Norbert Matrai1, Jozsef Gyuracz2, Robert Matics3,
Gabor Bakonyi1
1 Szent Istvan University, Department of Zoology and Ecology, H-2100 Godoll?,
Pater Karoly. u. 1 , Hungary
2 Berzsenyi Daniel College, Department of Zoology, H-9700 Szombathely, Karoli
G. ter. 4. , Hungary
3 University of Pecs, Department of Medical Biology, H-7601 Pecs , Hungary
matrain@vipmail.hu 1, gyjozsi@bdtf.hu 2, bobmatix@freemail.hu 3
The Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) is a widespread
breeding species in Hungary as well as in the central region of the Western-
Palearctic. This species belongs to the seasonal long distance migrating bird
group. In this study, the African ringing and recapture data of the EURING
database was analysed. The database contains altogether 3.164 data with 25
African recoveries. Fourteen of the African recapture data showed a period of
one year or less between the date of ringing and recapturing. The birds make an
average of 3.318 kilometres till the wintering ground, in an average of 204 days.
The potential wintering grounds for the birds seem to be the regions to the
North of the equator: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana. There is only one recapture data
from the South of the Equator (Congo). The data shows that most of the birds
get to the wintering grounds through three larger routes. In the lack of
recapture data from East-Africa, it is supposed that birds migrating on the East
route are moving further to the south African areas.
Last year we started a genetic investigation on the Hungarian breeding
population. We collected on 3 different breeding sites blood samples from 36
great reed warblers. Till now it seems, that there are new haplotyps in the
Hungarian population.




