Our article about the natural values of Miklapuszta has been published in the magazine “Varázslatos Magyarország”!
We held two public forums in Akasztó and Harta. The participants could learn about the natural values of Miklapuszta, the objectives and the activities of the project. We would like to thank everyone for their participation!
Every year, we have started to introduce artificial habitats to increase the species and number of arthropod communities. We have placed pesticide-free cattle pens at 20 sites in the project area, which will provide feeding and breeding habitat for flies, gall midges and dung beetles.
Every summer survey of the small-flowered asparagus (Cirsium brachycephalum) was completed, visiting previously known habitats of the species at a total of 8 sites. Based on the results of the survey, the population of the Miklapuszta is estimated to be at least 15 000 hectares. The small-flowered asparagus is a biennial plant, developing only an aster in the first year and flowering in the second. The flowers are small, bloom in July, and the fruit is a fuzzy cluster. Pannonian endemic species, the largest populations are found in Hungary, protected, conservation value 5000 ft.
One of the ornithological values of the area is the Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), which has a population of 10-20 pairs in Miklapuszta. Its abundance is mainly influenced by the water level of the alkali lakes. It uses its characteristic upcurved beak to scythe in the shallow water, collecting crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates. It lays its 4 eggs in a nest built on the soil surface and the hatchlings are precocial. Its main predators are the Hooded Crow and the Red Fox, which are a threat to both eggs and chicks. It is highly protected and has a conservation value of 250,000 HUF.
Photo: Fanni Takács
Grassland management last year and abundant rainfail this spring have brought the expected results. We have observed the first pair of Kentish Plovers in the core project area that had been managed by cattle and sheep-grazing last year. We hope that they start nesting and breed successfully to contribute to the re-establishment of this threatened species in the project area.
Photos: Petra Paládi
We have completed surveys of arthropod species and communities in the project area. We will use the results to compare the current arthropod community with the community found in a similar survey 31 years ago. We also conducted the first surveys of the population of Dorcadion fulvum cervae, a beetle subspecies endemic to Hungary, which have provided us with more information on the distribution and activity of this threatened subspecies. Next year, we will also install artificial habitats (wood piles, manure piles, insect hotels) to increase the number of arthropods in the area.
