WEBMASTER SAYS :
I am not an Bird Expert , nor I do know a Bird Watch Guide in this region.
However , I will be more then happy if you share your knowledge on this page regarding Birds Species in South West Turkey.
I have tried my best to gather some information about the birds seen in and around Sarigerme, I hope this will help.
Also just a quick note ; in the summer of 2007 i have spotted vast amount of King Fishers at Dalyan River ,it was absolute great joy to watch these fantastic hunters ..Oooh, i must mention the Storks in area too as they visit between mid April to September and dominate the skys , rather georgeous birds , Once the arrival of these birds starts ,i shall add more information on the start page of this website (watch this space)

KOYCEGIZ LAKE (about 30 minutes away from Sarigerme)
Surface Area : 8000
Altitude: Sea level
Protection: Yes
Bird Species in Koycegiz Lake : It hosts huge number of wintering water birds (max. 47.654), including karabatak (max.1525), küçük karabatak (max. 40), Macar ördegi(max.528) and sakarmekenin (max. 34.120).
Main Characteristics: sweet water lake, swamp

MILLAS Gulluk Delta (about 2 hours away from Sarigerme )
Surface Area : 1400
Altitude: Sea level
Protection: N/A
Bird Species in Millas Gulluk Delta : The lake hosts a huge number of wintering water birds (max. 47.654), including cormorant karabatak (max.1525), pygmy cormorant küçük karabatak (max. 40), Red-crested pochard - Macar ördegi(max.528) and coot sakarmeke (max. 34.120).
Main Characteristics: coastal lagoons, swamp

Species List in and around Sarigerme :

King Fisher - not as common (however, I have seen almost every day on Dalyan River in August 2007)

Greater Flamingo - not as common as you'd expect

Purple Heron - very common around the whole area

Grey Heron - not as common as Purple Herons

Squacco Heron - not as common as you'd expect

Little Egret - very common in the area; seen regularly in the wetlands

White Stork - extremely common everywhere in and around Sarigerme.

Mallard - not as common as you'd expect

Golden Eagle – Very rare

Long Legged Buzzard - not as common as you'd expect

Common Buzzard - not as common as you'd expect

Lanner Falcon - not as common as you'd expect

Red Footed Falcon - not as common as you'd expect

Kestrel - very common; seen most days and in most areas around sarigerme

Lesser Kestrel - not as common as you'd expect

Little Owl - common around Sarigerme

Scops Owl - common; heard all over the place (even in daylight)

Coot - not as common as you'd expect

Kentish Plover - not as common as you'd expect

Woodpigeon - fairly common in the farmland areas

Collared Dove - very common everywhere!

Swift - small numbers

Alpine Swift - not as common as you'd expect

Swallow – Very Common ,nesting everywhere

House Martin - common in amongst the swallows.

Roller - not as common as you'd expect

Jay - not as common as you'd expect

Red Backed Shrike - not as common as you'd expect (they were everywhere in the past)

Crested Lark - common on farmland areas

Isabelline Wheatear - not as common as you'd expect

Yellow Wagtail - not as common as you'd expect

Rufus Bushchat - common in the farmland areas.

Reed Warbler - common everywhere

Black-headed Bunting - not as common as you'd expect

Blue Rock Thrush - not as common as you'd expect

Rock Nuthatch - not as common as you'd expect

Spotted Flycatcher - not as common as you'd expect

Raven - not as common as you'd expect

Hooded Crow - very common and seen everywhere, especially farmland and rubbish dump.

Penduline Tit –Unfortunately not as common as you'd expect

Great Tit - common.

Greenfinch - 1 or 2 seen in trees in front of hotel.

Goldfinch - common in the fields.

Redpoll - not as common as you'd expect

House Sparrow - very common everywhere.

Thermit Ibis (Kelaynak) Birds

From old hand writing documents, it has been determined that Thermit Ibis birds used to live in Europe since 1504. This bird, which was living in Central Europe near the Alps, was first defined by C. Gessner as Corvus Sylvaticus in 1555 in Historia Animalium and some information was given about the birds' life style. Later, it was determined that those birds, which disappeared in Europe, emigrated to Middle East countries and Africa and they still live in these countries.

Thermit Ibis that come to Birecik in the middle of February settle down at rocks in the middle of March. After their procreation, they grow up their youngs and in the middle of July they leave Birecik with their youngs. The reason for these birds to come to Birecik for procreation is thought to be that the calcite mineral in those rocks increased the procreation energy of birds. Thermit Ibis birds are single mate and every year they build their nest and lash out with the same couple. Mature birds are the ones that show their energy to build up a nest. It is necessary to be 5 years old, to become a mature bird. Their average life period is 25-30 years.

In the beginning of 1950, the number of Thermit Ibis was more than 1000, there had been a specific decrease in the number of birds since 1954. Destruction of natural feeding environment of these birds with overuse of agricultural insecticide chemicals, hunting of these birds by the hunters in their long immigration period and cold weather conditions are the main reasons for the decrease of Thermit Ibis birds. Thermit Ibis birds follow the Lebanon - Israel way and the River Nil or Red Sea coast and cannot be observed at those places.

In order to prevent the decrease in number and disappearing of the generation, Thermit Ibis Procreation Station was established in Birecik by the Generate Directorate of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs in 1972. In this station, first of all two mature and nine young Thermit Ibis birds were captured by net and put into a cage, and then production started in 1977. The birds under protection are fed with meat without fat, planed carrot, boiled egg and mixture of fodder.

In February 1996, 52 Hermit Ibis birds set free from procreation station to reproduction in nature. After the reproduction season, the total number reached to 75 with 23 young birds. 4 of them are given to Istanbul Bayramoglu Zoo, 5 of them are given to Atatürk Orman Çiftligi, 13 of them immigrated and 45 of them are still living in procreation station.

Birecik people consider Hermit Ibis birds which they regionally call "Keçelaynak" holy. Arrival of Hermit Ibis birds to Birecik in the middle of February is interpreted by Birecik people as a sign of spring. In recent years, "Hermit Ibis Festival" is being organized in Birecik for these birds.