O. Gy. Dely szerk.: Vertebrata Hungarica 20. (Budapest, 1981)
Horváth, L.: Communities of breeding birds in the peaty forest at Tabdi 69-74. o.
VERTEBRATA HUNGARICA TOM. XX. 1981 p. 69-74 Communities of breeding birds in the peaty forest at Tabdi By L. HORVÁTH (Received July 20, 1979) A bstract: The author worked for one year on the bird life of a peatbog forest at Tabdi village between the Danube and the Tisza River In Central Hungary. Cm the basis of invetigations 28 breeding species out of 42 species could be established, i.e. another 14 were transitional migrants or winter visitors. It was found that birds have bred in three kinds of breeding communities: the Sylvia atricapllla , Locustella fluviatilis , and Buteo buteo breeding communities. The investigations have verified that the character of a forest does not alone determine its bird life, but also Its soil and to great extent its environment. The investigations and collecting work of the Natural History Museum in the Kiskunság National Park arrived in their third year in 1979. A. BANKOVICS, ornithologist and natural sanctuary overseer, also participated - as mentioned in one of my earlier papers - in the ornithological investigations. His task is the research of the alkali and sandy parts of the national park, while I have undertaken the study of the bird life of the marshy forests and of the peaty meadow. In the first year of the research work (in 1977) I have investigated the alderwood marshes near the village Ocsa, I published the results in the periodical Aquila (1978). The sutdy of the turfy meadows between the villages Ocsa and Inárcs was the task of the second year; the results are In print (Aquila 1979). The evaluation of the work done in the marshy forest at Tabdi in 1979 was made considerably easier by the fact that I have investigated in a similar forest (mixed ash and alder forest) in the turfmoor region at Ocsa in 1977. I have worked also at earlier times (1952-1956) in the latter area. It should also be mentioned that my earliest researches of the same kind have been made in the peaty alderwoods of the Hanság (1949-1951). On the occasion of my former studies as also at present, I have always considered the birds in their relation to their living and inanimate environments, and above all on the basis of their direct or indirect interconnections. Investigations of this kind aid in outlining my ecological theory with respect to the breeding communities of birds (1956). My numerous papers of bird ecology are founded on this, and the present paper is also closely coupled to it, representing a further justification of my theory. An account of the results of bird watchings demand an outline of the investigation area concerning its locality, soil and vegetation. The Tabdi Forest is situated between the Danube and Tisza River, along and on both sides of the Budapest-Kelebia railway line, about 120 km south of the capital. It extends about one and a half km from north to south and only one from west to east. About one quarter of Its area falls to the east of the railway. The forest consists of ash trees a good number of oaks and poplars. The western and larger part Is a purer and looser ash stand while the fringe of the forest intermixes irregularly with the embracing turfy meadows. The latter part is freer, without any encroaching smaller or larger human settlements. On the other hand, the eastern part of the forest is fairly
