ECO-CAMP “TISA – NOVI KNEZEVAC 2006 ”

The “Riparia” Fans of Nature Society from Subotica is a nongovernmental organisation whose activities are research and preservation of birds. The society is mostly interested in the northern region of Backa and Banat; The Special Nature Reserve “Selevenjske pustare”, Regional park “Suboticke sume”, lakes Palic and Ludas, northern part of Tisa river basin. One of the key activities of this Society is the annual summer bird-ringing eco-camp “Tisa-Novi Knezevac”, held since 2000. This is one of the biggest bird-ringing camps in Serbia. Besides of marking and monitoring birds, the aim of this camp is educating and training new bird ringers.

Three members of “Pancic” Society attended the camp “Tisa-Novi Knezevac 2006.” from the 29^th of August till September the 3^rd. The main bird ringer was Boris Hardi, from “Riparia” Subotica. During 5 days of the camp, 130 birds were caught with mist nets and ringed. All together 26 species were detected. The Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo rustica), the garden warbler (Sylvia borin), and the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) were the most abundant ones. The most remarkable catches were the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus cannorus) and Northern House-martin (Delichon urbica) hardly ever caught in this area.

Due to the rainy weather during first three days, the results of the camp were not as good as expected. Nevertheless, the team of “Pancic” Society was pleased with the outcome. We learned a great deal from the experienced bird ringer about the methods of catching birds in mist nets, ringing of birds, ways of taking morph metrical data of birds.