The critically endangered blue crow returned to eastern Slovakia – Korzár after years

TREBIŠOV. The white-necked krakla is considered to be a gem among the birds of the Slovak lowlands. This protected species used to be relatively common in Slovakia, but at the beginning of this millennium it almost became extinct in our country.

Ornithologists consider its return and nesting after a quarter of a century in Medzibodroží in the Trebišov District to be an exceptional event.

It catches the eye at first glance

“The white-winged krill is a species of bird that catches the eye at first glance. The blue color of feathers from turquoise to indigo ranks it among the most colorful birds in Slovak nature. The structure of the body and the way of flying is similar to a cave or a crow, which is why in the past it was popularly called a blue crow, “said Matej Repel from the Slovak Ornithological Society (SOS) / BirdLife Slovakia.

In Slovakia, the white-headed gull is on the red list as a critically endangered species. Across Europe, however, there has been a sharp decline in numbers and the nesting area has shrunk to the southern half of the continent.

Its basic food is large species of insects, such as grasshoppers, horses, butterflies and dragonflies. According to Repel, a typical type of open agricultural landscape with scattered woody vegetation and pastures with a number of such insects paid for the intensification of agriculture, chemicalization and the decline of extensive livestock farming. The crackle has disappeared from many countries, including Slovakia.

“The most significant decline in numbers began in the 1960s, when it died out locally in most areas. The nesting population gradually decreased until around 2000 there was only one known nesting site, in western Slovakia in the Komárno district, where the last pair nested in 2010. It disappeared from the East Slovak lowlands even earlier and the last nesting was recorded 25 years ago, ” said the ornithologist.

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She returned last year

Last year, the conservationists were pleased with the return of Krakle near the villages of Strážne and Veľký Kamenec in Medzibodroží.

“This year we managed to confirm the occupied territories and the nesting of seven pairs in the same locality, of which two pairs successfully raised six young. Individual occurrences in other parts of Slovakia were also interesting, “informed the media manager of SOS / BirdLife Slovakia Zuzana Lackovičová.

The return of the krakla to Medzibodrožie with the preserved extensive grazing of cattle was also helped by the huts that have been hung for the krakla by ornithologists for more than a decade.

“It would certainly help to maintain a cracked population and re-expand it to other areas of Slovakia if animal grazing returned to our country. It brings diversity to nature and comes with insects, which make up most of its food, “added Lackovičová, adding that, on the contrary, areas with aggressive practices of intensive agriculture, such as some chemical spraying, should be reduced.

In 2019, the rare white crackle received a Slovak postage stamp. Those interested can also see it in Zoological breeding gardens Bojnice.

The white neck. (source: vtaky.sk)

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