Northern Bald Ibis in Birecik: Turkey's Last Kelaynak Colony

The northern bald ibis (*Geronticus eremita*), called kelaynak in Turkish, is one of the rarest birds in the world. In Turkey, it survives only in Birecik, a town on the Euphrates River in Şanlıurfa province. Its story shows how close a species can come to loss, and how much work it takes to keep it.

> Key Takeaway: The kelaynak, or northern bald ibis, lives in Turkey only in Birecik. The wild colony collapsed in the twentieth century, and a breeding station now keeps the population alive. IUCN lists the species as Endangered.

What Is the Kelaynak?

The northern bald ibis is a black ibis with a bare red face, a long curved red bill and a crest of long feathers on its neck. It feeds on insects and small animals in dry fields and steppe. It nests in colonies on cliffs.

The bird once lived across North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe. Today, the only large wild population lives on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. A very small group exists in Turkey, and reintroduction projects work in Europe.

Why Is Birecik Important?

For centuries, ibises returned every spring to the cliffs above Birecik. Local people linked the bird's return with the season of pilgrimage, and the bird had a cultural place in the town.

In the twentieth century, the colony declined very fast. Pesticide use in farming, especially in the 1950s, is widely cited as a main cause. The birds also lost feeding areas and nesting cliffs as the town grew.

The Breeding Station

To stop the loss, a breeding station was set up in Birecik in the 1970s. Birds are kept and bred there, and many are released into the area for part of the year. Because of this work, the kelaynak did not disappear from Turkey. But the population still depends on human care.

What Is the Species' Status?

The IUCN Red List classified the northern bald ibis as Critically Endangered for many years. In 2018 it moved to Endangered, mainly because the Moroccan population grew. The Turkish population remains small and is managed closely.

What Threatens the Kelaynak?

According to Atmoswire's review of conservation reports, these are the main threats:

1. Migration losses: Released birds that migrate south often do not return. Hunting, power lines and poisoning along the route are serious risks.

2. Pesticides: Chemicals in farmland reduce insects and can poison birds.

3. Habitat change: Farmland and steppe used for feeding are lost to building and new crops.

4. Small population: A small group has low genetic diversity and is easily hurt by single events.

Short-Term Effects

If many released birds die during migration, the free-flying group shrinks fast. The station must then breed more birds to replace them.

Long-Term Effects

Without a safe migration route, a self-sustaining wild colony in Turkey is hard to restore. This is why international cooperation along the route matters.

How Does This Fit Turkey's Wider Wildlife Story?

The kelaynak is part of a larger pattern of loss in Anatolia, described in The Silent Loss: Extinct Animals in Anatolia. Unlike the Anatolian leopard, the ibis is still here. Like the Mediterranean monk seal in Turkey, it survives because people decided to protect it.

Conclusion

The northern bald ibis in Birecik is a living warning and a small success. The bird is still in Turkey, but only with constant help. Its future depends on safe migration, cleaner farmland and long-term support for the breeding programme. Follow the Endangered Wildlife topic for updates.