Expanding Horizons at the Eymir Ornithological Research Center

Guest blog by Bahar Öksuzer

Dear readers,

The sun rises upon our station, casting a golden light as we prepare to welcome our feathered friends. These visitors bring news from distant continents, crossing borders to arrive at Eymir. Twice a year, in the warmth of spring and the fading glow of autumn, we gather in anticipation. As nature awakens, the green calls them, and when leaves fall, it is time to say goodbye. It is in these cycles, as seasons turn, that we greet them, knowing their journeys are intertwined with our own.

I’m writing this blog right after we finished ringing our last bird at Eymir Ornithological Research Center in autumn 2024.

It’s me, Bahar, and I’m back with some exciting news and brought all my friends greetings!

After my previous OSME guest blog, “Fly With Us to the Eymir Ornithological Research Center,” I am thrilled to share this year’s groundbreaking updates. In this blog I would like to inform you more about the scientific updates and achievements that our center reached.

With the recent visibility of our center on the media, our work has attracted new opportunities and eager volunteers. I’m pleased to share that we now have new volunteers from different cities and universities in these last two seasons of 2024. Additionally, for anyone reading this blog who feels inspired to join us, we would be delighted to welcome you to our research center.

One of the highlights was the arrival of a female Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), initially ringed in Romania, deepening our international collaborations. We worked with the Romanian team to gather data on her remarkable journey. She was ringed at Agiega Bird Observatory in Romania on September 4th, 2024, and arrived at our station on September 16th, 2024. What a jouney, we were amazed by her arrival here in Ankara!

I would like to add this specific detail; this year (2024) 803 bird from 49 species were ringed in spring season and for the autumn season 1520 birds from 47 species were ringed. Each season, around 30 volunteers from various regions and universities joined us, some of them are training as candidate ringers and will soon be certified through our ringing studies.

The 2024 autumn season brought even more excitement as we recorded three new species at our station: Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), and Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia). In my week of volunteering the Erusian Nuthatch was caught in our nets, and I cannot describe that execitemet with words. It was flying around actually, we basically waited for it to be caught by the nets.

Plus, we welcomed back some familiar visitors that were ringed in previous years. Among the oldest returns were a Hawfinch ringed in the autumn of 2021, a Long-tailed Tit from autumn 2020, a Great Tit also from autumn 2020, a Syrian Woodpecker ringed in the spring of 2019, and a Cetti’s Warbler ringed in autumn 2021.

This year, our research efforts were showcased at the 10th Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Symposium (EEBST) in Çanakkale, Türkiye, where three posters were presented based on studies conducted at Eymir:

• Comparative Analyses of Gut Microbiota Composition in Migrating European Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) Populations During Seasonal Visits to Eymir Ringing Station in Spring and Autumn
• Revealing the Importance of Lake Eymir for Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Passeriformes) Through Ringing Studies
• Body Mass and Fat Score Relationships in Willow Warblers During Migration at Eymir Ringing Station in Ankara

These diverse studies demonstrate that the center is not only dedicated to bird ringing but also supports a range of research, including microbiota and molecular level projects and studies. One of our proudest achievements is fostering a new generation of scientists. This year, students are actively working on independent projects with the data provided by Eymir ornithological Research Center. Currently some of our volunteer students are working on their projects which will be presented to the The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for being supported.

Additionally, we recently hosted a professor from the Veterinary Faculty of Ankara University, who, alongside his Ph.D. and master’s students, expressed keen interest in potential collaborations due to our innovative approach in our researches.

Another proud achievements is fostering a new generation of scientists. This year, students are actively working on independent projects with the data provided by Eymir. We even welcomed a passionate high school student, who, through his love for nature photography, discovered our center and joined our growing community.

Our research center has also attracted student groups and nature enthusiasts who learned about us through national media coverage, including features on national TV and clips from nature programs. Student communities, like Ankara University’s Biodiversity and the Middle East Technical University Bird Watching community, are regular visitors to Eymir, engaging in educational experiences that deepen their understanding of ornithology and conservation.

Supported by the enthusiasm of our volunteers and the backing of organizations like OSME, our team continues to expand, bringing together bird enthusiasts from all over. Each season, we push our boundaries further, driven by the dedication of our team and the enthusiasm of new members. Youth find their wings here. With each season, we push our boundaries, driven by a shared commitment to ornithological research and conservation. Together, we grow, learn, and contribute to the world of avian studies, with Eymir as a flourishing hub of discovery and collaboration.

The Earth is our home that we share with our neighbours, birds among them, this is our deepest motivation that brings us together every season to Eymir.

Bahar Öksüzer is a biology student at Ankara University and at 23 years old one in a new generation of passionate and talented Turkish conservationists. She grew up in Van, one of the easternmost cities of Turkiye, and now lives in Ankara. “Moving just like a bird’s journey!” she says. She is much involved at Eymir Ornithological Research Center and is one of the key contact points between Eymir and OSME.