Abstract:

Bird assemblages on an artificial fishpond of 63.3 ha in Eastern Hungary contained 24 breeding species and 156 breeding pairs. Reed nesting species dominated both the number of species and pairs. Birds nested only in vegetated areas. Insectivoruous birds dominated over other foraging categories, although their weighted dominance was the lowest. Due to the small area, and the short period with suitable water level, there were not many migrants. Mainly Limosa limosa, Larus ridibundus and Philomachus pugnax rested on the pond.. Hunting had an unequivocally negative impact but the effect of reed mowing, burning or water level changes could not be ascertained. I concluded that even such small fishponds may have very important role in the preservation of aquatic and wetland bird assemblages. I propose several Management options like: to protect reed beds, Control water level changes and stricter control of hunting could increase the conservation value of these habitats.