitat in breeding season

Permanent territory presumed through registration of territorial behaviour (song,

etc.) on at least two different days a week o more apart at the same place

Courtship and display

Visiting probable nesting site

Agitated behaviour or anxiety calls from adults

Brood patch on adult examined in the hand

Nest building or excavating nest-hole

C:

Confirmed breeding

10

Distraction-display or injury feigning

11

Used nest or eggshells found (occupied or laid within period ol survey)

12

Recently fledged young (nidicolous species) or downy young (nidifugous species)

13

Adult entering or leaving nest-site in circumstances indicating occupied nest

(including high nests or nest-holes, the contents of which can not be seen) or
adult seen incubating

14

Adult carrying faecal sac or food for young

15

Nest containing eggs

16

Nest with young seen or heard

Moreover, the habitat types were recorded in each transects and

rough habitat percentage estimates are given in the Table 2.

48

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING BIRD SPECIES OF GOKQEADA

Table 2:

Transects

T1

Rough percentages estimates of habitat covered and number of breeding

species in each of the transects.
Average percentages of habitat
covered(%)

Number of
Breeding Birds

Garden 40; stony hill 40; cropfield 20

23

T2

Maquis 10; marshe 25; lake 60; sand dune 5

14

T3

Sand dune 85; stony hill10; cropfield 5

T4

Maquis with running water 70; olive tree 15; urban 15

23

T5

Maquis 25; cropfield 25; rangeland 20; open wood 15;

open water (reservoir) 15

16

T6

Olive growing 80; maquis 20

10

T7

Open water (reservoir) 30; maquis 65; olive trees 5

T8

Maquis with running water 95; olive growing 5

20

T9

Rangeland 85; urban 15

17

Callabrian Pine 50; Callabrian plantation 25; maquis 25

12

T10

HABITAT

Gokgeada is covered mainly with maquis, Callabrian Pine Pinus

brutia forest and plantations, lakes (mostly artificial reservoirs) and
rangelands. Moreover, olive growings, crop fields, gardens, unoccupied
villages and urban areas present different habitats for birds. The
Callabrian Pine Pinus brutia is the most widespread natural tree species
throughout the island. Although there are natural patches of forest, the
bigger proportion is planted under the re-plantation scheme by the local
branch of MoF. In Gokgeada a patch of Stone Pine Pinus pinea was also
recorded in the NE part. According to MoF's management plan, which
was completed in sixties, coverage of the forest is 4200 hectares.
However, air map of the island (completed in eighties) showed that the
total area of forest is 72000 hectares again according to the information
by the MoF authorities.
In addition to the presence of different types of natural and artificial
habitats in the island, Ayd1nc1k Area stands as the most important part in
terms of habitat with the natural lake along the coast surrounded by
marshes, sand dunes and hills with maquis.

49

BAHTiYAR KURT- CUNEYT KUBANQ

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

G6kgeada has not been studied systematically in terms of

ornithology in the past. However, few records of breeding birds can be
found in Songbirds of Turkey (Karauz et at., 1997). Its Mediterranean
type of habitat features as well as sand dunes with a salty lake in
Ayd1nc1k Area, Gokgeada presents a perfect combination of habitat for
the breeding species. As a result, 63 bird species were recorded to
breed with 7 of them were confirmed to be breeding during the survey.
This high number of breeding birds shows the importance of the island in
terms of ornithology and presents a late discovery for the Turkish
ornithology.
The European threat status of the recorded species was given in
the Table 3 and 4 (Oro et at., 1998). During the survey, two species with
SPEC 1 status were observed (Species of European Concern - See
Table 5). Moreover, 5 species of status SPEC 2, 20 species of SPEC 3
and 12 species of SPEC 4 category were also identified to breed in the
island. These figures also show the importance of the island in terms of

conservation priority.
A small population of Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii, was
observed in Ayd1nc1k Area (SE part of the Island). This species was
recorded from four other Aegean islands before (Roselaar, 1995;
Stattersfield and Capper, 2000) and is a conservation dependent bird
according to Birdlife International (Tucker and Heath, 1994). During the
survey 3 individuals were continuously observed among the Yellowlegged Gull colony. However, neither incubating birds nor a juvenile
were observed during the time spent arnong the colony. Although the
importance of having exact figures on the status of the species is quite
high, the authors did not spent the necessary time in the Yellow-legged
Gull colony in order to prevent the disturbance. Consequently, the
presence of the species in the right time of the year indicated the
possibility of breeding. Moreover, we showed the presence of the
species in the breeding season in 1999 as well. Audouin's Gull is known
to be threatened by the Yellow-legged Gull presence in the past (Voous,
1960). Oro et at. (1998) states that "predation is a threat only in small
colonies or sub-colonies" which is the case in G6k9eada. Therefore the
Yellow-legged Gull rnight have forced the Audouin's Gull to breed later.
Karauz Welch et at.,(1996) gives the figures of the Turkish breeding
distributions of the species and furthermore, Oro et at.,(1998) gives the
Turkish breeding population figure as 30 to 40 pairs with a trend of slight
50

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING BIRD SPECIES OF GOKQEADA

decrease. The presence of the species in the G6k<;:eada Region had not
been mentioned before in the literature and hence, a detailed future
study is necessary for the confirmation of the status of the species in the
island.
Table 3:

Number of individuals seen in each transect, estimated total population of

breeding pairs, European Breeding Atlas Codes (See Table 1) and SPEC
Category (See Table 5) of non-passerines.

SPECIES

"'c

.
0

"'c

...E

"'c "'c "'c

0

...E

"'c
~~
E'S 'i5

Wo. Ill

87

A1

A1

A1

A1
85
A1

A1

A1

83

85

1
1
1
2

A1

1
2
1

(f)

0.

C16

1
1

1
3

"'

(.)
(.)

c -:=:c.
E
0 0

26

1
95

Shelduck Tadorna tadoma

Black Kite Mi/vus migrans
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gaflicus
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo

Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Common Kestrel Falco tinnuncu/us
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
Peregrine Falcon Fa/co peregrinus
Chukar Afectoris chukar
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus
himantopus
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Little Ringed Plover Charaddus dubius
Audouin's GuU Larus audouinii
Ye!lowlegged Gull Larus cachinnans
Rock Dove Columba Iivia
Collared Dove Slreptopefia decaocto
Turtle Dove Streptopefia turtur
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Scops Owl Otus scops
Little Owl Athene noctua
European Beeeater Merops apiaster
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

...E ...E

~
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Ruddy She!duck Tadoma ferruginea

'0

2
1

A1

83

1
3

A2

83

C15

4/3

1
1

A1

A1

1200

600 C13
6
83

2
2
1

A1
1

.
.

85

85

C16

1
2
7
2

4
1

2
2
1

54
1

A2

A1

C11

A2

51

BAHTIYAR KURT- CUNEYT KUBANQ

Table 4: Number of individuals seen in each transect, estimated total population of

breeding pairs, European Breeding Atlas Codes (See Appendix 2) and SPEC
Category (See Appendix 3) of passerines.
c

,
0

"' "u
"1i"' "'c
E '5

"'
u

al

(fj

SPECIES

-
~

.,
"'c "'c ...c c "'c ...c c "'c c
~ ~ ~ ~ t-e t-e t-e t-e ~

Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Wood Lark Lu!lula arborea
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Yellow Wagtail Motacilfa f/ava
Whinchat Saxicota rubetra
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe
oenanthe
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe
hispanica
Blackbird Turdus merula
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti

O!ivaceous warbler Hippofais pal/ida

2
1
1

4
1

7
1

3
15
1

1
1
6
24
2

1
24

12

2
3

2
12
1
1
2

5
2

2
1

3
3

83
85
83

1
16

83
A2

11

83

26
1

A2

A2

25

A2

A2

10

C13

A2

1
2
14

84
A1
A2

3
1
13

83

20
18

83
A1

6
16
29

C16
85
C16

2
4

16
16
7

A2
89
A2

3
2

2
1

6
1

15
1
2

3
2

85
85

A1

1
5

4
4
12
6

9
5

9
1

0.

11

1
1

~
w

6
2

1ll

melanocephala
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

52

2
1

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantiflans

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia

Long-tailed Tit Aegitha/os caudatus

Great Tit Parus major
Blue Tit Parus caeru/eus
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Red-backed Shrike Lanius col/urio
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Hooded Crow Corvus corone
Raven Corvus corax
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Chaffinch Frlngilla coelebs
Greenfinch Carduelis ch/on's
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Cir! Bunting Emberiza cirlus
Rock Bunting Emben'za Cia
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
Black-headed Bunting_Emben'za
melanocephala
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra

"

2
7
3

6
2

A1
82

.
4
4

83
A2

13

A2

11

A2

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING BIRD SPECIES OF GOKQEADA

Table 5: The Species of European Concern - Definition of the threat statuses.

SPEC1

Species of global concern because they are classified as Globally Threatened,

Conservation Dependent or Data Deficient in Birds to Watch 2: the World List
of Threatened Birds.

SPEC2

Species whose global population are concentrated in Europe (i.e. more than
50% of their global population or range in Europe) and which have an
Unfavourable Conservation Status in Europe.

SPEC3

Species whose global population are not concentrated in Europe, but which
have an Unfavourable Conservation Status in Europe.

SPEC4

Species whose global population are concentrated in Europe (i.e. more than
50% of their global population or range in Europe), but which have a
Favourable Conservation Status in Europe.

In Ayd1nc1k area, the Yellow-legged Gull colony constitutes the

unique waterbird colony of the island. 600 pairs of Yellow-legged Gull
were observed incubating at the slopes of a rocky hill as well as on the
beach by the lake. Historically, we confirmed that species had breed in
the same area in 1999. This colony is also a new finding and must be
considered in the future population updates for the species.
Ayd1nc1k Area is the most important part of the island in
ornithological point of view. List of breeding species for Aydincik region
includes Avocet, Ruddy Shelduck, Shelduck and Black-winged Stilt (See
Table 3). Furthermore, we observed that a small population of Greater
Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, which has a wide distribution in NW
Greece (Roselaar 1995; Stattersfield and Capper, 2000) also latewinters in the same lake. Future conservation works must give priority to
the area due to its uniqueness among the island.
During the survey, 12 species of raptors recorded with 5 of them
breeding probably in the island (See Table 3). Additionally, having
conversations with the residents and the shepherds in the island, it was
learnt that Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus were present during
whole year and preying on the livestock of the locals. During the survey,
Peregrine Falcons were observed carrying food through the Kaleki:iy
area where they probably breed in the cliffs by the sea. A globally
threatened species Lesser Kestrels Falco neumayer were observed in
53

BAHTIYAR KURT- CUNEYT KUBANQ

the island as well. Again, the need for more detailed survey arises in
order to clarify the breeding status of raptors in the island.
In Gokgeada, presence of a healthy Raven Corvus corax
population is particularly note of interest. In half of the transects, at least
a pair was present and in total, minimum 6 pairs assumed to breed in the
island with one nest was seen having two recently fledged chicks. In the
island, Raven is very well known by the locals and not appreciated due
to its predation on recently born lambs. Therefore Raven is claimed to be
harming the local economy. However, the locals did not seem to take
special measures to this situation. In 1997 shooting Ravens, for pest
control was put into use (Raven is listed as pest species in Turkish
Terrestrial Hunting Law). However, no individuals could be killed during
the process. Nevertheless, more attention should be paid into this
situation in order to guaranty the future of this healthy Raven population
in the island.
Moreover, Gokgeada can be considered as an important migration
root for the soaring birds, which are using the Aegean Sea for migration.
21 White Storks, 2 Black Storks, 2 Buzzards and a Honey Buzzard were
observed, all of them have stopped for foraging on the island during the
fieldwork period.
Although Gokgeada is a relatively undisturbed land in terms of
human pressure, it is facing some threats, which might cause serious
problems in the near future. In sixties, the local governor has banned the
grazing of domestic goats in order to support olive growing in the island.
This had a positive effect on growing natural shrubs, which is an
important habitat for the existing fauna. However, in recent years illegal
grazing of the goats increased and had a negative effect on the flora,
especially on shrubs. Local authorities should pay more attention on this
issue to ensure the protection of the existing flora in the island.
Furthermore, terrestrial hunting tourism is one of the main income
of the locals during the winter. According to information by the Local
MoF authorities not less than a thousand hunters were visiting the island
each year for hunting purposes. The local authorities should establish an
effective control mechanism in order to prevent any threats to the

54

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON BREEDING BIRD SPECIES OF GOK<;EADA

wildlife, especially to the populations of resident Chukar and other

migrating bird species. Lastly, islands low human population status is
changing currently and it is attracting more immigrants from the
mainland. This will certainly increase the human pressure on the nature
unless the necessary measures are taken.
As a result of the survey in Gok<;eada, following precaution
countermeasures should be considered by the local authorities.
1) It is imperative that not only the avifauna but the whole fauna
should be identified throughly in the island.
2) The island should gain the wildlife conservation area status (28
O.K.A.) before the human pressure increases.
3)

If latter is not possible a special nature conservation area (4

O.K.A.) should be established especially for Ayd1nc1k reagion
and its coastline.

4) An alternative to winter hunting tourism such as nature tourism

should be encouraged by the local authorities.
5) Local human population doesn't seern to have a harming effect
on the wildlife of the island recently, as it has a low density.
However more attention should be paid for illegal grazing of
domestic goats. A large population of sheep is present in the
island having little effect on the flora of the island and also
serving as a favourable source of food to the raptors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank Uygar Ozesmi from Erciyes University for
his comments on the article, Guven Eken for sharing his data, Ersin
Gurbuz from Ministry of Forestry local branch for sharing his experience
and Nilufer Norman for her proofreading the text for us.

55

BAHTIYAR KURT- CONEYT KUBANQ

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56