Changing Fortunes of the Great Egret
by Zsolt Kudich and Réka Zsirmon
The changing fortunes of the graceful Great Egret, Egretta alba, form a remarkable conservation success story in Hungary — the most significant habitat for these birds in Europe. In Europe, the most significant habitat of the Great Egrets is in Hungary.
The changing fortunes of the Great Egret, the signature bird of the Hungarian nature conservationism, is the environmental protection’s success story. The Great Egrets’ disappearance in Hungary, opened the eyes of the Hungarian people and started to focus on the natural values rather than the Industrial needs.
By the end of the XIX. Century, these beautiful birds’ habitat disappeared because of swamp drainage and river-rerouting in the country. The Great Egrets grow beautiful long feathers during their mating season; therefore, they were hunted down and killed in Europe, including Hungary. Consequently, the Great Egrets’ habitats started to disappear in whole Europe. In 1889, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was formed, mainly because of the killing of the Great Egrets (more specifically because of the feather trading).
In the early XX. Century, the Hungarian Kis-Balaton (Small-Balaton) swamp was one of the last refuge of these birds. In 1919, only 6 pairs of Great Egrets were living at the Kis-Balaton area.
In the 1940s, they marked the future borders of the National Reserve. In 1951, the official regulation was made: Hungary’s most important Natural Science area, and mainly its Ornithological values, this absolutely unique swamp region is declared a Nature Reserve area. A very long battle was won by the conservationists.
Until the 1960s they counted less than 30 pairs of Great Egrets, but with the new regulations by the 70s there was a significant increase. By the end of 1980s their population stabilized.
Presently, the Great Egrets’ habitat is stable in the country, more than 3000 pairs are nesting.
Even though, their numbers are climbing, the Great Egrets are the Hungarian Nature Conservation’s symbol, they are still endangered and protected.
