Location: Alaçatı, Gerenye mevkii, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir
The Alaçatı Wetland is the nature area between the town and the marina, south of Alaçatı town, close to the İzmir-Çeşme Otoyolu (0-32 motorway). The site covers approximately 250 acres of primarily salt marsh, small streams and beaches; the general vegetation consists of richly diverse, fertile silt sediments and scrubland. The lagoon-like intertidal estuary is formed by the Karşıyaka Azmağı (river), a natural watercourse flowing down from the Alaçatı Kutlu Aktaş Dam (under old İzmir road and the motorway) into the shallow waters of Alaçatı Bay and the Aegean Sea.
The wetland provides feeding and shelter for 150 species (recorded over six years) and breeding land for 24 bird species. Studies of the Alaçatı Wetland observed 44 species throughout the year, 28 sighted only in the winter and 65 migratory bird species. Of the 63 bird types on the Çeşme peninsula, 24 breed exclusively in the Alaçatı Wetlands. Some birds that can be spotted in the wetlands include the Greater Flamingo, the Great Egret, the Little Egret and the Ruddy Shelduck.
Sezai Göksu, (bird watcher & photographer – see Sezai’s website (in Turkish)) and an expert on the Alaçatı Wetland Area, listed the following bird species breeding in Alaçatı, Çeşme up until 2020: Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, Calidris, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Bee-eaters, Red Rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Western Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Blackcap, Zitting Cisticola, Garden Warbler, Olive Tree Warbler, Willow Warbler, Lesser Grey Shrike, European Goldfinch, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, and Mallard.
The area is somewhat threatened by the rapid encroachment of Alaçatı town expanding south and the marina developing north, significant luxury developments, the increasing commercial infrastructure, the road traffic and the popularity of watersports and tourism in the bay and on the southern coast around the marina.
Flora of the Alaçatı Wetland
The fertile vegetation of the Alaçatı Wetland is enriched with rare endemic plants, such as Pilularia Minuta, a species of fern, rockroses – Cistus Monspeliensis and delicate Mediterranean orchids – Neotinea Lacteal. Glasswort – Salicornia Europea (collected and served in local fish restaurants as a traditional meze or starter) and perennial spiny rushes – Juncaceae Acutus, are also found across the wetlands.
Birds of Alaçatı – Civil Environmental Movement
Birds of Alaçatı website (Turkish/English) / Facebook site
Birds of Alaçatı is an independent, unbiased, voluntary civil environmental movement. Founded in 2019 by Serap Yurdaer Erboy and supported by Elif Egeli Izmiri, it seeks to convey a broader and deeper understanding and recognition of the wetland’s vital importance and benefits, in particular of the wetland in Alaçatı, Çeşme. It engages in developing conservation activities. They are committed to gathering and providing information about wetlands, trying to convince people of their manifold benefits, and motivating significant awareness and respect for nature and one of the world’s most productive yet undervalued ecosystems – particularly Alaçatı Wetlands.
Volunteers with Birds of Alaçatı erected five information boards on the wetlands to share information about the wetlands and promote a better understanding and awareness of the unique and fragile nature of the area. Together with Ege University, in 2020 they have undertaken research studies on water quality to quantify and analyze the dynamics of the water quality of Alaçatı Wetland for conservation monitoring.
Serap Yurdaer Erboy published a 120-page paperback book “Birds of Alaçatı – Wetland Birds” – ISBN: 9786056119729 (see Amazon.com). Language: Turkish – English.