Filmmakers blog, May 28, 2013

Filming at Lake Kuyucuk near Kars Turkey

Lake Kuyucuk is near the far east border between Turkey and Armenia, near the Dead Sea. It is a beautiful spot, made more beautiful because of the conservation work of the KuzeyDoga Society. We filmed here during spring migration with Çağan H. Şekercioğlu. Çağan with KuzeyDoga played a key role in gaining international Ramsar recognition for Lake Kuyucuk. The lake is home to over 40,000 birds of 227 species, a key habitat for globally Endangered White-headed Duck and Egyptian Vulture. It also provides a safe stop over site for migrating songbirds, and it is mecca for international birdwatchers.

Bird Banding Hut at dusk. Lake Kuyucuk  near Kars, Turkey

There is an international convention going on inside that caravan!  Me a Canadian director with a crew from France, filming tireless volunteers from different corners of the earth who have come to Lake each spring to band migrating birds.  With mist nests out every morning and late afternoon, they have documented hundreds of species over the years. Çağan H. Şekercioğlu won a Whitley Award in 2008 and again in 2013 for his work here, which aims to protect wetland ecosystems whilst bringing real benefits to local people.