Good Morning: Tim Foran is a senior counter for the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Grimsby, Ontario. For the last four years he has used part of spring vacations in Turkey to watch some of the huge raptor and stork migration that passes through the Istanbul region due to a funnel effect created by the Europe - Asia land bridge at the Bosphorus. More than 150,000 birds have been counted in the spring, often with hundreds in the air simultaneously. Among 34 Old World species seen are: Lesser Spotted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Eurasian Buzzard, Western Honey Buzzard, Black Kite and Levant Sparrowhawk, some occasionally chased by local Hobbies.
There are, as well, several species that North American Hawk Watchers would recognize such as Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Osprey, Rough Legged Hawk, Merlin and, of course, Peregrine Falcon. Thousands of White Storks can pass low over head at one time. In fact, Istanbul is just as famous for its Stork migration. Many other species of non raptors can be seen, some in large numbers. The Hawkwatch is located on the Bosphorus, across from a 9th century castle. The location itself is rustic and quite beautiful, and offers many opportunities to photograph some of the exotic raptors at close range. The Turkish birders on site are quite generous hosts. Tim is going to Turkey again in April 2012 and has offered to help interested hawkwatchers organize a trip. Accommodation would be in a modern apartment hotel in the Galata Tower area of Istanbul, about one half hour from the airport and very close to the historic part of the city. The apartments, self contained with laundry on site, would each suit one or two people. Cost would be in the range of $US70.00 per night, possibly cheaper if many people book rooms. Public transit, about a 40 minute trip via one subway ride and then two buses, is used to get to the hawk-watch. The subway entrance is two blocks from the hotel. For a day or more away from the birds, sightseeing in Istanbul is amazing and easy, again using public transit, or by foot from the apartments. The US and Canadian dollars are worth ~$1.83 to the Turkish lira, so already reasonable local expenses for meals and other activities are literally almost half price. Restaurants are usually very affordable, and the food is of a very high quality. Tim knows Istanbul very well and will be available to help you with local knowledge and tips on how to get about. Turkish Airlines, among others, has direct non-stop flights to Istanbul from Toronto, New York and Chicago. Airfare varies according to seating chosen. Other airlines fly to Istanbul with a transfer somewhere in Europe. Tim expects to spend most days from April 9 – 17 at the hawkwatch site. Visitors can of course do their own thing during that time, and anyone wanting to then see some of the rest of Turkey, a fabulous destination in its own right, can make arrangements to continue on. Anyone interested in seeing the spring migration of raptors at the Bosphorus can contact Tim at <[email protected]> Although my plans are not settled yet, I hope to join Tim in Istanbul. Mike -- Mike Street Ancaster, Ontario, Canada [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
