Kuşköy

Kuşköy is a village located in the Çanakçı district of Giresun Province, in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It is renowned for its traditional method of communication known as "Kuş Dili" (bird language), a whistling language used to communicate across the steep valleys and rugged terrain of the region.

Kuş Dili developed as a practical means of long-distance communication in the challenging geography of the Eastern Black Sea Mountains. The whistled language is a complex system that mimics the sounds of birds, allowing villagers to convey information over significant distances. It functions as a substitute for spoken Turkish, transposing the sounds of the language into a series of whistles.

The use of Kuş Dili is declining, particularly among younger generations, due to increased access to modern communication technologies like mobile phones. Efforts are underway to preserve and promote this unique cultural heritage. These efforts include incorporating Kuş Dili into school curricula and promoting it as a tourist attraction.

In 2017, Kuşköy was added to UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, recognizing the vulnerability of this unique communication system and highlighting the importance of preserving it for future generations. The annual Kuşköy Bird Language Festival is held in the village to celebrate and promote the tradition.