The Great Bustard is a globally threatened species, which is very sensitive to disturbance. For this reason, watching Great Bustards should be restricted exclusively to the area dedicated to this purpose in Lake Neusiedl National Park where raised hides are available (see map).

Brief information on Great Bustards in Lake Neusiedl National Park:

The breeding range of the Great Bustard in the Hanság region was designated as a protected area in 1973 by the provincial government of Burgenland. In 1993, the area Waasen - Hanság was added to the buffer zone of Lake Neusiedl National Park, primarily because of the occurrence of Great Bustards there. It covers an area of approximately 142 ha and is surrounded by an area of fallow grassland almost twice as large again, minimizing negative impacts from intensive agriculture. Erich Patak, one of eight National Park wardens, is exclusively responsible for this site. He looks after the area, keeps in touch with farmers and hunters of the parishes of Tadten and Andau and monitored the behaviour of the Great Bustard population till 2008. Erich Patak also provided the data for the yearly report "The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) in the buffer zone Waasen - Hanság" till 2008. On June 3, 2008 3,006.5 ha are enacted as Natura2000 area “Waasen – Hanság“. From April 2009 until July 2010 the technical office for biology Mag. Rainer Raab was collecting basic information of management for Great Bustard (subject of protection) in the Natura2000 area “Waasen – Hanság” on behalf of the Burgenland government, department of nature conservation (Abt. 5/III). Habitat management measures are discussed in advance in local National Park committees, for example late haymaking on behalf of the National Park, grazing with a private herd of cattle, or water management such as holding up drainage canals.

For further information please contact:

Lake Neusiedl National Park
Information Centre
Hauswiese
A-7142 Illmitz
Österreich
Tel.: +43 2175 34420
E-Mail: info@nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at
Url: www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at