Investigations on the avifauna of the Adıyaman Gölbaşi lakes (İnekli, Azaplı and Gölbaşi Lake) and it's surroundings

Wetlands are very special ecosystems that provide a lot of benefits to humans so monitoring of these areas is important in many respects. Gölbaşı lakes (İnekli, Azaplı and Gölbaşı Lake) which are located in Gölbaşı district of Adıyaman province were studied on account of ornithological during this study. At Gölbaşı lakes, a total of 73 different bird species that belong to 18 order and 34 families were determined in the systematic aspect and a systematic list of them was formed. Seasonal status of bird species that were detected in Gölbaşı lakes were evaluated by considering bird observation periods. According to this, 35 species were native, 16 were summer migrants, 15 species were winter migrants, 6 species were in transit migrants and one species has a vagrant category. The evaluation of the bird species that observed in the study area in terms of breeding status showed that 50 species has a breeding potential in the area. It is determined that 23 bird species use the study area during winter or only migration season and they don't have any breeding activities in the area. The national and global threat statuses of the bird species that were identified in all Gölbaşı lakes were examined. It was determined that 14 of the species that determined are in various threat categories in the national level while four species are in different threat categories on account of globally. Accordingly, three species (Vanellus vanellus, Larus armenicus and Aegypius monachus) were in the NT-Near threatened categories while one species (Streptopelia turtur) was in the VU-Vulnerable categories according to IUCN. It is possible to mention the existence of many different habitats around the Gölbaşı lakes, which have natural lakes and wetland characters. Based on observation results it could be stated that the Gölbaşı lakes are sheltering many bird species. Wetlands are critical for our natural environment and they play an important role in both protecting and supporting our biological diversity. In order to protect the natural wetlands of our country in a sustainable perspective, the habitat structure of the area requires an innovative approach including water quality (physical and chemical properties), species composition and watershed dynamics, together.