Birds may lure tourists to Antalya

Stating that Antalya is home to 75 percent of all the bird species seen in Turkey, Erdoğan says it is possible to observe in Antalya  bird species which are endangered in Europe. Noting that this is mostly related to Antalya's location at a migratory junction for many species of birds, Erdoğan said Turkey can use this natural situation as an asset for tourism. Explaining that over 10 million bird watchers are constantly traveling across the world to look at species, Erdoğan said Antalya could be an indispensable spot for bird watchers. "These species are so valuable that, even though they don't have to, people would pay 100 euros to take a picture of the birds," he said.

Erdoğan said 502 different species of bird have been recorded in the last 50 years in Turkey. "436 of these species are regularly observed. There are 334 of these bird species just in Antalya," he said. Stating that although the Bridge Canyon region is a popular spot for rafting, he said it is also an important nesting area for many bird species, such as the yellow-vented bulbul, Krüper's nuthatch, the griffon vulture and the spur-winged plover. "Many European bird watchers come to Antalya just to see one of these birds.

The crested lark, for example, is almost [never seen] in Europe but is seen in Antalya," he said. Stating that tourists are surprised to see these birds in Antalya, Erdoğan said birds such as the spur-winged plover, which is seen less and less in Europe, have laid over 50 eggs in the region.

"European [visitors] can encounter Krüper's nuthatch for the first time in Turkey. If this potential for tourism is capitalized upon, the tourist demographic of the region will also change," he said.

Erdoğan also said as part of a project that they conducted in cooperation with German conservationists between 2002 and 2006 in the Titreyengöl region of Manavgat district, they ringed 121 different bird species with Turkish bands.

"According to data provided by the European Union for Bird Ringing [EURING], migratory birds which set out from Turkey reached 18 European countries. One bird ringed in Titreyengöl reached Finland, which is the furthest point north that the birds traveled.

Erdoğan also drew attention to the protection of these species and said Turkish children still regard birds as animals to be hunted, and this is a reason to organize training programs for children to raise public awareness about bird diversity.