Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)

Phylum Vertebrata 193 were breeding in the Sopron Hills. ISTVÁN KORONKY (1955) recorded rare winter visitors to Sopron. IMRE PÁTKAI (1961a and 1961b) discovered the willow tit (Parus montanus) and coal tit (P. ater) breeding in Sopron. He also published on occurrences of the redpoll (Carduelis flammea) and whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) in the West Hungarian border region (PÁTKAI 1955b and 1964), as well as observations of the siskin (Carduelis spinus) in the Hanság (PÁTKAI 1934). The wide-ranging ornithological work of JENŐ GYŐRY included occurrences or breeding in Sopron of the dipper (Cinclus cinclus), crested tit (Parus eristatus), willow tit (P. montanus), bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) and treecreeper (Certhia familiáris— GYŐRY 1957a, 1957b, 1959a, 1959b, 1960a, 1960b, 1960c, 1962, 1964a, 1964b, 1964c and 1966; GÁRDONYI and GYŐRY 1955a, 1955b and 1958; GYŐRY and GÁRDONYI 1955 and 1959; SZABÓ and GYŐRY 1961). He found the rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis) on Ság Hill (GYŐRY 1976) and the nest of a willow tit (Parus montanus) in the Kőszeg Hills above Velem (GYŐRY 1964b), as well as doing bird-association and environmental studies (GYŐRY 1957c) and undertaking large-scale ringing programmes. In 1959 (GYŐRY 1959b), he reported on an occurrence of the Egyptian nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) in the Sopron district. This species entered the Birds of Europe volume with a single unnamed location,

53 but no longer appeared in The Bird Visitors of Hungary (HARASZTHY 1988) or The Birds of Hungary (HARASZTHY 1998). LÁSZLÓ STUDINKA contributed many ornithological observations to the sum of knowledge. The focus of his work was in today's Győr-Moson-Sopron County, principally the Hanság (STUDINKA 1935a, 1939, 1957a and 1957b). SÁNDOR MOGYORÓSI examined in 1987 the bird community in a selected stretch of woodland in the Sopron Hills. There he found 81 pairs of 21 breeding species, along with 16 other species that were not breeding (MOGYORÓSI 1988). LÁSZLÓ KÁRPÁTI (1973) charted the bird-life in the sessile oak stands of Szárhalom and Dudlesz woods. Later, he published countless bird records on the Sopron district and the Sopron Hills (KÁRPÁTI 1978b, 1982 and 1983c). MIKLÓS VÁCZI has been investigating since 1989 the size of the bird-of-prey populations in the Sopron district, especially the Sopron Hills and the Dudlesz and Szárhalom woods. The high pine stands provide favourable feeding and other conditions for the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), goshawk (A. gentilis), honey buzzard (Pemis apivorus), buzzard (Buteo buteo) and hobby (Falco subbuteo), as well as the occasional eagle owl (Bubo bubo). He has also published observations of other species of bird of prey (VÁCZI 1993). ZSOLT VARGA (1982) reported, along with other data, that the firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) was breeding in the vicinity of Sopron. Later occurrences of the species in Sopron have been reported by TIBOR HADARICS (1997d and 1998a). ANDRÁS KEVE studied the nesting conditions of the common swift (Apus apus) in the Sopron district (KLEINER 1934). Sopron occurrences and breed53 PETERSON, R.T., G. MOUNTFORT and P.A.D. HOLLÓM 1977. Európa madarai (Birds of Europe). 3rd edition, adapted for Hungarian conditions by ZOLTÁN TILDY. Budapest: Gondolat.