A picture from the gorge at Nallýhan Bird Paradise by Okan Can.
| Size: | 8400 ha. |
| Coordinates: | 40 02 N 31 38 E |
| Altitude: | 475 m. |
| Location: | It is a large damlake located south of the Beypazarý Nallýhan road and by the most eastern end of Sündiken Mountains. |
| Site description: | The site is an old
damlake situated on the Sakarya River. The northern part of the lake
consists of barren hills with a high erosion rate whereas the southern
part is forested. Along the southern edge of the damlake there is a
poplar plantation where a large colony of Night Herons is located.
Nallýhan Bird Paradise is located north of the damlake 5 km. west from Çayýrhan. There a small stream forms a fooded wetland just north of the main road, flows under the bridge on the main road and through a deep gorge southwards into the damlake. There is a willow trees on this stream where a colony of Grey Herons is found. The steep rocky cliffs south of the road provide nesting sites for many birds. |
| Strategy: | Get to the Nallýhan Bird Paradise from the main road, check the wetland and cliffs on both sides of the road, walk into the gorge and continiue along the shores of the damlake to Çayýrhan. |
| Birds (found mainly at Nallýhan Bird Paradise): |
Breeding birds include Night Heron (120 pairs), Grey heron
(50 pairs), Black Stork (20 pairs), Black Kite, White-tailed
Eagle (1 pair), Egyptian Vulture (10 pairs), Long-legged
Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Kestrel, Peregrine (1-5 pairs), Lanner
(1 pair), Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock
Nuthatch, Chough (5 pairs), Raven and Rock Sparrow.
The damlake is an important wintering and roosting site for Grey Heron (max. 1000), Great Egret (max. 80), White Stork (max. 11.300), Black Stork (max. 100), Ruddy Shelduck (max. 2400), waterfowl and gulls. On migration Spoonbill, storks and raptors, Osprey (regular April- November), Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin can be observed. Black Vulture, Bearded Vulture has also been observed. |
| Other wildlife: | A jungle cat has been caught in the area. The lake is rich in (introduced) fish which supports herons and fish eating raptors. |