The Izmir Bird Paradise, one of the world's most important flamingo hatcheries, began renovation of its clean water transport system, according to Anadolu Agency.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
Located on the Aegean Sea's Gediz Delta, the bird sanctuary is home to more than 11,000 flamingos and 291 species of birds.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
The State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) began replacing the open-channel water system, in use for the past 40 years, with a piped system, guarding against threat of water pollution.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
The new system, scheduled to be completed by March 2018, will have the capacity to pump 50 liters of water per second to the breeding area.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
The Izmir Bird Paradise is Turkey's second largest flamingo breeding ground after Lake Tuz in Central Turkey.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
In 2016, almost 15,000 flamingo chicks were born, up from 7,000 the previous year.
The artificially-formed breeding area is one of the largest in the world at almost 6,500 square meters.
Izmir Bird Paradise begins clean water project
Before the restoration of the rapidly-eroding natural breeding island in 2011, 400 flamingo chicks hatched each season.
Turkey is a major stop on the Eurasian-African bird migration route, drawing nature-loving tourists to bird sanctuaries each year.
