BIRD RINGING CAMP "RUSANDA 2008"

In the period between beginning of September and the end of October 2008 Biology student study and research society “Josif Pancic” organizes bird ringing camp on the lake Rusanda, beside the village of Melenci (N Serbia). This ringing camp is part of the project “Valorization of natural values of the lake Rusanda as a basis for conservation – Protect Rusanda!” funded by the Secretary for nature conservation of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, which will be realized in the village Melenci in that same period in cooperation with organization of Youth club "Krug" from Melenci.

 Ringing camp “Rusanda 2008” is the second bird-ringing camp on this natron lake. Melenci village is situated  in northern Serbia (Banat region). It’s surrounded by agricultural fields and pastures from one side and by the lake from it’s western side. Lake Rusanda with it’s C-shape is surrounded by stepp pastures and agricultural fields, while in the center of the elipse there are orchards and vineyards with cottages. Lake itself is shallow, only up to 60cm at it’s deepest points and stretching nearly 4,5 km and 300-400m wide. On the NE bank of the lake there is a large reed-bed up to 100m wide, Other parts of the lake, especially southern and western parts of the lake don’t have reed-beds at all, but have muddy shallow banks. Water in this natron lake is alkal, having up to 1,4% of the salt.

 In September 2007 during the first ringing camp organized by BSSRS “Josif Pancic”, we ringed over 300 birds during just 5 ringing days using 5 mist-nets. Among more common birds were some very rare ones as Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) and River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis). Specialites of this locality are Penduline Tits (Remiz pendulinus), Bearded Reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) in October, Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), and Phylloscopus warblers. Beside song birds, lake Rusanda is primarily famous for it’s wader and waterfowl migration importance. Autumn migration is especially interesting as it’s salt water and lake’s size attracts many rare species of waders and waterfowl. Among them are Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) – several historical records, Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), Senderling (Calidris alba), Red Knot (Calidris canutus), Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) and many more. Curlew (Numenius arquata) autumn migration is very intensive as sometimes flocks of more then 1.000 birds on the lake can be seen. In September more then 15.000 Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) are gathering with other less numerous gull species. Since there are high numbers of  Curlews present and since Rusanda is the historical migration stopover for the Slender-billed Culew, it is possible that some small number of this birds still do appear on the banks of the lake together with more numerous relatives. With organized monitoring and capturing of one part of the birds, we can also actively search for this, maybe already lost bird species. The most important waterfowl which use the lake for migration are Wigeon (Anas penelope), Teal (Anas crecca) and Showler (Anas clypeata), whose flocks are counting hundreds, sometimes even thousands.

Duration of the camp is between 1st September 2008 and 30th October 2008, depending from interest of the ringers and birders. It is planned to use over 30 mist nets and up to 10 walk-in traps for capturing waders, gulls and ducks. The number of used mist-nets will depend from the number of ringers. Duration of tha camp and used equipment will allow us to ring thousands of birds. Ringers could also help members of the BSSRS „Josif Pancic“ to organize several lectures about the nature and birds for the local school children. It’s more the certain that there will be several foreigne ringers present – from Germany, Great Britain and Poland. Other ringers and birders are also more then welcome. Beside the bird ringing which is the main activity, other activists  can do their own research and birding in the wider surrounding of the camp.

The camp will be settled in the houses or rooms of the “Rusanda” spa on the eastern edge of the lake, just 200m from the first ringing localites. Accomodation and food is provided for 9 persons in “Rusanda” spa between 1st and 30th October 2008, while in September it can/will be situated in the houses in the vicinity of the “Rusanda” spa. Cost of the house renting is 300 dinars per day (3.7 euro), while BSSRS “Josif Pancic” is at least covering food expenses. Also, travel expenses (for foreigners) are on behalf of the each person. Number of people is not limited so far, only there are only 9 free places in the spa in October.

 If you are interested in joining and working in this camp, please contact Marko Sciban sciban@eunet.yu until 20th September 2008 and shortly say about it’s previous experiences with bird ringing. You should also send filled application form.