Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)
Paleontology
Sorin GEACU Observations made in the interval of April 8-18, 1939, identified the presence of Great Bustards in the area extending between the villages of Parepa and Fulga (7 specimens), on the meadow between Ciorani and the homonymous railway station (5 specimens), in the territory of the area of Coslegi Commune (4 specimens) and of Parepa Village (3 specimens). Between August 1—15, 1939 five Bustards were seen in Sälciile Commune, 11 in the fields between Ciorani and Sälciile, and 8 in the territory of Drägänejti Commune. On February 12, 1939 8 birds were caught by the people of Sälciile. During the hunting season April 1, 1939 - March 31, 1940 two birds had been hunted in this district. From 1938 to 1940, a few groups, formed of 1—3 individuals each, were singled out in the area extending between the villages of Inotejti and Ceptura. In order to prevent their being captured by the locals on glazed frost days, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Fund sent (November 26, 1941), the Prahova blunting Inspectorate 90 posters (kind of warning bills today) to be distributed as follows: 20 copies in Fulga and Ciorani communes; 15 copies in Sälciile and Drägäne§ti communes and 10 copies in Parepa and Conduratu communes. Apart from bill posting, the Inspectorate ordered that the texts be made known to the villages also by drum beats (many locals being illiterate!) (Ploiejti National Archives, Prahova County Hunting Inspectorate, Dos. 1/1940, folio 67). In 1941, a few birds were shot in Ciorani Commune. In 1943, “a reasonable number of Great Bustards” existed in the Ciorani-Fulga-Parepa region, in “an unfilled or little titled area, grass-rich and not trodden by man” (Oprijiu, 1943, p. 401). The same author noted that “no special local protection measures had been taken so far”, although they would have been necessary because the birds were in great suffering since the ice set on the wings prevented them from flying. In the winter of 1939/1940, ice on the wings stopped them on the ground, so they all were killed by the locals” (p. 401). On April 22, 1943 the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Fund approved the shooting of 4 Bustards on the territory of Parepa, Ciorani, Fulga, Sälciile, Bäräitaru and Inotejti communes. In the years 1946-1948, Bustards did exist also in Sälciile Commune (south-east end of the district); it was dry weather and the birds would seek the near-by Ratca Pool, which was in Ialomija district (Geacu, 2001). Buzäu district At the end of the 1930s, the species was observed in the south of the County, in significant numbers, an assertion supported by the fact that the glazed soil of December 22-23, 1938 had facilitated the poaching of 297 birds by 76 culprits, 39 of them killing 132 birds mostly on the territory of Padina Commune (south-east end of the county), two locals killing 30 Bustards on December 23, 1938. A peasant and his son from Scutelnici Commune caught then 50 birds “selling part of them to other locals, the rest being salted” (Com§ia, 1939, p. 102). All these individuals were aquited by the Pogoanele Court. In the 1930s—1940s, in the field between 'f inte§ti and Alberti villages, the flocks of Great Bustards numbered 3—4 specimens each. In 1943, a few flocks were seen in the villages of Amara (Ghergheasa Commune), Nicole§ti (Puie§ti Commune) and Rojioru (Cochirleanca Commune). On April 20, 1943, Basile Chefneux, Head of the Royal Hunts, requested permission from the Buzäu Hunting Inspectorate to hunt five Bustards on the territory of Ru§epa Commune. 148
