Çamaltı Bird Sanctuary

The Çamaltı Bird Sanctuary, 15 kilometres west of Karşıyaka, is a protected area of coastal salt marshes, lagoons, and reedbeds covering around 8,000 hectares. It is one of the most important wetland habitats in Turkey, providing breeding and wintering grounds for over 200 species of birds, including greater flamingo, glossy ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, and a range of waders, waterfowl, and raptors.

Access is restricted to the perimeter paths and observation points, which are enough to see the main attractions. Flamingos are visible from the roadside in summer. Serious birdwatchers should visit in spring (April–May) for peak diversity; winter brings large flocks of waterfowl including pelicans and ducks. The sanctuary is reached by car or, with some difficulty, by local bus from Karşıyaka.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The salt flats of Çamaltı have been exploited since at least Roman times. The combination of shallow saltwater lagoons, freshwater marshes, and reedbeds created by centuries of salt production has incidentally produced one of the most productive bird habitats in western Turkey. Greater flamingos have been nesting here since the 1980s — the İzmir colony is now one of the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean, with up to 10,000 birds present in summer.