Monitoring
Ornithological monitoring in the Hortobágy
The members of our association are implementing temporally and spatially limited monitoring of breeding and migrating bird species in the region of the Hortobágy, on a nearly 100,000 hectare large area. During the survey, we principally focus on areas of international significance (IBA, Ramsar), as well as on globally threatened species. In certain years a comprehensive breeding bird monitoring programme was conducted on an experimental basis.
Monitoring of breeders
The breeding populations of rare and colonial breeders, as well as of strictly protected bird species are monitored in the Hortobágy on an annual basis. Our members concentrate mainly on waterbirds such as grebes, Ardeidae (herons, egrets, night herons and bitterns), ducks and shorebirds as well as on certain birds of prey (Red-footed Falcon, Saker, White-tailed Eagle), but other breeders are also surveyed like European Roller and Aquatic Warbler. Population changes of Pygmy Cormorant observed in the Hortobágy have been recorded by us since its colonisation in 1992. The active members surveyed the populations of all Hortobágy breeders in the wider sense Hortobágy three times a year, the results of which were recorded on maps and served as a basis for the geographical range maps and population data published in The Birds of the Hortobágy.
Monitoring of migrants
The population sizes of migrants are monitored by conducting synchronized censuses, and all of our members record the changes of birdlife on their usual observation points. We place emphasis on the monitoring of strictly protected and threatened migrants such as Red-breasted and Lesser White-fronted Goose and Slender-billed Curlew. Collected data was published in The Birds of the Hortobágy. This handbook includes all published and unpublished data in a processed form. After the publication of the book, the most recent ornithological data is incorporated in annual reports. All of our monitoring programmes are related to similar monitoring systems applied in Hungary and our association is in close contact with research on migrants coordinated by other NGOs (Birdlife Hungary, Kárpátok International Conservation Society, Körösök Nature Protection Association, Üröm Nature Protection Association, etc)
The breeding populations of rare and colonial breeders, as well as of strictly protected bird species are monitored in the Hortobágy on an annual basis. Our members concentrate mainly on waterbirds such as grebes, Ardeidae (herons, egrets, night herons and bitterns), ducks and shorebirds as well as on certain birds of prey (Red-footed Falcon, Saker, White-tailed Eagle), but other breeders are also surveyed like European Roller and Aquatic Warbler. Population changes of Pygmy Cormorant observed in the Hortobágy have been recorded by us since its colonisation in 1992. The active members surveyed the populations of all Hortobágy breeders in the wider sense Hortobágy three times a year, the results of which were recorded on maps and served as a basis for the geographical range maps and population data published in The Birds of the Hortobágy.