The varnishing-day of the 4th International Milvus Nature Photography Contest took place on the14th of October 2012, Sunday from 11 AM. At the opening Cezar Buliga, the curator of the exhibition…
The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is one of the main target species of the Milvus Group’s raptor conservation activities. We had several projects focusing on the protection of this small size falcon, the international LIFE program being one of them. Within this project we began to monitor the autumn roosting of Red-footed Falcons. This species breeds in colonies and it’s gregarious during migration as well. They form night roosts from the end of August to the end of September/first days of October, and several hundreds of birds (sometimes above one thousand) can gather at one single roosting site. These places are usually small tree patches or roadside trees. (more…)
The exposition will last for 3 weeks.
This year ”Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association will organise the III. Romanian Ornithological Marathon, which will take place at Cefa Fishponds between 19-21 October 2012. The contest will last 24 hours. The…
In the last two years, the employees of the Milvus Group working on the Falco cherrug conservation LIFE+ project expansively examined the suitable natural nests for Saker Falcons occurring in the Western part of Romania. The results clearly show that the lack of such nests is one of the most important limiting factors for Sakers to inhabit these regions. Falcon species do not make nests of their own, they typically use nests built by other birds to breed, and Saker Falcon is no exception to this rule. Unfortunately solitaire trees and small tree patches, which are proper habitats for different species of raptors or Corvids to build their nests, are widely missing from Western Romania. In these conditions they cannot provide breeding places for Sakers, as well. The South-western part of Romania, named Banat, is such a place, where the only natural nests suitable for Sakers occur on pylons of high voltage powerlines. (more…)
[singlepic id=1043 w=320 h=240 float=left]On the 20th of August 2012 near Vlčnov, in the Czech Republic a Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) with Romanian rings was caught in the mistnet of ornithologist Petr Pavelčík. After the bird was controlled by the ringer, it was released and our association was informed. From the data we found out that it was ringed on the 11th of July 2012 by Daróczi J. Szilárd and Hegyeli Zsolt at a Red-footed Falcon colony near Sânmartin (Arad county). (more…)
Between 2008 and 2010 several individuals of the Southern Birch Mouse (Sicista subtilis) have been found in Barn Owl and Little Owl pellets collected from different localities on the Someș Plateau. The single known data of this species is based on the specimen collected by Orosz Endre from Apahida in 1900, which is stored in the Hungarian Natural History Museum. (more…)
The winning photos list and the photos selected for exhibition can be downloaded here.
Members of the jury:
Tamás András AFIAP – RO, president of jury
Dan Dinu AFIAP, PhotoLife – RO
Kerekes István EFIAP/p – HU
Media partners:
90 photographers sent pictures from 17 countries.
Free topic: 342 photos
Landscape topic: 190 photos
Szőke Attila/Slovacia – Mimicry
Between 16-21 july, 2012 Milvus Group organized an interesting camp for pupils from the Hârtibaciu – Târnava Mare – Olt area in the frame of the project entitled “For nature…
In the beginning of July 2012 Milvus Group organized the 6th traditional camp in the Forest School from Rigmani (Mureș county). This year the camp was financed by the Environmental…
After the promising results the Milvus Group’s employees got earlier in the spring seeking for Sakers in Dobrudja (Romania), they decided to continue the search. The purpose of the quest was to identify unknown Saker pairs and thus optimal quality habitats for this species. Several artificial nests are going to be mounted on high voltage powertowers in the very near future and the more nests installed in places where Sakers occur, the better chances to be occupied by falcons. The lack of appropriate nests is one of the most important issues to resolve in order to ensure a stabile Saker population in Romania.
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On the 27th of June 2012 members of Milvus Group travelled to Suplac commune (Mureș county), following an appeal the mayor has made. In Idirfaia village, belonging to Suplac commune, the locals have been worried because of the storks which have disappeared in the last one and a half week. For some time they have not seen the owners of the stork nest from the brink of the village, nor have they seen the stork chicks which were already standing on their feet in the nest for some time. (more…)
May-June is the period when most birds from Romania are breeding. This is the period when the chicks of different breeding species fledge earlier and can fall into hands of benign people. It is best to leave these birds at the location where they were found, possibly in a place protected from predators (cats, dogs).
In May and June we received more calls than in the previous months. Totally 32 bird lovers from 12 localities asked for our help, in most cases about young birds which left their nest, this way seeming orphans. Most of them were released at the location of their finding. In this period 15 birds arrived to our center: 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Common Ravens, 1 White Stork, 6 Little Owls, 2 Long-Eared Owls, 2 Common Kestrels. (more…)
On the 1st of June 2012, coordinated by the Milvus Group, a satellite transmitter was mounted on a Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), the second one in Romania. The aim of…
From June 2012 a new journal will appear on our webpage about our activities in our Rehabilitation Centre which will be published every two months. This will contain information about…
In 2012 the Environmental Education Working Group of Milvus Group organized information meetings entitled “The best educational methods to promote the Natura 2000 network” in the frame of SOP Environment project “For nature and local communities – the bases for a Natura 2000 integrated management in Hârtibaciu – Târnava Mare area” co-financed by the European Union Regional Fund. The project is implemented by WWF Romania in partnership with ADEPT Foundation, Mihai Eminescu Trust, Regional Environmental Protection Agency Sibiu and EcoTur Sibiu. The six presentations were held in four towns from Transylvania: Agnita, Dumbrăveni, Rupea and Sighișoara, in Romanian and Hungarian also. (more…)
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)
In 2010 Milvus Group Association began installing the first artificial nestboxes for Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) in the Călimani Mountains. During the following years we have continued this activity in other areas such as Gurghiu Mts, Giurgeu Basin and Ciuc Mts mounting several ten nestboxes. The nests are yearly monitored in order to know the occupancy rate and the breeding success.
Member of Milvus Group since 2005, at the same time founder of the Mammal Conservation Working Group, with main fields of interest in research and conservation of small mammals and large carnivores. Volunteer in the majority of ongoing activities, working in projects with aims to study mammal (bear, wolf, lynx, otter) populations in Natura 2000 sites for drafting management plans.
Member of Milvus Group since 1994. Founder and leader of the Mammal Conservation Working Group. Biologist with main interest in the biology of the wolf and the brown bear, studying predominantly the problems arising from their interactions with humans.
E: zoltan.d.szabo@milvus.ro
Biologist, graduated at Babeș-Bolyai University. Obtaind his PhD degree at Debrecen University, studying the dispersal behaviour of Sand Martins. Member of the Milvus Group since 1993. Worked as university lecturer teaching ecology, ornithology and conducted field practice. Produced nature documentaries as cameraman and director. Initiated and coordinated the Romanian Common Bird Monitoring Scheme between 2006-2018. Licensed bird ringer.
E-mail: anna.denes@milvus.ro Tel: 0743-994.578
I graduated as a biologist at Babeş-Bolyai University, where I am currently doing my master studies in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology. At the university I study dragonflies. I have loved nature since childhood and have been involved in nature conservation in the Vargyas Gorges Nature Reserve. I met the Milvus Group in 2016, and since then I have participated in several of their activities as a volunteer. It is a pleasure for me to work in this team for the birds, for the conservation.
E-mail: lorinc.barbos@milvus.ro Tel: 0723-201.344
Member of Milvus Group since 2011. Biologist, graduated from Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, currently master degree student at the same university. Interested mainly in raptors, he is the coordinator of a national monitoring program for nocturnal species. Licensed ringer of the Romanian Ornithological Centre for raptors. Currently employed at Environmental Protection Agency Satu Mare.
E-mail: reka.kiss@milvus.ro
Member of Milvus Group from 2002. Her main activities are linked to raptor conservation and monitoring (mainly Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon conservation, raptor migration count). At the same time she participated in several surveys and monitoring programmes of different bird species. As an active member of the Environmental Education Working Group, she organizes different environmental education activities, excursions in kindergarten and primary schools, activities in Forest School for children. From 2009 she has been a licensed ringer, ringing birds with the aim of environmental education and bird monitoring in different ringing camps.
E-mail: zsolt.hegyeli@milvus.ro Tel: 0735-878.518
Member of Milvus Group since 2003, with main activities within the Mammal Conservation Working Group. His main fields of interest are biogeography and conservation of steppic mammals, and conservation of diurnal raptors. Involved in projects concerning mammal research and conservation, as well as activities regarding protection of raptors. Also working on the implementation of the Natura 2000 network in Romania.
E-mail: csaba.domokos@milvus.ro Tel: 0720-538.422
Member of the Milvus Group since 2004. Biologist, with an MSc in Wildlife Management Engineering. Currently a PhD student at the Roth Gyula Doctoral School of Forestry and Wildlife Management Sciences, University of Sopron (Hungary). Interested in large carnivore conservation, management and research, with a focus on brown bears.
E-mail: judith.papp@milvus.ro
Member of the Milvus Group since 2000, she is acting in the field of ecological education, ecosystem services, fundraising. Since 2009 she has been involved in the organization of the Milvus International Nature Photography Contest.
E-mail: laura.turdean@milvus.ro
Has a B.A. in Humanities and is deeply fascinated by our cultural and natural heritage. She got involved into several grassroots movements and awareness raising campaigns, such as: Save Roșia Montană and no fracking of shale gas. Now at Milvus, she communicates in writing and visually about nature and conservation, revealing this has always been her dream job.
E-mail: attila.dosa@milvus.ro Tel: 0743-994.579
With a degree in economics, birding was just a hobby for him until he joined to the Milvus team. Since then, he has been involved in ornithological surveys and monitoring programs.
E-mail: szilard.daroczi@milvus.ro Tel: 0720-537.066
Member of Milvus Group since 1992. Graduated from the Faculty of Forestry (game management section) in Transylvania University of Brașov. His main activities are the study and conservation of raptors and owls, being involved in most projects regarding raptors, also coordinating some of them. He works mainly with species like Lesser Spotted Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Common Kestrel, Long-legged Buzzard but he is interested in Long-eared Owl, Ural Owl, Tawny Owl, and Pygmy Owl too. He regularly visits the wetlands from the Western Plain, Transylvania and Dobruja. He doesn’t hide the fact that he likes to twitch rare birds, even if on the other side of the country. He is interested in migration of birds, especially raptors and has been a licensed ringer of the Romanian Ornithological Centre since 1995. He coordinates the Milvus Group’s database of ringed birds and recoveries. Szilárd is one of the administrators of the Rare Birds of the Carpathian Basin database.
E-mail: istvan.kovacs@milvus.ro Tel: 0728-303.898
Biologist, with master’s degree in terrestrial and aquatic ecology. Licensed bird ringer of the Romanian Ornithological Centre. His main fields of activity are the coordination of bird surveys and monitoring programmes like the Wintering birds of prey monitoring in Romania, the Romanian breeding bird atlas, the Monitoring of nocturnal birds in open habitats, the Monitoring of Golden Eagles in Romania and several local surveys. He is also one of the responsibles for the administration of the OpenBirdMaps database.
E-mail: iulia.vizi@milvus.ro
From December 2015, Julia takes care of the external communication of the association. It has entered the nongovernmental sphere after more than 12 years of television and radio journalism. Passionate about reading, excursions and animals, Julia believes that only through communication we can change the little universe we live in.
E-mail: gabor.bone@milvus.ro Tel: 0722-533.815
My interest for nature and nature conservation led me to study environmental sciences and later ecology MSc. Main interests are application of computer studies in ecology. I am member of Milvus Group since 2012 June, and mainly I work with data evaluation, GIS and field work. Beside this I help in other activities of the Group.
E-mail: reka.szilagyi@milvus.ro
She has been a member of the Milvus Group since 2020. She studied computer science and environmental protection in Cluj-Napoca. She deals with programming, data processing and data visualization, and helps at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
E-mail: krisztina.havadtoi@milvus.ro
Licenced in biology at Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca în 2010, and since then specialized in botany, vegetation survey and habitat mapping. Collaborating with Milvus Group since 2019.
E-mail: katalin.kelemen@milvus.ro Tel: 0722-437.863
Member of Milvus Group since 1994. She is interested in agro-environment, ecosystem services and ecological education activities and courses.
E: istvan.komaromi@milvus.ro T: 0720-527.565
Vicepresident of Milvus group with degree in biology-geology and geography of tourism. He is involved in most of Milvus Group’s activities such as: raptor conservation and research programmes, bird population monitoring, migration study and others. His main fields of interest are related to birds of prey.
E-mail: zsuzsanna.aczel-fridrich@milvus.ro Tel: 0720-018.088
Member of Milvus Group since 2007. She studied ecology at Babeș-Bolyai University. Her field of interest is small mammal research based on owl pellets and diet analyses of diurnal raptors. In addition, she takes part in environmental education programm
E-mail: attila.marton@milvus.ro Tel: 0725-533.086
Ornithologist, member of Milvus Group since 2010. He obtained his Master’s Degree at Babeș-Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca, and at the moment he is a PhD student at the University of Debrecen. His main research area in brood parasitism, studying the coevolutionary relationship between cuckoos and great reed warblers. Licensed ringer since 2013, he takes part in the ringing activities of the group and coordinates the ringing at Chituc Ringing Camp.
E-mail: robert.zeitz@milvus.ro Tel: 0735-878.520
Founder and employee of Milvus Group. Ecologist, graduated from Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, licensed ringer of the Romanian Ornithological Centre. His main activities are related to raptor conservation and study Working Group but he is actively taking part in many of Milvus Group’s bird-related programs such as countrywide research, monitoring or conservation projects.
E-mail: attila.nagy@milvus.ro Tel: 0728-303.868
Became a member of Milvus Group in 2002. Attila is coordinating several activities carried out in the western part of the country. He is the coordinator of our Red-footed Falcon conservation program. Beside of this, Attila is activating in conservation and research activities related to other species as the Great Bustard and the European Roller. He is responsible for two Natura 2000 sites from Bihor County, which are in the custody of Milvus Group. At present Attila is coordinating a POS project aiming to elaborate management plans for seven Natura 2000 sites. He is the leader of the branch of Milvus Group’s from Oradea.
E: tibor.sos@milvus.ro T: 0735-878.519
Biologist with master degree in applied ecology. Member of the group from 2003, mainly interested in amphibian and reptile biology and conservation (www.tiborsos.webs.com). Founder of the Amphibian and Reptile Protection Working Group. Initiator of the Trachemys Adoption – Romanian Coalition (www.freewebs.com/trachemysadoption), a group which popularizes the problem of released exotic turtles in nature. Member of the Natura 2000 team.
E: reka.komaromi@milvus.ro T: 0725-226.174
Member of Milvus Group since 2001. She studied biology-geology at Babeș-Bolyai University and horticulture engineering at Corvinus University Budapest. She takes part in environmental education programs within the Environmental Education Working Group and she works at the Rehabilitation Center. At the same time she takes part in financial administration and everyday duties in the office.
E-mail: andrasattila.nagy@milvus.ro Tel: 0720-018.089
Member of the Milvus Group since 2005. Mainly interested in the protection of freshwater fish and management of the protected areas. Ecologist, graduated at Babeș-Bolyai University from Cluj Napoca. Currently he is studying the ecology and protection of the fish fauna of the Transylvanian rivers and is a PhD student at the Babeș-Bolyai University (Faculty of Biology and Geology).
E-mail: tamas.papp@milvus.ro
Tel: 0720-530.117
Founding member of Milvus Group and president of the organization. Graduated from Babeș-Bolyai University as biologist. Licensed bird-ringer. Coordinates the work of the organization, so despite the fact that he likes field work, spends most of his time in the office. He likes to work on topics which have a major impact on nature, even if they are not popular, such as bird electrocution or agro-environmental measures. Represents the biodiversity conservation policy of the organization at various national or international forums. Board Member of the Romanian “Natura 2000” NGO Coalition.
