In the Thrace Region, which is located on the migration route of birds, the DKMP 1st Regional Directorate and TREDAŞ joined forces with the aim of protecting migratory bird species, especially storks and the Imperial Eagle, which is under the threat of extinction. In this context, the launch was held in Karakavak Village, Hayrabolu district of Tekirdağ, and the “Birds of Thrace” HalkalıThe first step of the “We Are Ringing” project has been taken. The aim is to ring 5 storks and 500 Imperial Eagles within 100 years and monitor their migration routes, lifespans, reproductive success and threats with scientific data; and to develop effective protection strategies in line with the information obtained.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) 1st Regional Directorate and Thrace Electricity Distribution Inc. (TREDAŞ) launched a meaningful mobilization for the protection of populations of storks, endangered Imperial Eagles and other migratory bird species and the sustainability of their habitats.
The first step of this collaboration, which aims to monitor the biological diversity of Thrace, ensure sustainable habitat management and increase awareness of nature protection in society, was announced to the public with a launch held in Karakavak Village in Hayrabolu district of Tekirdağ on Saturday, June 14.
IMPERIAL EAGLE AND STORK RINGING PROCESS WAS DONE
An important step was taken in cooperation with DKMP 1st Regional Directorate and TREDAŞ for the protection and monitoring of migratory birds, especially Imperial Eagles and storks, the improvement of their shelters and the creation of public awareness. The button was pressed for the “We Are Ringing the Birds of Thrace” project at the event held in Karakavak Village of Hayrabolu district of Tekirdağ. The meeting, which was attended by Hayrabolu District Governor Eyüp Fırat, Hayrabolu Mayor Tuncay Başoğlu, Nature Conservation and National Parks 1st Regional Director Fahrettin Ulu, TREDAŞ General Manager Necati Ergin and many invitees, also showed great interest in the residents of Karakavak Village.
In the promotional event, which attracted a large number of participants, participants first had the opportunity to watch the construction of a stork nest and then the stork ringing process. In addition, a special visit was made to Oklalı Village to ring and inspect the nest of the Imperial Eagle, which is under threat in Türkiye.
DKMP 1ST REGIONAL DIRECTOR FAHRETTİN ULU: WE WILL DEVELOP DATA-BASED PROTECTION STRATEGIES
Speaking at the project launch meeting, Nature Conservation and National Parks 1st Regional Director Fahrettin Ulu said that with the “Birds of Thrace Ringing” project, which was initiated by taking into account Thrace’s strategic location on bird migration routes and its biodiversity, a long-term process was initiated for the scientific monitoring and protection of birds in the region, especially the Imperial Eagle and stork species. Ulu said, “The main goal of the project is to determine the migration routes, habitats and reproductive success of individuals, to reveal human-induced threats and to develop protection strategies with all this data. During the 5-year project, it is aimed to ring 500 storks and 100 Imperial Eagles, and to attach satellite-based GPS to at least 15 Imperial Eagles and 5 storks. Within this scope, the Imperial Eagles and storks will be ringed in the first year; and from the second year on, the individual tracking process with satellite-based GPS will begin together with the ringing work. In the upcoming period, other priority species in the Thrace Region will also be included in these studies, and thus, the holistic monitoring of biodiversity in Thrace will be ensured.”
Fahrettin Ulu, who explained that bird migration monitoring studies are carried out throughout Thrace by the 1st Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, stated that they have created an important database at national and international levels by recording not only the species but also the threats on the migration routes, and said, “Our studies for the protection, development and sustainability of wildlife will continue.”
TREDAŞ GENERAL MANAGER ERGİN: IF THERE IS NATURE, WE ARE ALSO IN IT
TREDAŞ General Manager Necati Ergin stated that as a representative of IC Holding's sustainable future vision, they developed projects for nature-compatible solutions and noted the following in his statement:
“As the company that distributes electricity in the Thrace region, we are a structure that has taken on the duty of protecting the natural richness of the geography we live in and feels responsible towards all our stakeholders. Because we know that if nature exists, we exist. With this understanding, the cooperation we have initiated with the 1st Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks is not just a project for us; it is a strong step towards protecting the habitats of our storks and the magnificent Imperial Eagle, the indispensable guests of Thrace, and supporting the balance of nature in a sustainable way. This journey is a determined effort towards protecting biodiversity and our common future. Our project will also reveal how valuable many living spaces are in terms of wildlife, from wetlands to pastures, from forests to open lands. Our aim is to spread the awareness of nature conservation to the entire region from Thrace's fields to schools, from cities to villages, and to keep this awareness alive together.”
Mentioning the works carried out for the protection of biodiversity as TREDAŞ, Ergin said, “To date, we have installed approximately 1000 stork platforms in various areas of Thrace. We have established bird-friendly energy infrastructures in many regions in order to prevent bird deaths and our works in this direction continue. In this meaningful journey, I would like to thank the 1st Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, our scientists who worked hard during the project process, our field teams and all our stakeholders who are devoted to nature.”
500 STORKS AND 100 IMPERIAL EAGLES WILL BE RINGED IN FIVE YEARS
Within the scope of the project carried out by DKMP 1st Regional Directorate and TREDAŞ, the nests of Imperial Eagles and storks will be monitored via live broadcast, their breeding success will be observed and threats from electricity will be minimized by isolating and taking security measures on power lines. In the first phase of the project, 100 storks and 15 Imperial Eagles will be ringed. The aim is to ring a total of 500 storks and 100 Imperial Eagles in five years. Thanks to the ringing of the birds, their migration routes, life span, breeding success and the threats they face will be tracked with scientific data. In light of the information obtained, it will also be possible to develop more effective protection strategies.
