Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)
Paleontology
About the former presence of the great bustard in Prahova and Buzäu districts On May 14, 1943 a few specimens were hunted in the Baba Ana-Amaru area. The Ministry of Agriculture did approve the catching of 13 birds in Buzäu County for the hunting season April 1, 1943-March 31, 1944. The inspections made by the Buzäu Hunting Inspectorate between June 17—24, 1944 found a “rich and increasing” Bustard population. In 1944, Cilibia Village had a Hunting Society named just “Dropia” (The Great Bustard). Between April 1, 1945 and March 31, 1946 the County had only 14-15 Great Bustards. A Report of the Buzäu Hunting Inspectorate sent to the Ministry of Agriculture mentioned that “a somehow larger number of Great Bustards were observed and surveillance convinced us that their number was on the increase in the interval of April 1, 1946 — March 31, 1947” (Buzäu National Archives, Buzäu Hunting Inspectorate, Dos. 17/1948, folio 9). In 1948, the species area was limited to Scutelnici (Meteleu)-Arcanu-Pogoanele-Padina communes in the south of the district. Until around 1950, Great Bustards could be seen also on the held between Cioranca and Limpezi§ villages. The Bucharest Hunting Economy Direction “planned” the hunt of 10 males in this County, between April 1, 1948 and March 31, 1949. Annually, about 10 Great Bustard flocks, the largest with 10-15 specimens, could be noticed in the field between the villages of Baba Ana (Buzäu County), Bolde§ti and Fulga (Prahova district) until 1950. They used to stay in the Brassica fields, a plant that had started to be grown in the years of the Second World War. In the 1940s, the bird had several nests in this field, even village children could find them (eg. those in the small village of Lacul Sinaia). Very few Bustards still existed in the droughty years 1946-1947, the last pair being seen in that field in 1952. Roundabout 1940, birds existed also in Lunca Banului Commune. Before 1950, a number of 6-7 or even 10 birds lived in Scultelnici Commune, the last Great Bustard specimens being hunted in 1950 and 1951. Worth-noting, former landowers valued and protected these birds. In the 1950s, in the area extending between the villages of Padina, Tätule§ti and Ru§efu Great Bustrad flocks numbered 4-5 individuals each, the last 7 being seen in the Fall of 1961. A Great Bustrad bird was hunted in the Brädeanu-Scultelnici area in 1961. Later, in 1970, a Great Bustard was seen on the territory of C. A. Rosetti Commune. In the Padina area (south-east end of the district), the last Great Bustards were observed in 1973-1974. In Buzäu County, the last birds (3 Great Bustards) were discovered east of Limpezij Village (between Buzäu and Urziceni) in the spring of 1983. Conclusions The Great Bustard has disappeared primarily because of poaching. Other causes were: changes of habitat after the land expropriation in 1945 and 1949, when large properties (with vast and homogeneous fields that provided the quiet and the best living conditions needed by this bird) were fragmented, deeply affecting the Great Bustards environment. The drought of 1946 and especially the blizzard of February 1954, the biggest in the south of Romania, led to the disappearance of the species from over 95% of the areas occupied by it. In Prahova district, the species became extinct in the 1950s, in Buzäu district the last specimens were seen in 1983. 149
