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

230 Phylum Vertebrata was recovered at Bajánsenye, having travelled 290 km (KEPKA 1960). FERENC MÉSZÁROS (1971) mentioned the occurrence of a greater mouse-eared bat in an article on parasitology. The National Peripatetic Camp for Bat Researchers organized in 1965 by the Hungarian Bat Research Society and the Zala Branch of the Hungarian Ornithological Society

125 set out to survey the bat colonies of the West Hungarian border region. Four house-dwelling species were found in the Őrség: the greater mouseeared bat (Myotis myotis), the serotine (Eptesicus serotinus), the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus), and the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Altogether 1235 examples were found. A further five species

—the whiskered bat (M. mystacinus), Natterer's bat (M. nattereri), Bechstein's bat (M. bechsteinii) and the noctule (Nyctalus noctula)

—were caught by using nets. It is worth noting the occurrence of Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) at Nagyrákos (FEHÉR 1996 and 1997; PÁLMAI 1997). Owl casts

—examining the stomach and pellet content of birds of prey and identifying the remains of small-mammal bones in them

—provide a useful way of gathering information on small-mammal fauna, bringing some significant faunistic results. JENŐ GRESCHNIK published findings early in the 20th century that include many occurrence locations for small mammals in the West Hungarian border region (GRESCHNIK 1910b, 1911 and 1924; BITTERA 1914). Regular examinations of owl diet took place at the Institute of Ornithology

126 between 1959 and 1974, using pellets gathered in various parts of the country. One purpose was to determine the distribution of various small-mammal species. After the research at the Institute of Ornithology had ceased, an owl-nutrition working group was set up at the Hungarian Ornithological Society

127 in 1981, which took the lead in the examination of owl casts. An important role in setting it up was played by EGON SCHMIDT, who had identified many remains of small mammals in owl casts from Vas County during the 1960s and 1970s, and published his findings (SCHMIDT 1967, 1969, 1974a, 1974c, 1976 and 1979c). The greatest quantities of identifiable remains came from pellets of the barn owl (Tyto alba) and long-eared owl (Asio otus), along with a small number from the tawny owl (Strix aluco) and little owl (Athene noctua), which provided only faunistic data. He gave detailed food-species and quantitative structures for each owl species and location. According to SCHMIDT, his publications were just an initiative towards a larger, comprehensive work covering the county. Within the working group, LÁSZLÓ VARGA undertook to do the analysis of the owl-cast materials from Vas County, especially those from the barn owl (Tyto alba) and long-eared owl (Asio otus

— VARGA 1984, 1986C and 1987a). From the faunistic point of view, his most important finding was to demonstrate the occurrence of field voles (Microtus agrestis) at four locations in the Vas County, as well as of Miller's water 125 Magyar Madártani Egyesület Zalai Helyi Csoportja. 126 Madártani Intézet. 127 Magyar Madártani Egyesület.