Autumn crane migration and climate change in the Carpathian Basin

Research on autumn crane migration in the Carpathian Basin, particularly focusing on Hortobágy National Park, reveals significant advances in crane arrival dates linked to rising local temperatures. The study, conducted between 2006 and 2014, identified asymmetrical migration patterns with multiple waves of cranes using nearly 60 roost sites, predominantly large fishponds. Notably, cranes in Körös-Maros National Park began overwintering more frequently, favoring dry wetlands, while those in Kiskunság staged for shorter periods, often gathering in Szeged's Lake Fehér and alkali lakes. The Borsodi Mezőség region was found to host satellite flocks linked to Hortobágy. Additionally, the study detected a correlation between later autumn migration peaks and warmer North-Atlantic Oscillation winters, suggesting climate change influences on crane migration phenology.

Végvári, Z. (2015). Autumn crane migration and climate change in the Carpathian Basin. Ornis Hungarica, 23(2), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1515/orhu-2015-0012