The 10th National Eagle Census was organized by MME/Birdlife in collaboration with Directorates of National Parks and other NGOs. 298 people have participated in this year’s Eagle Count. The survey covered about 18.500 square-kilometers, including the most important Eagle wintering habitats. Monitoring of the Great Bustards was done parallel with that of the raptors.

It became clear during the last conference about illegal raptor poisonings in the Carpathian Basin that albeit this phenomenon exists in all neighbouring countries, the situation in Hungary is most severe. Only in the first quarter year of 2013, more than 50 protected birds of prey were poisoned in 21 incidents.

We participated in the Arms, Angling and Hunting International Exhibition again in 2013. Interested people could get information on bird conservation activities and find out more about the Bird of the Year, meanwhile our colleagues held presentations about our ongoing nature conservation projects.

There are several important wintering sites for Eagles in Hungary. Among them, the most numerous are the White-tailed Eagle consisting of lots of Northern European individuals. Majority of the immature, local Eastern Imperial Eagles spends the winter here, as well. Although, they are rare; Spotted Eagles and Golden Eagles occur occasionally on the Counts.

The annual conference of the AAZV (American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, http://www.aazv.org/) is always held in autumn. Here there is enough room for mutual information flow amongst the colleagues of this association and the practising veterinarians of the EAZWV (European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians) as many European colleagues regularly visit this event. The two associations have become closer and closer as they function nowadays; as a conclusion of this they will hold a common conference in 2016 in Atlanta, USA.

Common Buzzards keep continuing to be the most numerous victims of medium voltage pylons, along other strictly protected species, like those two satellite-tagged Imperial Eagles that were electrocuted in the past few weeks.

Following satellite tagged birds of prey and storks via the internet is now available for researchers and the public. In an international joint project, movement data and position of more than 80 individuals of 4 highly endangered bird species tagged in Central and Southeast-Europe is accessible on www.satellitetracking.eu.

Two strictly protected Imperial Eagles were poisoned again. The police has launched an investigation against an unknown culprit. The young birds were born in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, and they were just about to leave the nest site to start their independent life in the Carpathian Basin.

Four different Hungarian-born, color-ringed Imperial Eagles were photographed in the neighboring countries in this past month. Among them was Panni who has a satellite transmitter and so far provided the highest number of coordinates about the dispersal movements of the young Imperial Eagles.