Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)
Phylum Vertebrata 205 (Aquila chrysaetos) circling over the Kőszeg Hills (ANON. 1979b). Apart from that, he wrote articles on ornithological subjects (BECHTOLD 1967, 1970b, 1975b, 1975c, 1981 and 1991). He also provided the first summary of the fauna and flora of the Kőszeg Landscape Conservation Area (BECHTOLD 1982). The István Chernél Kőszeg Group, later the István Chernél Vas County Branch of the Hungarian Ornithological Society, 86 was established under his chairmanship in 1974. These days the members of the branch do wide research into the birdlife of Vas County. They conduct point charting, population estimating and synchronized observation, hold nature-protection and bird-ringing camps, and do practical bird-protection work, supported and supervised by the Hungarian Ornithological Society. The group published a bulletin in 1986-8, 87 which was revived in 1969 88 to publish the activities and findings of members in the area (MARTON 1990; GYURÁCZ et al. 1999). An important part of the group's work is concerned with shaping the attitudes and approaches of schoolchildren. One member of the group, ZOLTÁN BARBÁCSY, conducts intensive research into the bird-life of Vas County, especially the Őrség and the Rába Valley. He has shown the occurrence and breeding of several species in the Őrség, including the firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) and black stork (Ciconia nigra —BARBÁCSY 1975, 1976, 1977a, 1978a, 1978b, 1981a, 1981b, 1981c, 1986 and 1987a). He 86 MME Chernél István Vas megyei Csoportja. 87 Vasi Madártani Értesítő (Vas Ornithological I 88 Cinege Vasi Madártani Tájékoztató (Titmousealso demonstrated that the little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) and common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) were breeding by the Rába (BARBÁCSY 1977b). He has also published a study summarizing our knowledge of the Rába Valley avifauna. So far, 228 bird species have been detected in the part of the Rába Valley covered, of which 117 species breed. He himself has observed 196 species there (BARBÁCSY 1999). The ornithological observations of LÁSZLÓ VARGA have contributed some important faunistic data (VARGA 1981a, 1981b, 1982a, 1999 and 2002). He demonstrated that the common tern (Sterna hirundo) was breeding in the Gyöngyöshermán quarry lake at Szombathely and gave reports on the occurrence and breeding of the willow tit (Parus montanus), firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) and black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius —ANON. 1980b; VARGA 1981a, 1982c and 1991). A total of 164 bird species have so far been observed on and immediately round the Gyöngyöshermán lake, the highest species count on one day being 57. There were clear correlations between the weather conditions, the frequency of prey and the species count and number of birds. He made observations at the Zsennye quarry lake from 1998 to 2002, recording individuals of 79 species (VARGA 2002). LÁSZLÓ VARGA and RÓBERT KIRÁLY also sent regular contributions on the birds of Vas County to the journal Madártani Tájékoztató (Ornithological Report). They observed 68 species in the Vas Ornithological Report).
