<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Common Buzzard is a widespread and abundant raptor in Europe. Recently, game keepers have argued that the buzzard population has increased in Hungary and is threatening valuable small game species. Hunting of the buzzard has been prohibited since 1933, and since 1954 it has also been protected by law, in Hungary. Here we review scientific literature on recent population changes of the species, prey composition, and anatomical constraints of foraging. We show that according to the Common Bird Monitoring Program the breeding population remained stable in 1992-2012. Because of its anatomy and its hunting techniques it is not able to hunt efficiently for valuable small game. According to studies made with different methods in different parts of Europe in the last century, most of its prey species are small mammals. Therefore, the Common Buzzard population may help sustain rodent populations, thus providing essential ecosystem services for agriculture. Game species can also occur in the diet, however the proportion is negligible and buzzards usually acquire such prey as carcasses or handicapped individuals. We found no justification in favour of lifting the hunting ban of Common Buzzards in Hungary.</abstract>

Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Hungary

Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Szent István University, 2100 Gödöllő, Páter Károly utca 1.,Hungary

Institute of Environmental Sciences, College of Nyíregyháza, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Sóstói út 31/b, Hungary

Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Baross utca 13., Hungary

Should the Common Buzzard be hunted?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Based on the Hungarian common bird monitoring scheme (MMM), which is the longest running country-wide monitoring using formal sampling design with representative data for the main habitats in Central-Eastern Europe, we investigated the population trends of common breeding and wintering species. Habitat preference and occupancy of the common breeders, migration strategies and relationships among these characteristics could act behind the population trends. We pointed out that long distance migrant bird species had strong decreasing trends in Hungary and very probably in the entire Pannonian biogeographical region, whereas the partial and short migrant species has increasing trends. Farmland birds had declining trend, which trend became more obvious since the joining of Hungary to the EU. The negative changes in the farmland habitat could influence bird species nesting/foraging mainly in this habitat independently from their migration strategies. Our investigations let us to develop indicators on the basis of migration strategy and habitat usage of common birds to provide regular information about condition of groups of species and their habitats in Hungary and the Pannonian region. The MMM database provide unique opportunity for further investigations of several species, habitats and area specific in a part of Europe where this kind of information is rare yet.</abstract>

MME/BirdLife Hungary, 1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21., Hungary

Population trends of common breeding and wintering birds in Hungary, decline of longdistance migrant and farmland birds during 1999–2012

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The haematocrit rate of the blood shows the individual physiological state. As the haematocrit grows, the higher erythrocyte number results in more efficient oxygen uptake capacity which can lead to better performance and probably a better survival rate of an individual. Hence we assume that the high value of haematocrit reflects good health state. Altogether 308 blood samples were collected from a wild population of Collared Flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) in two breeding stages during a period of 2008-2010. We tried to elucidate the relationship between condition and haematocrit level of an individual and studied the haematocrit changes of an individual between years. The haematocrit values differed between years. Females had higher haematocrit values than males in 2010 but not in 2009. At courtship the haematocrit level of males was higher, than during nestling care. The different environmental effects and energy demands of the individuals may be the driving force behind the observed changes in haematocrit level. Analysing the changes between two years, there was a positive correlation between changes in condition index and haematocrit of individuals. The haematocrit values of an individual were repeatable between years. This finding suggests that haematocrit can be informative about the individual’s general health state.</abstract>

Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Hungary

Department of Plant Pathology, Corvinus University of Budapest, 1118 Budapest, Ménesi út 44., Hungary

Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), c/Americo Vespucio, s/n 41092 Seville, Spain

Sources of variation in haematocrit in the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In Dobrogea, a core area for wind energy exploitation in Romania, existing knowledge regarding the intensity and pattern of bird migration is limited. In the absence of enumerated data, wind farms may be constructed in areas where large aggregations of migrants pass. In this study we recorded the intensity of the autumn migration of soaring birds in three locations within the Măcin Mountains, where wind farms are planned to be built. The locations chosen were at Văcăreni, Greci and Cerna villages. Furthermore we categorized all migrating individuals as threatened or non-threatened by the planned wind farms, based on their migration routes and height at local scale. At Văcăreni 4.716 individuals were counted, 3.394 raptors and 1.322 non-raptors, at Greci 2.387 individuals, 2.064 raptors and 323 non-raptors, and finally at Cerna, 5.268 individuals, 4.529 raptors and 739 non-raptors. At all three sites a significant proportion of birds, both raptors and non-raptors, were found to be threatened by the proposed wind farms. At Văcăreni 68.33% of raptors and 84.95% of non-raptors were at threat, at Greci 44.48% and 54.18% respectively, and at Cerna 59.37% and 94.86%. As such we conclude that intensive migration occurs in North Dobrogea and wind farms would have a considerable negative impact on migrants in the studied areas</abstract>

Milvus Group – Bird and Nature Protection Association, Crinului street 22, 540620 Târgu Mureş, Romania

MTA-DE “Lendület” Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology,University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1., Hungary

Autumn migration of soaring birds in North Dobrogea, Romania: a study with implications for wind farm development

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It has been a long studied issue, that birds are frequently infested with ixodid ticks, and consequently play a significant role in disseminating tick-borne pathogens (especially during their seasonal migration) and influence the epidemiology of relevant diseases. In connection with the first Hungarian molecular epidemiological survey on this topic the authors would like to note, that a new, ornithological aspect of similar researches may deserve future attention. Ticks removed from mid- and long-distance migratory birds and the tick-borne pathogens they may contain can be molecularly identified (i.e. with sequencing certain genes), and their sequences could be compared with others internationally available (deposited in the GenBank). This may provide clues for determining the place or country where the bird most likely acquired its tick-infestation, and thus for the probable route of seasonal migration.</abstract>

Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 1078 Budapest, István utca 2., Hungary

Birdlife Hungary, 1021 Budapest, Költő utca 21., Hungary

Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, 1089 Budapest, Orczy út 43., Hungary

Birds as disseminators of ixodid ticks and tick-borne pathogens: note on the relevance to migratory routes

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 31 (2023): Issue 2 (December 2023)

Volume 31 (2023): Issue 1 (June 2023)

Volume 30 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)

Volume 30 (2022): Issue 1 (June 2022)

Volume 29 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 29 (2021): Issue 1 (June 2021)

Volume 28 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 28 (2020): Issue 1 (June 2020)

Volume 27 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 27 (2019): Issue 1 (June 2019)

Volume 26 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 26 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 25 (2017): Issue 2 (December 2017)

Volume 25 (2017): Issue 1 (June 2017)

Volume 24 (2016): Issue 2 (December 2016)

Volume 24 (2016): Issue 1 (June 2016)

Volume 23 (2015): Issue 2 (December 2015)

Volume 23 (2015): Issue 1 (June 2015)

Volume 22 (2014): Issue 2 (December 2014)

Volume 22 (2014): Issue 1 (June 2014)

Volume 21 (2013): Issue 2 (December 2013)

Volume 21 (2013): Issue 1 (June 2013)

Volume 20 (2012): Issue 2 (December 2012)

Volume 20 (2012): Issue 1 (June 2012)

Ornis Hungarica

 Ornis Hungarica is one of the oldest professional, peer-reviewed ornithological journals in East and Central Europe and unique in the Carpathian Basin. It was first published in 1991 by BirdLife Hungary (Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society - www.mme.hu) and became listed in the largest scientific databases and indexing services over this 30-year period.  The journal publishes original research articles, reviews, and short communications from all regions of the world. Manuscripts from all fields of ornithology are considered for publication, especially focusing on the ecology, morphology, behaviour, evolution, biogeography and conservation of birds. Studies advancing our understanding of living or extinct bird species, populations or assemblages are all welcome.  The journal publishes papers in English, but the abstracts, figure captions and table titles are both in English and Hungarian supporting the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the Hungarian community. For non-Hungarian authors, the translations will be prepared by the editors.  The accepted manuscripts are published in two issues per year, both online and in print. The online version of all articles are freely available for downloading (open access). All volumes and issues are archived on the publisher’s site from 2012 to date. Ornis Hungarica aims to publish as rapidly as possible. Reviewers are assigned to each manuscript within 2 days after submission, on average. The full process, including technical editing and correcting the final proofs, is usually finished within 60 days.  Rejection Rate   50%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 