The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) in and Around Lake Seyfe (Kırşehir, Turkey): A Synthesis of Records from 1969 to 2026 and Current Status

Lake Seyfe, designated a first-degree natural site (1989), a Nature Conservation Area (1990), and a Ramsar Site (1994), is a shallow saline wetland internationally important for flamingos and supports Great Bustard (Otis tarda) habitats documented in Kırşehir Province. Drainage since the 1960s reduced the lake area, transforming exposed land into farmland and semi-halophytic steppe used by the species. However, long-term information remains fragmented, limiting assessment of the species’ status and conservation needs. We compiled 17 dated records from 1969 to 2026 using literature, records from the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP), verified local reports, and September 2025–July 2026 transects. Historical counts were 13–61 birds; 11 records from 2020 to 2026 comprised 2–14 birds (mean 6.2), with groups of only 2–6 in 2024–2026. Non-standardized methods, effort, and seasons precluded trend estimation. Recent observations occurred in open steppe or low-intensity farmland. None of the 11 georeferenced records fell within the Nature Conservation Area, although survey effort was also absent within this boundary. The spatial pattern is therefore interpreted descriptively and indicates recent use of the surrounding agro-steppe landscape. Conservation should extend beyond the reserve through coordinated monitoring, stronger illegal-hunting control, public outreach and youth education, and seasonally adjusted agricultural management across Lake Seyfe and adjoining Malya TİGEM lands.