What can you see in Manyas Bird Paradise in each season?

The bird sanctuary on the northeastern shore of Lake Manyas hosts more than two hundred species, but what matters most here is not their number; it is that the place changes completely by season. Lying on migration routes, what you see in April is not the same place you see in November. Spring is the busiest period. From late March to May, species heading north break their journey here, and it is also the breeding season for residents. In the island colony pelicans, cormorants and night herons nest together; from the observation tower the nests can be picked out even without binoculars. This is the loudest and liveliest the reserve gets. In summer the young grow and the colony begins to disperse. As the water drops, species feeding on the shoreline mud come to the fore and storks and herons become more visible. Because of the heat, early morning is the hour to visit. Autumn brings the second wave of migration. From September to November species moving south pass through, and species diversity reaches its yearly peak. There are fewer visitors than in spring, which may make it the most rewarding season for observation. In winter the lake can partly freeze and waterbirds concentrate in the open stretches. Numbers fall but visibility rises; a good period for ducks and geese. Practical notes: the visitor centre has an exhibition introducing the species and it is worth a look before you start. The path to the observation tower and down to the shore is short and easy. Bringing binoculars genuinely changes the visit, and hire is not always available on site. Its closeness to Bandırma makes a day trip by ferry from İstanbul possible.