The Importance of Urban Green Spaces for Resident and Migrant Birds – A Case Study from Tepeören Cemetery in Istanbul-Türkiye

Abstract

Aim of study: This study was carried out to determine the effects and importance of urban cemeteries on bird species diversity. Area of study: The Tepeören cemetery is one of the oldest and most historically important cemeteries in the Istanbul region. Material and methods: Field studies of birds were carried out between April-September 2018/2019. During the study period of 12 months, the cemetery was visited twice a month. The species list of the area was created by registering all feeding, lodging, roosting and nesting birds observed in the area. Main results: It was determined that 36 bird species occured in the cemetery, out of which ten species were identified as breeding in the area. The main bird species that used the cemetery as breeding ground, was Corvus monedula (Western jackdaw) that utilizes the cavities of old oaks for nesting. The average number of eggs per nest was found to be 4.3 based on the examination of 49 active nests in 2018-2019. The number of fledged birds per nest was determined as 1.1. Higlights: In the current study, the importance of the city cemeteries in terms of bird diversity has been revealed. The presence of plant species that provide suitable nesting conditions for the reproduction of birds in these cemeteries supports the survival of the birds in the city.