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Coşkun highlights, this diversity is in direct connection to the region’s unique microclimates. “Within just a few kilometers, you can move from a desert-like beach ecosystem to forested cliffs with rivers running through,” he explains. “That’s why we’re able to observe desert birds like the Hooded wheatear Keşiş kuyrukkakanı (Oenanthe deserti), desert wheatear çöl kuyrukkakanı (Oenanthe cypriaca), Pied wheatear Alaca Kuyrukkakan (Oenanthe pleschanka) and desert warbler çöl ötleğeni (Curruca nana), near the coast, and completely different species as soon as we approach the forested areas.”
One of the most important hotspots for birds in the city is Boğaçayı, situated in Konyaaltı district of Antalya where over 220 bird species have been observed. However, the landscaping project that framed the stream with concrete walls back in 2018 disrupted the natural flow and reduced oxygenation at the bottom of the river, leading to excessive aquatic plant growth that must now be manually cut by the municipality. The landscaping project continues to cause habitat loss in and around the stream.
Küçük ak balıkçıl (Egretta garzetta) is listed as near threatened in the national red list.
Tarakdiş (Mergus serrator) is listed as near threatened in both national and Europe red lists.
Kaşıkgaga (Spatula clypeata), is listed as endangered in the national red list.
Çamurcun (Anas crecca), is listed as near threatened in the national red list.
Suna (Tadorna tadorna), is listed as vulnerable in the national red list.
Mavigerdan (Luscinia svecica), is listed as vulnerable in the national red list.
“Efforts should focus on protecting the local flora and fauna and preserving the natural landscape” says Coşkun criticizing the mentality behind changing the landscapes of the wetlands by planting foreign plants to make it look good for visitors which has been tried to be done in Boğaçayı.
“The project carried out in Boğaçayı was fundamentally flawed. It attempted to channel seawater into the Boğaçayı stream, but the saltwater harms the local flora and fauna.” says Coşkun adding that this highlights the need for those working in decision-making institutions to have a deeper ecological awareness.
Flamingos and Eurasian Spoonbills (Kaşıkçı) (Platalea leucorodia) used to land in Boğaçayı, but now they only fly over it, unable to land due to the construction that disrupted the natural riverbed. Still, we occasionally spot other rare species like the Red-breasted Merganser (tarakdiş) (Mergus serrator), the Black-necked Grebe, and the Red-necked Grebe (kulaklı ve kızılboyunlu batağan.) says Coşkun which are Near-threatened species according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
We often think of nature in fragments, focusing on endangered species or isolated problems. But nature doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It thrives through symbiotic relationships where organisms depend on one another and their surroundings for survival.
Birds don’t just need Boğaçayı as a landing site; they rely on the fish, circulation of water and native vegetation that grows there all these are in relationship to each other. When the municipality plants non-native species around the river, it disrupts the delicate balance of the ecosystem, altering the relationships that have sustained life in this area for generations.
Antalya’s significance for birdlife is not only ecological but also cultural. The region’s rivers, wetlands, and varied ecosystems have shaped both natural and human history. Many ancient settlements in Antalya were built along rivers, such as Perge, which grew beside the Kestros River, or Olympos, where a river runs directly through the heart of the city. In ancient Greek mythology, Kestros was worshipped as a river god, showing how essential these waterways were to both the spiritual and daily life of the region.
Today, these same rivers remain vital not just for people, but for the many bird species that rely on them as their habitats and along their migration routes. Antalya’s long-standing relationship with its rivers reminds us that protecting these ecosystems means preserving a legacy that connects nature, culture, and history.
