2w ago

Türkiye's Brown Fish Owl population estimated fewer than 80 pairs

Türkiye's population of Brown Fish Owl has been estimated at only 50-80 breeding pairs, according to a decade-long study by Doğa Derneği Association.
The findings, based on data gathered over 10 years in the wooded valleys of the Taurus Mountains in southern Türkiye, mark the first comprehensive estimate of the species' presence in the country, as reported by Ornithomedia.
Once thought to be nearly extinct in Türkiye, there was only one confirmed 20th-century sighting of the species, which involved a bird accidentally caught by a fisherman in 1990. However, increasing fieldwork and knowledge of the species' habitat have led to several new discoveries in recent years. Sightings were initially kept secret with valid concerns over the sensitivity of the rare owl, but this changed in July 2011 when a pair was found at an accessible site and was viewable from tourist boat trips.
Sedentary subspecies
The Turkish population belongs to the subspecies semenowi, a sedentary group that has vanished from neighbouring Israel, Syria and Jordan. Its current known range in Türkiye is now restricted to forested valleys, steep cliffs, and fish-rich rivers and reservoirs, particularly in Mersin Province.
Confirmed breeding sites include the Manavgat (Oymapinar) Dam, Köprüçay and Dimçay Valleys, the Tahtalı and Bolkar Mountains, and Termessos National Park. Pairs have also been observed near fish farms, which offer a reliable food source.
Despite these positive observations, the species is believed to be in decline. Ongoing threats include deforestation, mining activity and the expansion of hydroelectric power infrastructure, all of which disturb the owl's nesting sites.
Raising awareness
Conservation groups are working to locate and protect key habitats, with efforts supported by local municipalities and international organisations such as BirdLife International.
Doğa Derneği Association is leading outreach and awareness campaigns about Brown Fish Owl. A poster promoting owl conservation has been distributed to local communities, and a photo exhibition titled 'Discover the Fishing Owl Before Its Extinction' was held in early 2025 at Mersin's Marina shopping centre.

While that's not very many, it is still more than zero. I hope people decide to protect these precious few so as not to lose them forever.

4 comments

From Doga Dernegi
The Western Palearctic population of Brown Fish Owl has a small and disjunct range, possibly a population with fewer than 80 pairs that are highly threatened and confined to Southern Turkey, and therefore the species is listed as Critically Endangered at the European level. A 2015 publication of Sound Approach describes the Fish Owl population in Turkey as a different species, i.e., Bubo semenowi. The authors argue that this species is a split from Bubo (Ketupa) zeylonensis occurring in Zagros Mountains (Iran) and Taurus Mountains of Turkey. If the preliminary results are confirmed, and the Taurus Mountains birds are to be regarded as a separate species the need for protection will be felt even more as it will be one of the rarest bird species in the world.
The habitat of fish owl consists of steep cliffs in mountainous habitat with huge mature pine trees bordering clean freshwater rivers or pools with crab and fish, which do not freeze over during winter. The species prefers naturally or otherwise formed ponds within slow paced rivers and banks of rivers in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests. The species also prefer hunting at freshwater fish farms established near forest edges. Nests are built in hollows or depressions in trees, rock ledges or steep stream banks, normally near water. Old raptor nests are sometimes used as well.
Yet, it became clear that the species is very hard to find due to its nocturnal behavior and its mountainous habitat is hard to survey. People living in the vicinity of fish owls know the species, but they are unaware of its rarity. People are working at fish farms along rivers where the fish owls occur shoot at piscivorous animals, sometimes, including a fish owl. Furthermore, large infrastructural changes such as dams or logging are noticed in most of the areas where the fish owls occur. In all the sites there are significant threats to the species and its habitat: particularly habitat loss and degradation due to river type Hydro-electricity power plants (HPP), dams and tourism investments.
Doga implemented a series of conservation projects with the support of Sound Approach and BirdLife International to assess the conservation opportunities and threats to the species around known nesting sites. As part of this, Doga distributed an informative poster on the species throughout its range and identified a network of local conservation groups. Doga maintains hands-on conservation of the species in cooperation with locals and supports the volunteers network throughout the range of the species, particularly in the Kadıncık Valley. Identification of all breeding sites and clarification of the taxonomy of the ‘Taurus fish owls’ are other priorities of Doga.
- Got distracted, but here's my Google Translate of the poster message:
  The Owl of the Taurus Mountains The fish owl is a bird native to tropical Asia. In Türkiye, it lives only in the warm valleys at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. It is the rarest bird of prey in Turkey and Europe. So rare, in fact, that for years it was considered extinct in the Taurus Mountains. However, discoveries made in the last decade have estimated that there are currently only about 80 pairs in Türkiye.
  The fish owl hunts in the water and feeds primarily on fish, freshwater crabs, and frogs. Unfortunately, the fish owl population has declined in recent years due to hydroelectric power plant construction, confining it to dams and ponds. It's not too late to protect this unique creature of the Taurus Mountains. If you would like to work to protect the last fish owls in your area, please contact us.
I mean - he kinda looks Buffy.
- Yup, they're cousins. Genus Ketupa used to just be Buffy, Tawny, and Brown Fish Owls, but now it includes Milky Eagle, Dusky Eagle, Blakiston's, and more! Genetics has taught us a lot about the owl evolutionary tree these past few years. It's exciting to always be seeing new owl discoveries and secrets revealed!