Numbers of breeding pairs of flamingoes at the Tuz Lake may show high fluctuations. In 2014, 2650 breeding pairs were counted at the site while this number was 22000 pairs in 2013.
Tuz Lake is the one of the largest Key Biodiversity Areas in Turkey. Being a tectonic originated site, the area is located in a large closed basin called Konya Basin. It is one of the most salty lakes of the world as the density of water, equals to salt ratio of 32.4%. This feature brings an economic value as well, of which 70% of salt used in Turkey is produced from Lake Salt. Several waterbird species breed and over-winter in great variety of freshwater habitats of the lake. These habitats include small islets and swamps being particularly important for flamingoes. The site represents one of the richest and intact halophytic steppe vegetation on Earth with various threatened and endemic plant species.
Doğa monitors the site by taking aerial flights over Tuz Lake and its satellite lakes, with a special emphasis on flamingo breeding colony. This activity is carried out in cooperation with Tour Du Valat. The flights aims at documenting the nesting ground and the habitat change at the lake. Numbers of breeding pairs of flamingoes may show high fluctuations. In 2014, 2650 breeding pairs were counted at the site while this number was 22000 pairs in 2013.
Photograph: © Melih Özbek