Birecik & Bald Ibises The northern bald ibis, also referred to as the hermit ibis or locally known as the kelaynak in Turkey, is a migratory bird species that prefers arid, rocky, and semi-desert environments. Classified as endangered, this bird has been the focus of conservation efforts and scientific studies aimed at preventing its disappearance. In Turkey, the only known colony of these birds resides in Birecik, a district within Şanlıurfa province, situated about 80 kilometers from the provincial capital. Northern bald ibises live in tightly-knit colonies and choose to nest on sheer rocky cliffs, offering them safety from predators, humans, and wild animals. Each year, they typically lay between 2 to 4 eggs. Their diet consists mainly of insects, beetles, lizards, snails, worms, ants, and scorpions, which they extract from the ground using their long, curved beaks to probe into cracks and crevices. Males reach sexual maturity at approximately 5 years of age and generally live between 25 and 30 years. The area surrounding Birecik serves as the natural breeding ground for this critically endangered bird species. The ibises begin their migration around Valentine's Day and start nesting by mid-May. After raising their chicks, they typically depart from Birecik by July. In 1977, a dedicated breeding center was founded to support the conservation efforts for the critically endangered bald ibis. As part of its mission, the facility provides the birds with a specially formulated diet that includes meat, eggs, grated carrots, poultry feed, and unsalted cheese. Another crucial task of the center is the observation of reproductive behavior, which typically starts in February or March. Each year, a number of bald ibises are released into their natural environment to allow for wild breeding and natural migration, after which they return to the center in Birecik. If you have any questions or would like more information about Birecik & Bald Ibises, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply reach out via WhatsApp. We’ll be happy to assist you as soon as possible.