Nakkas Highway Bird Surveys Report 2021

Nakkaş Highway Bird Surveys Report 2021 Prepared by: KAB Ecology Kerem Ali Boyla (Project Manager) Esra Demirhan Contact: [email protected] Date: 30 Sept 2021 (rvs 17 June 2022) Surveyors: Esra Demirhan Çağan Abbasoğlu Ömer Salman For: Işıl Gültekin [email protected] Revision Table: Revision Number Date Report Title Signature 1 7 June 2021 Nakkaş Highway Bird Surveys Report Spring 2021 KAB 2 30 Sep 2021 Nakkaş Highway Bird Surveys Report 2021 KAB Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 2 | 21 September 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Scope of Work ................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Site Description ................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Protected Areas ................................................................................................................. 4 2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Survey Schedule and Environmental Parameters ............................................................. 5 2.2 Critical Habitats for Survey ................................................................................................ 5 3 Results .................................................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Bird Surveys ....................................................................................................................... 7 4 Impact Assessment AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 18 5 References .......................................................................................................................... 19 1.1 List of Tables Table 1. Dates of the field visits and the environmental conditions. ........................................... 5 Table 2. Dates of the field visits and the environmental conditions. ........................................... 5 Table 3. Bird surveys at Sazlıdere Reservoir during spring 2021. ................................................. 8 Table 4. Bird surveys at Sazlıdere Reservoir during autumn 2021. .............................................. 9 Table 6. Bird surveys near Bahşayış meadow during spring 2021 .............................................. 13 Table 7. Bird surveys in the Riparian Habitat during spring 2021 ............................................... 16 Table 8. Bird surveys in the Riparian Habitat during autumn 2021 ............................................ 17 1.2 List of Figures Figure 1. The location and the route of the proposed highway. .................................................. 3 Figure 2. The proposed route and its 500 m buffer, and the protected areas. ............................ 4 Figure 3. Three critical habitats along the proposed route .......................................................... 6 Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 3 | 21 September 2021 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Rönesans is planning to build a highway in İstanbul, extending from north of Büyükçekmece Lake to Başakşehir. The project is financed by international lenders. As part of ESIA process, it was deemed necessary to evaluate the usage of the proposed site by migrant birds in compliance with international standards and guidelines. Three points along the project site were identified as points of interest to assess the potential impact of the project of such bird species. The points of concern were identified as (1) habitats such as waterbodies, forestry and fruits plantations and crags and rock faces within a 500 m buffer of the highway route, and (2) points of potential collision risk. Figure 1. The location and the route of the proposed highway. 1.2 Scope of Work This study aims to investigate bird activity at the proposed Nakkaş highway route and its 500 m buffer zone during spring migratory season in 2021. 1.3 Site Description The project is located in İstanbul, and crosses Büyükçekmece, Çatalca, Arnavutköy and Başakşehir districts (Figure 1). The proposed route is spread over an area with a west-east extension of approx. 31 km and the maximum north-south extension approx. 13 km. The total area that the highway and its 500 m buffer covers is approx. 66,8 km2. At its western reaches, it crosses mostly rural areas, near villages, agricultural land and meadows. In its mid segment it passes through residential areas and the Sazlıdere Reservoir. In its eastern end it reaches highly developed urban areas. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 4 | 21 September 2021 1.4 Protected Areas Turkey has an extensive network of designated conservation areas with many different categories. The Project Area crosses three designated protected areas, Büyükçekmece Gölü (MAR018), Küçükçekmece Havzası (MAR019) and Batı İstanbul Meraları (MAR021) (Eken et al. 2006) (Figure 2). The list of species triggering for Büyükçekmece Lake and Küçükçekmece Basin protected areas include various migratory bird species, especially White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). Most species triggering for the IBA and found along the project transect are plant species and are outside of the scope of this study. Figure 2. The proposed route and its 500 m buffer, and the protected areas. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 5 | 21 September 2021 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Survey Schedule and Environmental Parameters 6 surveys were carried out at 3 points identified to be the most critical habitats for migratory species. Most surveys took place between an hour after sunrise and 11:00 in order to catch peak bird activity. Table 1. Dates of the field visits and the environmental conditions. Survey # Date Temperature (degree C) Wind speed (km/h) Wind direction 1 18 Apr 13 9 NNE 2 25 Apr 12 24 ENE 3 27 Apr 14 17 W 4 02 May 21 9 WSW 5 16 May 23 9 SE 6 23 May 19 9 S Table 2. Dates of the field visits and the environmental conditions. Survey # Date Temperature (degree C) Wind speed (km/h) Wind direction 1 21 Aug 26 20 NE 2 22 Aug 26 23 NE 3 28 Aug 29 17 NE 4 29 Aug 29 6 SW 5 11 Sep 23 8 N 6 12 Sep 24 7 NE 2.2 Critical Habitats for Survey Three critical habitats along the proposed highway route were identified during the exploration phase of the study for further surveying. 1. Sazlıdere Reservoir Area 2. Meadow near Bahşayış Village 3. Riparian Habitat The first point of interest is where the impact area of the highway meets the Sazlıdere Reservoir area (1), where significant movement of birds between the reservoir and Küçükçekmece Lake are predicted; the second is a meadow near Bahşayış village (2) which is predicted to be a stopover site for migratory soaring species, especially White Stork (Ciconia cionia); and the third point is a riparian habitat in Nakkaş village, formed around a creek which eventually feeds into Büyükçekmece Lake, which is predicted to be a crucial rest stop for migratory birds, especially passerines (3) (Figure 3). Each area was surveyed by an experienced bird watcher in order to determine diversity and abundance of bird species using a pair of binoculars and a camera. The allotted survey duration for the reservoir habitat was 1 hour, the meadow was 15 minutes, and the riparian habitat was also 1 hour. The surveyors walked to expand their coverage within the designated areas. The birds were classified as: • Breeding bird: Those may be breeding resident birds, or breeding summer migrants • Migrant. The birds that do not breed in the area but are seen during migration Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 6 | 21 September 2021 • Fly-over: Mostly migrant birds that do not use the habitat at the site, are seen over the site during their trans-continental migration, such as raptors. Figure 3. Three critical habitats along the proposed route 1 3 2 Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 7 | 21 September 2021 3 RESULTS 3.1 Bird Surveys Station 1: Sazlıdere Reservoir During spring bird surveys at the critical habitat near the reservoir, a total of 57 bird species were detected, 24 of which were identified as breeding. No species categorized as endangered by the IUCN Red List was encountered during the surveys ( Photo 1. Sazlıdere Reservoir surveys at the buffer zone. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 8 | 21 September 2021 Table 3). During autumn surveys, a small of wader group has been seen. The Globally Threatened Eurasian Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) was recorded with on individual. It is a widespread and common migrant across Turkey which is expected to occur at any space. There was no roost of similar concentration of the species, that merit a conservation action. Photo 1. Sazlıdere Reservoir surveys at the buffer zone. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 9 | 21 September 2021 Table 3. Bird surveys at Sazlıdere Reservoir during spring 2021. Common Name Scientific Name IUCN Mig Trns Flyer 18 Apr 25 Apr 27 Apr 02 May 16 May 23 May Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC X 5 Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC M 2 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC M 1 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus LC Br 7 4 6 10 6 Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto LC 2 1 1 1 + Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis LC 1 + + Alpine Swift Apus melba LC M 35 + + + + Common Swift Apus apus LC M + 1 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra LC Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC M, Br 5 2 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos LC M 1 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus LC M 1 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus LC Br X 5 3 1 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus LC X 50 Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis LC Br X 1 + 200 + + White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus LC M 3 Common Tern Sterna hirundo LC M X 25 50 100 + + White Stork Ciconia ciconia LC M Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus LC Br X 7 + 7 20 + Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC Br X 1 8 + 21 4 1 Gray Heron Ardea cinerea LC Br X 11 3 6 6 1 Great Egret Ardea alba LC Br X 1 2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC X 4 4 5 Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus LC M Br 2 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus LC M Br 1 Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus LC 1 1 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo LC 1 Little Owl Athene noctua LC 1 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster LC M Br 2 20 20 20 Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus LC 1 Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC 1 1 1 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC 1 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus LC M Br 1 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio LC M 1 3 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius LC 1 + + Eurasian Magpie Pica pica LC Br + + + + + Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula LC + + + + + Hooded Crow Corvus cornix LC Br + + + + + Crested Lark Galerida cristata LC Br 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida LC M Br 5 + Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus LC M Br 2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC + + + + + Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita LC M 1 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti LC Br 1 1 1 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca LC M Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala LC Br 15 2 2 3 1 Greater Whitethroat Sylvia communis LC M Br 3 9 4 4 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris LC 1 3 + Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos LC M Br 1 2 1 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe LC M Br 3 8 5 3 3 House Sparrow Passer domesticus LC + + + 2 + Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC M 2 1 White Wagtail Motacilla alba LC M 1 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris LC M 2 1 1 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis LC M 2 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala LC M 1 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra LC Br 2 1 4 1 Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 16 | 21 September 2021 Station 3: Riparian Habitat near Nakkaş village During spring bird surveys at the critical habitat at the riparian habitat near Nakkaş, a total of 50 bird species were detected, 11 of which were identified as breeding. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) which is categorized as Near Threatened (NT) by the IUCN Red List was encountered during the surveys Photo 3. The riparian habitat in Nakkaş, surrounded by agricultural land. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 17 | 21 September 2021 . Photo 3. The riparian habitat in Nakkaş, surrounded by agricultural land. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 18 | 21 September 2021 Table 6. Bird surveys in the Riparian Habitat during spring 2021 Common Name Scientific Name IUCN Mig. 18 Apr 25 Apr 27 Apr 02 May 16 May 23 May Mallard Anas platyrhynchos LC 1 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix LC M 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto LC 4 + 1 + + Alpine Swift Apus melba LC M 2 + + + Common Swift Apus apus LC M + Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus LC M + Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis LC 1 2 6 + Gray Heron Ardea cinerea LC 1 Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus LC M Br 1 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus LC M 1 Eurasian Scops-Owl Otus scops LC M 1 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops LC M 1 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster LC M 16 + + Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC 1 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio LC M Br 3 2 1 Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator LC M 1 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius LC 1 1 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica LC + + + + + Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula LC + + + + + Hooded Crow Corvus cornix LC + + + + + Great Tit Parus major LC 1 Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla LC M 3 Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis LC Br + 5 10 4 + Crested Lark Galerida cristata LC Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida LC M Br 3 + Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus LC M 2 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus LC M Br 1 1 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC M + + + + Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica LC 1 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus LC M 1 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita LC M Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti LC Br 1 1 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca LC M 1 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala LC Br + 2 + + Greater Whitethroat Sylvia communis LC M Br 2 1 4 1 15 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris LC + Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula LC 1 1 Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos LC M Br 1 6 3 2 + Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis LC M 1 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra LC M 9 5 2 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola LC 1 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe LC M 6 1 House Sparrow Passer domesticus LC + + + + + Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC M 15 + + + Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris LC M 4 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis NT M 17 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis LC M 1 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala LC M Br 1 3 9 50 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra LC 1 1 2 30 Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana LC Br 1 Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 19 | 21 September 2021 Table 7. Bird surveys in the Riparian Habitat during autumn 2021 Common Name Scientific Name IUCN Mig 21 Aug 22 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 11 Sep 12 Sep Eurasian Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur VU M 1 Alpine Swift Apus melba LC 11 Eurasian Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus LC Fo 2 18 18 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus LC m 1 1 3 2 Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina LC Fl 1 1 Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus LC M 1 1 1 1 Black Kite Milvus migrans LC Fl 1 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster LC M 1 2 15 12 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni LC M 1 Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC 1 1 1 2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus LC Fl 2 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio LC 1 2 14 2 7 3 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor LC M 1 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica LC 4 Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula LC 6 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix LC 3 Great Tit Parus major LC 1 2 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC 1 1 3 15 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica LC 4 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus LC M 1 1 2 2 7 2 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti LC 1 Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca LC M 1 1 Sardinian Warbler Curruca melanocephala LC 1 Greater Whitethroat Curruca communis LC 1 2 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula LC 1 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata LC M 1 Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia LC M 1 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra LC M 1 1 8 8 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola LC 4 1 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe LC 1 3 House Sparrow Passer domesticus LC 1 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC 8 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris LC 1 1 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis LC M 1 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala LC 1 Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 20 | 21 September 2021 4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS In general, the bird diversity and level of population of breeding and migratory birds are not high around the project area. Most of the natural habitats in the region has been degraded by human settlements, hunting pressure and modification of natural habitats. While the eastern segment of the proposed highway crosses highly developed urban zones, the further development of which poses insignificant threat to migratory birds, the middle and western segments cross over areas of significance, such as riparian and meadow habitats and protected waterbodies. At Sazlıdere reservoir there is minor breeding activity of water birds, mostly Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and small groups of shorebirds on the islands in the reservoir. Those bird populations outside of the impact zone of the project and no negative impact is expected. The movement of waterfowl and shorebirds between the bodies of water in Sazlıdere and Küçükçekmece. Groups of cormorants, herons and gulls has been observed to fly on north-south direction. The collision with moving vehicles is possibly insignificant for some commuting water birds. At the second critical habitat, the meadows near Bahyayış, the importance of the site was determined to be on a provincial level. The vast meadows here provide a good resting place for the migrating White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). Resting places are crucial for the species as they cover long distances each year, and the quality and quantity of meadows such as the one here are fast diminishing due to urban pressure and development. This area needs to be protected as is, and the excavated earth should not be stored/dumped at this site at all costs. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) a Near Threatened (NT) species was detected here. The riverine habitat is important area for common migratory birds, mostly songbirds. The Globally Threatened Eurasian Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) was recorded at two wooded habitats, on the shores of Sazlıdere dam lake and on the riverine habitat near Nakkaş. Eurasian Turtle Dove is a widespread and common migrant across Turkey which is expected to occur at any space. There was no roost of similar concentration of the species, that merit a conservation action. High number of migratory birds of prey related to birds flying over the site. The whole Istanbul province is located on the migratory routes of soaring migratory birds, such as White Stork, Common Buzzard, Honey Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle and all those birds might be observed over the project site. Most birds were passage migrants only using the air space of the project site, recorded as fly-over birds, and were excluded from the analysis. Nakkaş Highway– Bird Surveys 2021 KAB Ecology 21 | 21 September 2021 5 REFERENCES Eken, G. Bozdoğan, M. İsfendiyaroğlu, S. Kılıç DT Lise, Y. (eds) 2006. Türkiye’nin Önemli Doğa Alanları. Doğa Derneği, Ankara. IFC. 2012. Performance Standard 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources. <http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics ext content/ifc external corporate site/sustainability-at-ifc/policies-standards/performance-standards/ps6>. Downloaded on 1 August 2017. IUCN (2019) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 1 May 2019. Kirwan, G.M, K.A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch and T. Marlow.(2008). The birds of Turkey: a study of the distribution, taxonomy and breeding of Turkish birds. Christopher Helm. London.