Great Bustard – Otis tarda

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).

Beginning of May 2012 in Andau south of the “Kommassantenwiesen” the erection of a new bird observation tower started on the behalf of the Austrian Society for Great Bustard Conservation. The opening of the bird observation tower “LIFE+ Great Bustard Andau“ within the framework of the “LIFE 20th anniversary” by BM Niki Berlakovich (Lebensministerium - Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management), member of the government of Burgenland Andreas Liegenfeld, Kurt Kirchberger (head of the National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel), Bgm. Reinhold Reif (Austrian Society for Great Bustard Conservation) and Mag. Rainer Raab (Central European bustard coordinator and bustard supervisor) took place on May 9th, 2012under participation of over 50 regional stakeholders. Since May 16th, 2012 the bird observation tower “LIFE+ Great Bustard Andau” is completed and the tower is available to the numerous visitors of the SPA “Waasen – Hanság” seeking to observe the Great Bustards.

In Zurndorf, Burgenland, another observation tower for the undisturbed observation of Great Bustards was erected and opened on 19 May 2017 as part of the 25th anniversary of LIFE. The opening was attended by Werner Friedl, Member of Parliament, Werner Falb-Meixner (Austrian Great Bustard Protection Society), Astrid Eisenkopf (Burgenland Provincial Government) and Dr Rainer Raab (Central European Bustard Coordinator and Bustard Manager) and was attended by numerous stakeholders and several representatives of the press. The observation tower, which was built with LIFE funds, is primarily for the benefit of the local population, but also for all cyclists who enjoy their leisure time on the neighbouring cycle path and want to observe great bustards, but also other endangered bird species such as imperial eagles and red-footed falcons, without disturbing them.

Oberservation tower "LIFE+ Großtrappe Zurndorf"

A third observation tower was opened in Tadten in May 2018. The observation tower was built as part of the cross-border ‘LIFE Great Bustard’ (AT/NAT/000834) project. It is also located on the edge of the Kommassantenwiese, within the ‘Neusiedler See - Seewinkel’ National Park. The choice of location allows bustard watchers to observe the bustard habitat from two sides from an observation tower.

 

Oberservation tower "LIFE Great Bustard Tadten"

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: office@npneusiedlersee.at
Url: https://nationalparkneusiedlersee.at/de/nationalpark/