From European Rollers to the Wildlife of the Bükkalja Region
Last weekend, we organized a nature education event in the village of Tard, within the operational area of the Bükk National Park Directorate.
More than 100 participants joined the programme to discover the outstanding natural values of the Bükkalja region.
During the pre-registered event, visitors took part in guided nature walks and had the opportunity to observe the ringing of European Roller (Coracias garrulus) nestlings. The ringing was carried out exclusively by licensed experts, with the highest priority given to the safety and
welfare of both the birds and the visitors.
Bird ringing is an essential tool in nature conservation and scientific research. It helps researchers understand birds' site fidelity, behaviour, and migration patterns. Thanks to long-term ringing data, we know, for example, that the oldest recorded European Roller ever recaptured was 11 years old.
How does this relate to the conservation of European ground squirrels?
The Tard Pasture Nature Conservation Area is one of the key sites of the CitellusLIFE project. As part of the project, we plan to reintroduce European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) and restore water wells to ensure an adequate water supply for grazing livestock. Proper grazing management helps maintain the short grasslands that are essential habitat for this strictly protected species.
Throughout the event, both children and adults learned about the life of the European ground squirrel and its conservation through interactive and engaging activities.
We hope to welcome visitors back to Tard in the coming years, where we will be able to present the progress of the CitellusLIFE project and share the conservation results achieved. This event was supported by the CitellusLIFE project, the LIFE IP GRASSLAND-HU project,
the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (MME/BirdLife Hungary), the Municipality of Tard, and the Vadonleső Programme.
Photos: Csilla Csajági, Flóra Hák, Tamás Szitta