Birdwatching on the Borsod Mezoseg Plain, just south of Bukk National Park

© Rob de Jong

The Hoopoo, breeding in the wooded hills around our village and on the plains © Ruben Smit

Why in Hungary?

Hungary has, because of its geology, climate and various nature an extremely diverse flora and fauna.

Almost 400 bird species are breeding and for many birds Hungary is an important stopover during spring or autumn migration. Hungary has one of the best Birding areas in Europe. In Hortobagy National Park (70,000 hectares) 320 species have been observed.

With 160 butterfly species and a total of more then 3500 species of butterflies and moths, Hungary is one of the better places in Europe.

Near to 4000 plant species live within the borders of Hungary.

Several species have the western edge of their distribution in Hungary (Red-footed Falcon, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Pallas's Fritillary, Anomalous Blue etc.)

Hungary conserves and promotes her nature very well and has a modern infrastructure.

Hungarians are kind and helpful people and have a nature to make you feel relaxed and comfortable in their country.

These make Hungary a perfect place to find several eastern distributed species or to find other rare, threatened or exciting organisms, from which several species have key populations in Hungary. Some of the species that can be encountered during the excursions are listed below:

Birds: Saker Falcon, Red-footed Falcon, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Great Bustard, Squacco Heron, Great White Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, White-winged and Whiskered Black Tern, Roller, Lesser Grey Shrike, Black-, White-backed- , Grey-headed and Syrian Woodpecker, Barred and Aquatic Warbler, Penduline and Bearded Tit etc.

Butterflies: Pallas's Fritillary, Assmann's Fritillary, Anomalous Blue, Osiris Blue, Eastern Short-tailed Blue, Southern Festoon, Clouded Apollo and many more. Species lists of previous bird and butterfly tours are available on request.

Plants: Cypripedium calceolus, Orchis coryophora, Orchis morio, Neottia-nidus avis, Cephalanthera longifolia and rubra, Dictamnus alba and many protected species with a central or eastern European distribution.

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Why in Northeast Hungary?

The Northeast of Hungary has a very rich fauna and flora for several reasons:

Very different landscapes are found here near each other: flat plains with a dry steppe vegetation, wetlands (fishponds and marshes) as well as hills and mountains. Some animals take advantage of this various landscape. For instance, several pairs of Eastern Imperial Eagle breed in the quiet forested hills and hunt on Susliks on the flat pusta.

Because of its location, climate and geological history, it shows elements of higher mountains (Carpathians), mediterranean areas and continental regions and therefore a high diversity of organisms, each adapted to different circumstances, but all in close vicinity.

In large areas the (original) nature is enriched by a more or less traditional, agricultural use of the land.

Small numbers of people live in this region, which leaves space and a clean environment to animals and plants.

Hungarians tend to protect their valuable natural assets very well. Most of Hungary's National Parks or other reserves are located in the Northeast of Hungary (click here for map).

Several intriguing handicrafts, which are self-sustainable, still exist in this region.

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Why in the village Lator?

Wildlife Centre Farm Lator is situated at a central point in this region (click here for map), the hilly areas to the North and Northeast, the plains and wetlands to the South and Southeast.

In addition, the centre has its own attractions, regarding the wildlife in and around the village. Butterflies count up to sixty species in the immediate surroundings. Many of them you don't expect in your back garden, like the Purple Emperor and the Clouded Apollo. Furthermore, Imperial -, Lesser Spotted - and Short-toed Eagle pass the farm regularly on the way to their hunting grounds. Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpecker come to forage on our fruit trees in the garden. In autumn these are joined by White-backed and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, coming to collect the ripe walnuts. Hawfinches are the commonest birds in the forests around our accommodation.

Read more about the nature in the surroundings of farm Lator.

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