On 28.10.2011, our colegues Szilárd Daróczi and Róbert Zeitz, members of Association Milvus Group and in the same time project officers within the LIFE project ”Conservation of Aquila pomarina in…
[singlepic id=771 w=320 h=240 float=left]The study of migrating birds has always been among the primer activities of Milvus Group. In the past years we organised several camps with the aim of indentifying the migration period of different raptor species. In this consideration the camps organized in Măcin Mountains, during 2002-2007, were the most important.
Last year (2010) we proposed a new objective: to indentify the migration routes of raptors in Dobrogea. These new information will help us understand the possible negative effects of existing and planned wind farms on migrating raptors. (more…)
As in previous years, ”Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association organises the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) census also this year. This program is running in other East and Central European countries with the same method: counting the owls in their winter roosts. This synchronous census is important to clarify some questions related to the species. With this method many unknown wintering places have been discovered in Romania. (more…)
This year ”Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association organized the II. Romanian Ornithological Marathon, which took place at Cefa Fishponds (Bihor County) between 21-23 October. 13 teams with 2-4 persons (totally 43 people) registered at the contest, but there were also participants who didn’t register. (more…)
On the 2nd of August 2011 we received from a veterinarian friend of us Borka Levente a juvenile male Lesser Spotted Eagle from Pădureni region (Mureș county). The bird had been found by some workers near a forest. After feeding the bird for a day, we took it to the forest near Valea village for adoption, where on the 7th of July we ringed and tagged with satellite transmitter the chick named Katona (http://pomarina.ro/RO/psri-cu-transmitoare/115-katona). At this nest site we have been making regular observations during the breeding period. Both juvenile birds had similar age, which was the reason for choosing this pair as adopting parents. (more…)
This year ”Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association will organise the II. Romanian Ornithological Marathon, which will take place at Cefa Fishponds between 21-23 October 2011. The contest will last 24…
In 2006 “Milvus Group” Bird and Nature Protection Association installed the first web camera on a stork nest in Dumbrăvioara. At first the events from the nest could be followed only on the computer from the stork museum. From 2010 the daily life of the storks in the nest number 10 can be followed anywhere on the world using the internet.
During five years the male from the stork pair who occupied this nest, was a ringed bird (https://milvus.ro/white-storks-with-coloured-elsa-ring/66), but this year the events in the nest were much more exciting. On the 3rd of April a stork came to the nest and on the 8th of April his or her pair arrived too. The first egg was laid on the 19th of April and the next ones on the 21th and 23th of April. The male didn’t take part in the incubation so the female started incubating the three eggs alone. (more…)
During July 2011 Milvus Group signed a new funding contract with the Environmental Fund Administration (www.afm.ro) in financing the project entitled “Ecological education for a sustainable future”. In august we organized our “traditional” camp for children and young people in Rigmani village (Neaua community, Mureș county). (more…)
[singlepic id=770 w=320 h=240 float=left] Migration of raptors is phenomenon which always raised interest among members of Milvus Group. In the past few years several studies have been made in order to identify the main migration periods for each raptor species. Maybe the most relevant among these studies was carried out in the Măcin Mountains between 2002 and 2007 (link). Last year a new study was started with the aim to gather new and precise information about the migration routes in Dobrogea and to evaluate the possible impact of already built or future wind-farms from the area. (more…)
Section A – GENERAL
Place 1: Garas Attila/ Ungaria – Lentről jöttünk (We came from depths)
Place 2: Bakos Gábor/ Ungaria – In flight
Place 3: Csonka Péter/ Hungary – My jungle
Highly commended photos:
Branda Mircea (Ro) – T-Rex
Kelemen Attila (Hu) – Vizben álló fák (Trees standing in water)
Varga István (Hu) – Kangaroo rabbits
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Section B – AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
Place 1: Varga István/ Ungaria – Waiting for love
Highly commended photos:
Daróczi Csaba (Hu) – Harc a halért (Fight for the fish)
Máté Bence (Hu) – Vízen futás (Running on water)
Photos selected for exhibition –Section A – GENERAL
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Photos selected for exhibition –section B – AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
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(more…)
In April, Hungarian experts from MME/Bird Life Hungary, partner of the Milvus Group in the “Conservation of Falco cherrug in NE-Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia” LIFE+ project (www.sakerlife2.mme.hu), made some…
Thank you for your very kind 2% donations, which we received in 2011. Your generosity will help us to sustain the Rehabilitation Center, the Ecological Education of kids and to…
[singlepic id=622 w=320 h=240 float=] In April and May 2011, training courses were held within the project “Ecological education in Mureș County” – financed by AFM (Administration of the Environmental…
[singlepic id=601 w=250 h=200 float=left]Although the Hungarian-Romanian Red-footed Falcon LIFE project has ended in 2009, the Milvus Group has assumed to manage the so-called After LIFE activities (those are required to be continued after the end of the project). One of these activities is the maintenance of the artificial nests mounted within the LIFE project for the Red-footed Falcons. 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. (more…)
[singlepic id=595 w=250 h=200 float=left]In the last period more and more people are contacting the Milvus Group – Bird and Nature Protection Association, asking for help to protect the storks. Usually they are asking us to set up a rack for a nest, which is on an electrical pylon (e.g. Valea Nirajului, Ocna de Sus etc.). In some cases they are informing us about that some nests are in danger, sometimes even the coworkers from and electrical firm, without no reason, are removing them. In every situation we try to give our best and to solve the established, often unpleasant and weird so called problems.
(more…)[singlepic id=572 w=250 h=200 float=left]On the 9th of April 2011, the Milvus Group has captured, successfully anesthetized and, after mounting a GPS-GSM collar (made by Vectronic Aerospace) on it, has released its first bear. The bear, an adult male weighing approx. 250 kilograms, was captured in Harghita County, several kilometers away from the town of Sovata. The capture team consisted of Károly Illyés and Károly Pál (professional gamekeepers, assistants within the bear project), Levente Borka (veterinarian) and the bear project coordinator, Csaba Domokos. The collar is working well and is already sending information on the animal’s activity. (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.
