A Study on Ornithofauna of Göründü Marshes (Van/Türkiye)

Abstract

This research was carried out in Göründü Marshes within the borders of Van province between March 2023 and March 2024. As a result of the field studies, 71 bird species belonging to 15 orders and 28 families were identified in research area and its surroundings. Of these species, 27 species were resident (% 38), 34 were summer visitors (% 48), 6 were winter visitor (% 8.4 ) and 4 (% 5.6) were transit migrants. The most dominant orders in the area were Passeriformes, Gruiformes Charadriiformes and Anseriformes while the dominance of Ciconiiformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes and Bucerotiformes orders to be less.

The most frequently observed species in the marshes; Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), common pochard (Aythya  ferina), little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), great crested grebe (Podiceps  cristatus), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea),  Western marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and black headed gull (Larus ridibundus).

When the bird species recorded in Göründü Marshes were examined in terms of their danger status according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria, it was seen that 1 species was in the VU "Vulnerable = Sensitive" category (Aythya ferina-common pochard) and 2 species were in the NT "Near Threatened" category (Vanellus vanellus-Northern lapwing and Limosa limosa-black tailed godwit). According to the Bern Convention, 44 of the bird species are listed in Annex II