Avifaunal diversity and seasonal dynamics of Başkent National Park: An urban hotspot in Ankara

Purpose: The decline in green spaces due to rapidly increasing urbanisation is putting pressure on biodiversity. As a key component of biodiversity, birds are distinguished by their sensitivity to environmental variables and by their fundamental roles within ecosystems. The objective of this research is to document the avifaunal diversity of Başkent National Park, an urban hotspot in Ankara, while analyzing its significance for biodiversity in a metropolitan environmentMethod: To determine the bird diversity of the Başkent National Park, a total of 21 observations were made between 2 October 2022 and 12 September 2023. The transect counting method was utilized during the fieldwork. Additionally, two separate botanical field studies were conducted on 1 September 2023 and 7 September 2023 to determine the park's plant diversity. The literature was consulted to identify bird and plant species.Findings: The research identified 55 bird species belonging to 23 families. When examining the taxonomic distribution, the Passeriformes (songbirds) order was clearly dominant in the area, with 39 species (70.9%). The highest diversity by family was observed in the Muscicapidae (flycatchers) group with 7 species (12.7%), followed by Sylviidae (9.1%) and Accipitridae, Acrocephalidae, Corvidae, and Fringillidae (7.3%). The temporal variation in species richness followed a pattern consistent with migration periods. A total of 106 species were identified in the botanical surveys conducted.Conclusion: The plant species identified in the study provide shelter and food sources for birds. The artificial ponds, extensive open spaces, and monumental trees within the Başkent National Park demonstrate that it offers a wide variety of microhabitats for urban avifauna. This study shows that parks within cities can harbour high levels of biodiversity.Keywords: avifauna, biodiversity, Ankara, citizen science, urbanisation