ON THE BIRD MIGRATION ROUTE
Lake Acarlar Flooded Forest is also an indispensable site for birds. Because it lies on one of two important migration routes that cross Anatolia, close to 200 species of birds either stop over or breed here during the year. Ornithologists have observed that many birds, including domestic species, summer migrants, winter migrants and those that merely fly over, find an opportunity for shelter, refuge, reproduction and feeding here at Lake Acarlar Flooded Forest. Among them are the squacco heron, the spoonbill, the glossy ibis, the cormorant and various species of divers and seabirds, as well as the pochard, the goldeye, the velvet duck, and sea and fish eagles. Owing to these properties, Lake Acarlar Flooded Forest has the status of an Important Bird Area and lies within the bounds of the Sakarya Delta Important Bird Area.
The flooded forest is home as well to a variety of mammals such as rabbit, fox, jackal and wild boar. Meanwhile fish species such as carp, catfish, Conger eel, rudd, pike, and grey mullet are found in the lake.
