Bihari Pasture NCA
A part of 779 hectares of Bihar pastureland has been a Nature Conservation Area since 1986. The Bihari Plain Protected Area was established in 1998. The dimensions of the protected area have been multiplied. An almost continuous area was created in the region of Mezőpeterd, Váncsod, Berettyóujfalu, Mezősas, Furta, Zsáka and Vekerd villages. The pasture consists of mainly "szolonyec" type alkaline soil with patches of mud, marshland and loess. In the past the region must have been a quite wet area. Several filled up riverbeds can be found on it and its water level is periodic. Marshy-meadows are characteristics of the flora of the filled up backwaters and some patches are alkaline soil.
2. Designation and characteristics of the area
The value of Bihari pastureland is given by the characteristic habitats, varied plant associations and the nature of the land. The alkaline soil-woded-plainland-meadow (Peucedano-Asteretum puntati) takes a prominent part which is the herald of the South Siberian cool continental-steppe associations in the Carpathian basin. Important habitats of the protected area are the following: loess-grassland, dry and seasonally overhumid barren alkaline soil habitats and alkaline -soil-marshy meadows and the channels which divide the marshy meadows into parts. Dimensions of the loessland are some ten hectares so it has a prominent value. This area provides diverse habitats for nutrientplants of very rare protected insect species. The most wide spread habitats are the dry and seasonally humid barren alkaline soil lands. This region is famous for several thousand stems of the Transylvanian Plantain. The alkaline soil marshy meadows are unique habitats of the Great Hungarian Plain. Although the dimensions of these soil marshy-meadows are less than the other habitats and it is absolutely necessary to mention because of the species of the flora and the characteristics of the marsh.
The stroil or Dog's-grass, Common Spike-rush stroil or Dog's-grass can be found in the outside zone of the alkaline marshy-meadow. stroil or Dog's-grass. The Lythrum virgatum and Purple Loosestrife form a large patch on the lower places. Presence of both loosestrifes together is very rare. The flora of River Berettyó, Ölyvös-brook and the channels do not belong to the specific habitats of this region. However some rare species have appeared like Maritime Bulrush, Great-sweet-grass and Fat Duckweed from the Berettyó and the channels.
The region is famous for its outstanding avifauna. It is absolutely necessary to mention the significant population of the Great Bustard. The Great Bustard is a prominent habitat in a land of about 1000 hectares. Great Bustards do not only brood in that place but spend the winter here. These birds stay here all year round. Our list of brood species is very long. Some artificial nests were put for Long-legged Buzzards in 1999. Since then these birds have been living here. A couple of Quails and Corncrakes Corncracke brood on drying meadows. The Black-tailed Godwit is a brooding species of the marshy-meadows. The brooding of the Short-eared Owl and Stone Curlew is observed only in certain years. There are some other artificial nests for theRollers.These birds brood here successfully. Some of them have bred and the parents were able to teach the nestling to fly. The remains of shepherd buildings provide an excellent nesting place for the Hoopoe, Wheatear (Oenathe oenanthe). The Tawny Pipit or Titlark Tawny Pipit comes into sight on the browsed grass and barren land. The Little Owl starts to hunt from the sheepfold and herdsman,s hut at night.
Although the Barn Owl is a regular visitor of the empty building in winter, the brooding of theBarn Owl is difficult to be proved. Lesser Grey Shrikes can be found among the branches of poplars.
The European Souslik digs its home into the loess. The meadow seems to be on move when they come out, and they provide preys for the Saker Falcon. The seasonally wet patch of the land is an important migration place for the geese in springtime. The Lapwings are the first arrivers. Later large groups of sandpipers land next to the puddles. Almost every kind of species occurs from the sandpipers. The occurence of the very rare Marsh Sandpiper can be expected. Kestrelscan be observed almost the whole year. In autumn several hundred Red-footed Falcons gather together.
On sunny days "Bihari" hills can be seen very clearly because they are very close to "Bihar" pastureland. Lesser-spotted Eagles Lesser Spotted Eagle appear to eat from the hills. The Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Great Grey Shrike and thousands of Fieldfares are regular visitors in winter. Snow Buntings, Lapland Buntings, Twites and Red Kites are less frequent than the previous species.
The most important purpose of the foundation of the protected area is to protect the values of the nature and to preserve the characteristic landscape of Bihar.
