Invasive birds threaten native species in Istanbul
With around 390 bird species recorded in Istanbul, the green parakeet, the Alexandrine parakeet and the common myna exhibit invasive traits and pose a threat to native species.
Speaking to to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, Dr. Ergün Bacak, chair of the Hunting and Wildlife Program in the Department of Forestry at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Vocational School of Forestry, stated that Istanbul is one of Türkiye’s cities with the richest bird diversity because it lies along migratory routes.
“There are currently three common species in Istanbul that are considered invasive: The green parakeet, the Alexandrine parakeet and the common myna. There is also the white-eared bulbul, which is still being monitored. It has begun to show signs of reproductive success but has not yet reached a level where it threatens other species,” said Dr. Bacak.
Bacak pointed out that invasive species are transported from their natural habitats to a different region due to human activity and rapidly multiply in their new environments, thereby threatening the ecosystem.
