At the beginning Milvus Group started as a group of friends, and despite the current dimensions of the Group still managed to remain that, with its benefits and disadvantages. Some say this is the reason why we will never be professionals, a cold-blooded machine which hires the best and decides only on professional considerations. Fortunately many of us think that the results of the past 20 years prove the justification of this fellowship, hereby we are not just a professional group, but also a coherent one.

Which are the achievements of the past 20 years that we are proud of?
Perhaps we dispose of the most extended knowledge about breeding, migrating and winter birds of Romania, therefore:
- we organized ringing camps during 10 years in Gurghiu mountains (http://milvus.ro/gurghiu-mountains-ringing-camp), during 2 years on the Chituc island, where we caught 4 new species for the country
- we organized raptor migration watch site camps in Măcin mountains during 6 years (http://milvus.ro/RO/macin-mountains-raptor-migration-watchsite-2002-2007), and we also endeavoured to explore the exact migrating routes of raptors in Dobrogea (http://milvus.ro/autumn-raptor-migration-study-in-dobrogea-%E2%80%93-2010-2011-2/2286) and we organized raptor migration watch site in Bosphorus (http://milvus.ro/raptor-migration-watchsite-at-bosphorus/307)
- we organize the Wintering Birds of Prey Monitoring Programme (http://milvus.ro/RO/wintering-birds-of-prey-monitoring-programme)
- we organize (together with the Romanian Ornithological Society) the Common Bird Monitoring (http://monitoring.sor.ro/) and the Mid-winter Waterfowl Count (http://milvus.ro/mid-winter-count-of-waterfowl-in-2011/1454), we run the nationwide white stork count (http://www.ciconia.ro/Rezultate.html) (also together with the Romanian Ornithological Society)
- we evaluated the population size of several raptor species: Lesser Spotted Eagle (http://milvus.ro/lesser-spotted-eagle-census-in-the-carpathian-region-of-romania), Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon (http://milvus.ro/conservation-of-the-golden-eagle-and-peregrine-falcon), Red-footed Falcon (http://milvus.ro/RO/the-conservation-of-falco-vespertinus-in-the-pannonian-region-life05-nath000122)
10 years after Milvus Group was founded, we decided not to concentrate our work only on birds. It was a wise decision, here are some of the results:
- we have nationwide data about the population range of otter and European souslik (http://milvus.ro/Mammal_Conservation/steppic-mammal-research-program/souslik-survey#more-305), as well as about the range of some amphibian and reptile species
- we run large carnivore surveys and focus on conservation, targeting especially the brown bear (http://milvus.ro/RO/brown-bear-conservation-and-research-programme-in-a-model-area-in-romania)
We can be rightly proud of these results, but they alone would not take nature conservation forward. Fortunately we had the opportunity to use our data in the benefit of nature conservation – we have a huge part in the proposals of the Natura 2000 network (http://www.natura2000proposals.ro/); we can say that without our persistent work, Romania would have remained without hundreds of thousands (or perhaps millions) of hectares of protected areas, and our work is not yet finished
- we initiated the mounting of special platforms on pylons for White Stork nests in the biggest part of the country and we installed the first web-camera in Romania on a White Stork nest in Dumbrăvioara (http://milvus.ro/RO/the-2011-events-in-the-stork-nest-with-web-camera/2033)
- we run a successful Environmental Education programme, with many classes and camps (http://milvus.ro/RO/working-groups/environmental-education)
- we try to be watchdogs and to act if any nature harming occurs, ex: building roads trough protected areas (http://milvus.ro/RO/ngo-revolution) or building wind farms where they could negatively affect bird populations
- we would like to achieve the long-term conservation of three raptor species with projects financed by the EU (www.pomarina.ro, www.sakerlife2.mme.hu, http://milvus.ro/RO/the-conservation-of-falco-vespertinus-in-the-pannonian-region-life05-nath000122)
- we have had a rehabilitation centre for birds for more than 10 years, which works on our own costs and with the help of volunteer veterinarians (http://milvus.ro/RO/romana-the-rehabilitation-center)
- we founded the Milvus Scholarship, a tool for supporting young nature conservationists (http://milvus.ro/RO/milvus-scholarship-2010/971)
- we take part in the management of 4 protected areas (http://milvus.ro/ariiprotejate/)
- we organized a nature photography contest – this year for the third time (http://milvus.ro/RO/the-3rd-international-milvus-nature-photography-contest/1430),
and we could go on, and we promise: we will.
All these could be achieved only with teamwork, hereby we would like to thank the help of every member, volunteer, employee, sympathizer and supporter. We thank our criticizers too, trough them we only get stronger. By looking back and analysing, we realize that all these things, which we call results, are nice and true, but they haven`t changed the world (enough) thereto we could say, Milvus Group can split up, because there aren`t any goals to stay together for. So we continue and we hope that there are many 20 years to come for the Group, and one day we could say: we have no more things to do for nature conservation.
The 20^th anniversary was celebrated in November by the whole Milvus Group

It’s a well-known fact that falcon species don’t build the nest of their own, instead raise their chicks in other birds’ nests. In our region the “Red-foots” choose mainly the nests of rooks, as they breed colonially as well. In the recent years we’ve established brand new colonies by putting artificial nests on trees in those areas where rookeries lack.

During a breeding season these artificial nests, made by timber, are filled with bird droppings and pellets, often transforming into a solid, aqueous mass because of the wet winter and spring weather. A nesting box of this type protects the eggs and the chicks from predators and bad weather conditions, being one of the most effective methods to raise breeding success. But in the same time, covered artificial nests need more time to dry out then the natural nests do.

If eggs are laid in springtime on a wet surface they can easily get cold, situation which can ruin the whole breeding. This is the reason we clean all the artificial nests and change the nest material year by year. In some cases other kind of maintenance activities (e.g. nest consolidation) are required to do as well.

Although these nestboxes were placed out especially for the Red-footed Falcons, some of them are occupied by other bird species. Kestrels and Long-eared Owls usually choose these nests to breed, being also welcomed by us as they are protected species, too. Since the mentioned species’ breeding season starts earlier than the Red-footed Falcon’s, we had the opportunity to find breeding Kestrels and Long-eared Owls during our nest-maintenance works.

We have found in several nests many eggs, which make us to hope for a successful breeding season for this summer after a disastrous one from last year. It seems that this year the populations of pray-species (especially of vole) will grow, and so the Red-footed Falcons, arriving in the early of May, will have plenty of food to consume. The nesting conditions were already ensured by us.

Thanks to all who have helped our work!

• to inform the local target groups concerning the benefits and constrains of the Natura 2000 sites, as well as about the conservation status of the key species and the necessary conditions to be assured in order to let them prosper;

• to stimulate the local youth’s positive attitude regarding nature and wild birds;

• to improve the nesting conditions of target species by mounting artificial nestboxes.

Among other results, we have achieved:

• presentations were held in schools from Tămăşeu, Roşiori and Livada de Bihor villages;

• informational boards about the Natura 2000 sites and key bird species were erected in the settlements mentioned above, and the proximity of breeding colonies;

• leaflets about the sites and bird species were edited and distributed on local level;

• artificial colonies were established for Red-footed Falcons and Rollers (Coracias garrulus)

Digital copies of our materials are available for downloading:

• Informational board about the „Lunca Barcăului” Natura 2000 site (RO&HU)

• Informational board about the „Valea Alceului” Natura 2000 site (RO&HU)

• Informational board with the most important breeding bird species of the colonies form the „Lunca Barcăului” Natura 2000 site (RO&HU)

• Informational board with the most important breeding bird species of the colony form the „Valea Alceului” Natura 2000 site (RO&HU)

• Informational board with the most representative aquatic bird species of the wetlands form the „Valea Alceului” Natura 2000 site (RO&HU)

• Leaflet presenting the „Lunca Barcăului” Natura 2000 site (RO, HU)

• leaflet presenting the „Valea Alceului” Natura 2000 site (RO, HU)

Together with a large number of members of the Milvus Group and colleagues at BirdLife Hungary, on 15^th July have mounted the transmitter on an adult female of 178 grams. The bird, named Anita, was caught at the colony near Livada de Bihor (Bihor County), having an exceptional physical condition.
The transmitter, who for some time already entered into service will transmit us data about all the movements and will sketch the bird migration route and wintering areas in Africa.
A better knowledge of migration routes and places of agglomeration is very essential for the proper conservation of the species.
Anita, like other birds with satellite tags, is monitored daily, and a map about the migration rotes, updated every three days, can be found on the link: http://www.kekvercse.mme.hu/en/gmap
For further details on the Conservation of Falco even in the Pannonian region, funded by LIFE project (LIFE05/NAT/H/000122), please visit: http://www.falcoproject.hu/en/content/show

This adult male with very worn feathers, being unable to fly was transported to Tg. Mureş from Timisoara. After a full molting, he was released successfully. The juvenile of Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) came to us through Mr. Gyerő Győző, who found the bird near the road, in vicinity of the town Chişineu Criş (Arad County). After the physical condition of the bird (named by the “adoptive parents” Diamond) has become appropriate to be released, it took flight to Africa with other falcons from the colony situated near Turda. The two Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) have reached us, one of from Arad and the other from Tg. Mures, with seriously injured wings, being unable to fly. After a period of approx. two months, they have followed appropriate treatment, were released near Tg. Mures. Both birds flew very well, with active flight on long distances, and then began to soaring and climbing at altitudes ever higher.
The young female Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), with name Ágoston, came to our center via Szabó József jr., suffered a shock, probably due to a collision with a car in Bogatii Forest (Braşov County). After only three weeks, her condition became able to be released.
The young Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) was found in this autumn, in a weak condition near Tg. Mures. With no serious problems, he recovered in short period of time and was released on the Cipău Fishpond (Mures County). This bird was observed two weeks after releasing 3-4 km away from the releasing place, hunting at Iernut Fishpond; which confirms the success of rehabilitation.
Before release, all the birds were ringed, and about most of them we realized a short video registration.