REPORT ABOUT THE HUNGARIAN BIRD BANDING WORK. 73 



Report about the Hungarian bird banding 

 work in the years 1920-1922.*) 



By James Schenk. 



Almost invicible difficulties were the cause, that the work of 

 banding by the Roy. Hung. Institute of Ornithology could recover only 

 very slowly of the crisis in which it was involved through the war and 

 its consequences. 



The contributors on the peripheries are still working with great 

 perseverance and enthusiasm, but their number is greatly reduced and 

 still more their capacity of working, in consequence of all the numberless 

 difficulties which have arisen, in procuring the necessities of life, which 

 are overburdening everybody with much more work as was the case in 

 peace. Opposite to the assistance of our contributors; the defîiciency in 

 the banding work of the Institute itself, is very considerably smaller. 

 In the year 1914, I was able to band 2500 birds, whereas in the last 

 three years I could not even band a hundred. It was possible, to revisit 

 the spots of our previous werk only in spring, as were „Cr bo puszta", 

 the lake of „Balaton" and „Velencze", to effect some banding. 

 The first step being taken, we hope to be able to record of better 

 results in our next report. 



In correspondence to the small number of banded birds, natui'ally 

 the number about whose captivation we have been informed, too is 

 smaller. Remarcable are 6 to 9-years old storks. One of nine years found 

 his end 185 Km. south-east from its birth-place while engaged in a 

 fight, which he carried on for an occupied eyrie, for the possession of 

 the female. An 8 years old stork was found 215, a 7-years old one 90 

 Km. from its birth place. Perhaps the greatest interest claims a bird of 

 six years, which was ascertained breeding in its native place. It seems 

 that after the experiences which have been hitherto made this age is, 

 the lowest Hmit of the propagation capacity of the stork. An 8 years 

 old Black Tern {Hydrochelidon nigra) was found 100 Km. further than 

 its native colony, where its breeding is probable. 



To be mentioned, is a nine years old Marsh Harrier (Circus 

 aeruginosus), which has been banded together with three others out of 

 the same nest, two of them having been found previously. The first, in 

 its third year of life, near its birth place, the second in his fourth year 



*) Previous report in Aquila XXVI. 1919. p. 26—41. 



