Ornithology is an observation sport, which maintains the identification of the nature from views of the birds. Birds, which are the best the indicators of a healthful environment, are present within all kinds of life ambient. You can perform bird observation nearly everywhere such as deserts, forests, steppes, marshes, and parks within the cities. Both the season and the time of the bird observation (ornithology) is unlimited and can be done for 365 days and 24 hours. 450 kinds of bird species have been registered up to today.

The monitoring and understanding of birds, is the most intelligent way to observe our natural environment. Birds, which are very sensitive to the environmental conditions, can be the prior messengers of the matters such as forest loss, damage of marshes or usage of excessive agricultural medicines. Under this concept, bird observation is among the elements of detailed and healthful environment protection strategies.

The total number of bird species within Turkey is equal to the bird species within whole of the Europe. One of the most important factors the fact that our country is rich so rich in birds is in connection with the fact that the bird species have plentiful marshes. Another factor is that Turkey is situated on the important bird immigration roads. Bird observation stations and observation towers are established within important marshes of our country (Manyas, Izmir, Goksu Deltasi etc.) Progresses in connection with ornito-tourism have occured. Important passing points of immigrating bird, seen especially during the autumn and spring months within our country, are Istanbul and Canakkale Straits, Eastern Mediterranean (Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep) and North East Anatolia (Artvin, Rize, Kars). North East Anatolia region has a vast number of different species of preying birds. For example, you can only face the Lyrurus mlokeesiewiczi in Georgia and in the North East Anatolia region. Especially marshes on the bird immigration roads have a large number of birds. Bird observation (ornithology) is rapidly spreading within Turkey during recent years. Currently "bird observation groups" had been established within various cities. Groups are sharing information and registries related with their performed observations under the Internet environment.

The balloon sport, whose initial existence in the world reaches to the end of 18th century, is also rapidly drawing attention in our country. For long years, as well as beingperformed with the aim of individual sports, city tours with balloons are also performed during regional activities in touristic regions of our country.

These balloons take off when heated liquid propane gas filled into it. You can stay on air for long periods with a calm flight under appropriate wind (under 10 km/h). Directing the balloon, when its flight altitude is within appropriate range (which is between 500 - 1500 feet), altitude gain and loss and any change its speed can be made easily by an experienced pilot.

Structure of the Balloon