Navedene su sve ranije poznate kolonije čaplji i kormorana koje su postojale na području Srbije, a nisu bile aktivne tokom poslednjih decenija (Slika 1.). To znači da su u obzir uzete samo kolonije koje su sasvim nestale i u čijoj blizini u savremeno doba više nema gnezdilišta ovih vrsta koja bi se mogla označiti kao njihovi nastavljači. Istorijski podaci o mnogim kolonijama za koje se smatra da imaju savremenog naslednika i da još traju obrađeni su u prethodnom poglavlju. Postoje pojedini izuzeci od ovog pravila, koji se nisu mogli izbeći zbog nedovoljnog poznavanja geneze, razvoja i propadanja pojedinih kolonija. Takođe postoji mogućnost da nije naveden još izvestan manji broj kolonija koje su registrovane u staroj mađarskoj i austrijskoj literaturi.
Bačka
Banat
Srem
Južno od Save i Dunava
Na području cele Srbije tokom 1998. provedeno je kartiranje svih kolonija čaplji i kormorana. Zabeleženo je ukupno 58 aktivnih kolonija (Slika 2). (Kolonija br. 59 je naknadno otkrivena i nije razmatrana u nastavku.) Još 14 lokacija se vode kao potencijalno moguća gnezdilišta ovih vrsta, zbog toga što je do skora na njima bilo registrovano povremeno gnežđenje ili zato što taj teren nije detaljnije obrađen tokom 1998., tako da nema sasvim pouzdanih podataka o prisustvu ili odsustvu kolonije. Kao područja koja su najslabije obrađena i gde bi se možda mogla očekivati još neka nova kolonija, mogu se označiti: dolina Sitnice na Kosovu i Belog Drima u Metohiji, celi tok Velike Morave, kao i Zapadne i Južne Morave, donji tok Drine u Mačvi, Dunav u Negotinskoj Krajini, region Bačka Palanka-Plavna-Odžaci u zapadnoj Bačkoj.
U Vojvodini, severno od Save i Dunava, ukupno je utvrđeno postojanje 44 kolonije, na Kosovu i Metohiji 3, a u ostalim delovima Srbije ukupno 11. U odnosu na veće rečne tokove, naviše kolonija ima uz Dunav (23) i Tisu (16), a daleko zaostaju Sava (3) i Tamiš (3), kao i veće reke na jugu, kao što su Morava, Drina, Timok, Beli Drim i Toplica. Kada se pogledaju nadmorske visine gde se kolonije trenutno nalaze, može se uočiti da su sve u dolinama većih reka, bez obzira da li se nalaze u panonskoj ili peripanonskoj Srbiji. Najniža po nadmorskoj visini je kolonija kod Radujevca (33 mnv), a ubedljivo najviša kod Vlasinskog jezera (1300 mnv). Ovo je po nadmorskoj visini daleko najviša kolonija u bivšoj Jugoslaviji (Vasić & Šoti, 1980), a verovatno je posebna i u celom Zapadnom Palearktiku, gde su veoma retke kolonije iznad 1000 m visine (Knief et al, 1997). Ubedljivo najveći broj kolonija u Srbiji (40), nalazi se u dijapazonu 70-100 mnv, a 12 daljih se nalazi do visine od 500 m.
| Br. vrsta
No. of species |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Br. kolonija
No. of colonies |
26 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| % od ukup. br. kolonija
percent of colonies |
44,83 | 25,87 | 5,17 | 12,07 | 5,17 | 1,72 | 3,45 | 1,72 |
Struktura kolonija čaplji i kormorana u odnosu na broj vrsta u njima je prilično indikativna. Dominiraju čiste kolonije sa samo 1 vrstom gnezdaricom (26-44,8%), dok su odmah iza njih kolonije sa samo 2 vrste (15-25,9%), što zajedno čini čak 70,7% svih kolonija. Po pravilu čiste kolonije pravi oportunistička vrsta A. cinerea i to naročito južno od Save i Dunava, ali ih ima i u Vojvodini. To je vrsta koja može da koristi i staništa disperznog tipa siromašna hranom. Donekle još odskaču kolonije sa 4 vrste (7-12.1%), dok su sve ostale zastupljene u samo 1-3 slučaja. Kolonija sa 6 i više vrsta ima svega 4 (6,9%). To jasno ukazuje da 2/3 svih kolonija u Srbiji živi u otežanim uslovima koji ne obezbeđuju razvijanje većih mešovitih kolonija, već nude osnovne uslove za živom samo pojedinih vrsta.
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Ukoliko pogledamo strukturu kolonija prema broju parova u njima, bez obzira na broj vrsta, onda se uočava da u Srbiji tokom 1998. čak 30 kolonija (51,7%) ima manje od 50 parova. Ukupno 19 kolonija prelazi po brojnosti 100 parova, a među njima svega 4 prelaze cifru od 500 parova. Prema srednjoj vrednosti procenjenog broja parova u 1998, nijedna kolonija u Srbiji sada nema preko 1000 parova, iako je blizu tog broja kolonija u Dubovačkom ritu i na Bečejskom ribnjaku, a donekle i ona u Gradskoj šumi i na Barandi. Ovo opet jasno oslikava životne uslove u kojima čaplje opstaju, jer nema više takvih staništa koja bi omugućila formiranje velike mešovite kolonije, kao što su bile npr. u XIX veku na Obedskoj bari (13 000 parova), Zasavici (oko 1000 parova), možda Negotinskom blatu, itd, zatim početkom XX veka u Novosadskom ritu (1000), ili čak u drugoj polovini XX veka na Carskoj bari (2500 parova u 1970) (Ham, 1977).
U okviru 10 najbrojnijih kolonija u 1998., 6 se nalazi u Banatu, a po 2 u Bačkoj i Sremu. Sve su mešovitog sastava, sa učešćem najmanje 4 vrste, a u Dubovačkom ritu, Barandi i Carskoj bari ima čak 7-8 vrsta gnezdarica. Pravilo jedino narušava čista kolonija A. cinerea, koja obitava na hrastovima u Molskoj šumi, i koja se našla na čak 8. mestu po brojnosti među svim kolonijama u Srbiji.
Upoređivanje odnosa učešća raznih tipova staništa u kojima se gnezde pojedine kolonije daje veoma zanimljive rezultate. Podela staništa je sasvim uprošćena, za potrebe primene kod širokog kruga saradnika koji su učestvovali u popisivanju kolonija tokom 1998. Prema toj šemi najviše kolonija se nalazi na drveću u šumama, na njihovim rubovima ili na visokim stablima u okviru ekotonskih staništa (29-50%), zatim u barama-kanalima (12-20,7%), pa na ribnjacima (11-19%), dok se na dnu liste staništa za smeštaj kolonija nalaze jezera (4-6,9%) i močvare (2-3,5%). U odnosu na izbor podloge za smeštaj gnezda, generalno za sve vrste, najviše se gnezda nalazi u trsci i rogozu, i to u okviru 25 kolonija (42%), zatim slede gnezda na drveću u okviru 29 kolonija (38%), i na kraju su po zastupljenosti gnezda na grmovima (20%). Kolonija, u kojima su gnezda isključivo na drveću ima 26, dok kolonija gde su gnezda samo u trsci i rogozu ima 21, kolonije koje obitavaju samo na grmu ima 2, dok ostatak od 9 kolonija predstavlja tipove sa kombinovanim podlogama za smeštaj gnezda. Treba posebno naglasiti gnežđenje A. cinerea na bukvama kod Vlasinskog jezera, jer je slična pojava opisana na području bivše Jugoslavije samo kod Osivice u Bosni (Reiser, 1939) i u Lici kod Divosela (Car, 1957).
| vrsta/species |
min-max |
med |
% sume med |
| N. nycticorax |
1912-2306 |
2109 |
28,7 |
| A. cinerea |
1678-2062 |
1870 |
25,5 |
| A. purpurea |
799-1002 |
900 |
12,3 |
| Ph. carbo |
700-760 |
730 |
9,9 |
| E. garzetta |
547-724 |
635 |
8,6 |
| A. ralloides |
364-462 |
413 |
5,6 |
| Ph. pygmeus |
342-363 |
352 |
4,8 |
| E. alba |
161-205 |
183 |
2,5 |
| P. leucorodia |
130-141 |
135 |
1,8 |
| P. falcinellus |
7-9 |
8 |
0,1 |
| ukupno / total |
6640-8034 |
7335 |
100,0% |
Kada se sagledaju rezultati iz Tabele 4, može se konstatovati da ukupno bogatstvo procenjenog broja parova čaplji i kormorana u Srbiji 1998. iznosi 6640-8034 (7337) parova, u okviru 10 vrsta. Kada se razdvoje čaplje i kormorani, onda 8 vrsta čaplji ima učešće 5578-5911 (5744) u ukupnom broju parova ili 81%, dok kormorana u okviru 2 vrste ima 1042-1123 (1082) parova ili 19%. U odnosu na XIX vek, prema sastavu vrsta, nedostaje samo egipatska žuta čaplja (Bubulcus ibis) koja je sasvim nestala sa nekadašnjih retkih nalazišta na Obedskoj bari (1882-1886), kao i kod Kovina (1885-1892), Starog Vrbasa (1905) i Perleza (1957) (Matvejev & Vasić, 1973; Antal et al, 1971; Csornai et al, 1959). Najbliže savremeno gnezdilište se nalazi sada u delti Dunava (Gergelj, 1998).
Pošto ukupni broj procenjenih gnezdećih parova u okviru 10 vrsta iznosi 7337 (MED), trebalo bi onda da se broj parova pojedinih vrsta kreće oko prosečnih 733 parova, pod uslovom da su sve vrste ravnomerno rasprostranjene i brojne. Pošto stvarna situacija u prirodi naravno nije takva, iz Tabele 4 se jasno uočava da svega 3 vrste prelaze taj prosek (N. nycticorax, A. cinerea i A. purpurea), a jedna je tačno u njegovim okvirima (Ph. carbo), dok ostalih 6 vrsta dosta zaostaju. Indikativno je da samo 2 vrste (N. nycticorax i A. cinerea) zahvataju čak 54,2% (3979) svih parova među čapljama i kormoranima u Srbiji, a sa A. purpurea to čak dostiže vrednost od 66,5%. Sve ovo jasno ukazuje da u Srbiji apsolutno dominiraju 3 vrste, čiji opstanak je zbog toga uglavnom osiguran, dok su sve ostale u opasnoj zoni zbog male brojnosti. To se naročito odnosi na P. falcinellus, P. leucorodia, A. ralloides i Ph. pygmeus, koje sa svakom negativnom promenom u preostalim gnezdilištima mogu biti dovedene na ivicu opstanka. Izuzetak su možda E. alba i Ph. carbo koji imaju progradacione procese u populaciji u Srbiji, ali i šire u srednjoj Evropi. Dosta je zanimljiva situacija sa E. garzetta, koja je tokom XX veka imala konstantan pad brojnosti uz primetne fluktuacije, ali u novije vreme brojnost je izgleda stabilizovana i čak u malom porastu zbog gradnje novih ribnjaka.
Kada se savremeni podaci, dobijeni radom na inventaru kolonija u celoj Srbiji tokom 1998., uporede sa nekadašnjim iskustvima i saznanjima o brojnosti, stanju i trendovima, onda se može izvući više zanimljivih zapažanja. Kao prvo, nakon visoke brojnosti ove grupe ptica u XIX veku i prvim decenijama XX veka, došlo je do drastičnih negativnih promena u staništima i do pada njihove brojnosti. Neke vrste su u periodu 1960-80. čak bile sasvim nestale kao gnezdarice Srbije (Ph. carbo i E. alba) ili su se retko gnezdile samo pojedinih godina (P. leucorodia i P. falcinellus) (Marčetić, 1957; Dimitrijević, 1974; Pelle et al, 1977; Szlivka, 1959). Postoje neki zaključci i zapažanja pojedinih istraživača iz ranijih vremena, koje je teško objasniti. Tako na primer, Reiser (1904) je tvrdio da u periodu 1899-1900., od Beograda do Bugarske granice uz Dunav na južnoj obali, nije bilo ni jedne kolonije E. garzetta, E. alba i P. leucorodia, kao i A. ralloides, a kao razlog je naveo proganjanje zbog mode sakupljanja ukrasnih pera. Ipak, imajući u vidu očuvanost i obilje vlažnih staništa u zoni od Smedereva do Velikog Gradišta i u Negotinskoj Krajini, teško je sasvim prihvatiti tu konstataciju.
Analizom rasporeda nekadašnjih kolonija u Srbiji kojih više nema (Slika 1), može se generalno zaključiti da su glavna područja negativnih procesa za ovu grupu ptica bila u Posavini (nestalo 8 kolonija), zatim u srednjem i gornjem delu toka Dunava (Apatinski i Monoštorski rit, šire područje Novog Sada), i u Negotinskoj Krajini, a primetno je gotovo neznatno nestajanje kolonija uz Tisu i Tamiš. Zanimljivo je nestajanje svih ranijih kolonija u južnom Banatu, udaljenih od većih reka (Dobrica, Kovačica i Alibunar). Nestale su i 3 kolonije u srednjem toku Velike Morave, kao i zanimljive kolonije na Krupačkom jezeru i kod Toponice.
Tabela 5: Uporedni pregled gnezdilišnih populacija pojedinih vrsta čaplji i kormorana tokom devedesetih godina u nekim zemljama Balkanskog Poluostrva i Panonske nizije.
Table. 5. Comparative survay of nesting population of heron, egret and cormorant species during 1990s in some Blacan countrys and on Great Hungarian Plain.
| Srbija | Mađarska | Hrvatska | Rumunija | Bugarska | |
| Ph. carbo | 900-1060 | 1700-1800 | 1000> | ||
| Ph. pygmeus | 342-363 | 10-15 | 0 | 4000 | 90-150 |
| N. nycticorax | 1912-2306 | 1800-2000 | 690-1000 | 3000-7000 | 1000-5000 |
| A. ralloides | 364-462 | 200-300 | 182-200 | 1500-2500 | 300-500 |
| E. garzetta | 547-724 | 300-350 | 1200-2000 | 500-1000 | |
| E. alba | 161-205 | 1400-1500 | <20 | 100-250 | <10 |
| A. cinerea | 1678-2062 | 1600-1900 | |||
| A. purpurea | 799-1002 | 650-800 | 34-100 | 1000-1200 | 50-100 |
| B. ibis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10-15 | 0 |
| P. falcinellus | 7-9 | 18-20 | <5 | 1000-2000 | 200-500 |
| P. leucorodia | 130-141 | 600-750 | 100-170 | 120 | 100-110 |
Međunarodni značaj gnezdilišnih populacija pojedinih vrsta čaplji i kormorana u Srbiji je nesumnjiv i verovatno najveći u odnosu na sve druge grupe ptica koje žive u njoj. Kada se pogleda učešće gnezdilišnih populacija pojedinih vrsta u ukupnoj evropskoj brojnosti (bez Rusije), onda na prvo mesto izlazi A. purpurea, jer se čak 10,9% ukupne evropske populacije gnezdi u Srbiji. Zatim slede A. ralloides (8,7%), Ph. pygmeus (7%), P. leucorodia (4,7%), N. nycticorax (4,3%), E. garzetta (2,2%), A. cinerea (1,5%), a na samom dnu liste su Ph. carbo (0,7%) i P. falcinellus (0,1%). Kada se ovi odnosi dopune stepenom međunarodne ugroženosti (SPEC Cat), onda se bez razmišljanja može konstatovati da su najvažnije vrste u međunarodnim razmerama Ph. pygmeus i P. leucorodia. Srbija predstavlja jedno od glavnih savremenih uporišta ovih vrsta u Evropi.
Među susednim zemljama Srbija se po brojnosti nalazi na drugom mestu sa vrstama Ph. pygmeus, N. nycticorax, A. ralloides, E. garzetta, E. alba, A. purpurea i P. leucorodia. U većini slučajeva, na prvom mestu je Rumunija, a slične vrednosti Srbiji obično ima Bugarska i Mađarska.
Kada se pogleda trenutna situacija sa zvaničnom zakonskom zaštitom lokaliteta gde se kolonije čaplji i kormorana neposredno nalaze, onda je situacija dosta nepovoljna. Svega se 10 kolonija (17,2% - sve u Vojvodini), nalazi trenutno unutar granica prirodnih rezervata (Mirković bara, Bukinski hrastik, Petrovaradinski rit, Koviljski rit, Obedska bara, Zobnatičko jezero, Palićko jezero, Ludaško jezero, Carska bara i Uzdinska šuma), dok će 9 ostalih biti obuhvaćeno zaštitom do 2010. na osnovu Prostornog plana Republike Srbije, neke već u narednim godinama (Bezdan, Šašićeva ada, Bosut-Morović, Ratno ostrvo-Beograd, Dubovački rit i Čibuklija). Lokacije gde se nalaze sve ostale kolonije, ukupno 39 (67,2%), nisu predviđene za zakonsku zaštitu kao rezervati prirode u narednoj deceniji. Zbog toga nekima od njih preti potpuno nestajanje usled promene namene prostora, kao što je to slučaj sa velikom mešovitom kolonijom u Gradskoj šumi, za koju je pitanje samo godine u kojoj će ona biti proterana sa tog mesta. Veliki problem je i zaštita kolonija na šaranskim ribnjacima, gde uprave ribnjaka organizuju plašenje, pa čak i ubijanje ptica u koloniji i rušenje gnezda, ili pak vrše naglo podizanje nivoa vode u bazenima tokom perioda reprodukcije kada se plave gnezda.
Trenutni status zaštite pojedinih vrsta čaplji i kormorana u Srbiji je raznolik u odnosu na geografski prostor i pojedine akte. Uredbom o prirodnim retkostima Republike Srbije (Sl. glas. RS 50/93), obuhvaćene su sve vrste. Prirodne retkosti nisu samo na području Vojvodine, vrste Ardea cinerea, Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta i Phalacrocorax carbo. Prema Zakonu o lovstvu Republike Srbije (Sl. glas. RS 39/93) i Naredbi o lovostaju divljači (Sl. glas. RS 84/93), dozvoljeno je loviti Ardea cinerea u periodu 01. 09. - 28. 02., a zabranjeno u reproduktivnom periodu, osim u Vojvodini. Zanimljivo je da je Naredbom zabranjen lov kormorana (Phalacrocoracidae) tokom cele godine. Prema prvoj crvenoj listi ugroženih ptica Vojvodine (Garovnikov & Ham, 1981), od pre gotovo dve decenije, Ph. carbo je bio uključen u najugroženije barske vrste, a slično se odnosilo i na Egretta alba. U Zakonu o ribarstvu Republike Srbije (Sl. glas. RS 35/94), u srednjoročnom programu gazdovanja ribarskim područjima navodi se kao neophodnost donošenje mera za uništavanje životinja štetnih za ribe, riblju mlađ i ikru. Iako se direktno ne pominju pojedine životinjske grupe, verovatno se misli i na ihtiofagne ptice. Novom Uredbom o prirodnim retkostima koja treba da stupi na snagu 2000 godine, predviđeno je da ovim statusom zaštite budu obuhvaćene sve vrste čaplji i kormorana, osim Ph. carbo u celoj Srbiji i A. cinerea u Vojvodini.
There were 58 active heron and cormorant colonies in Serbia in 1998, while ten more locations are listed as this species' potentional breeding sites. Out of these colonies, 44 were located in Vojvodina, 3 in Kosovo and Metohija and 11 in other parts of Serbia. If large watercourses are analyzed, most colonies are along Danube (23) and Tisza (16). Sava and Tamis have three colonies each, while southern rivers, such as Morava, Drina, Timok, Beli Drim and Toplica have even less. Analysis of altitude shows that all the colonies are in the large rivers' valleys, no matter if they were in Pannonian or Peripannonian Serbia. The lowest altitude is of Radujevac colony (33 meters above sea level), and the highest one is of Vlasinsko Lake colony (1300 meters above sea level). Most Serbian colonies (40) are on altitudes of from 70 to 100 meters above sea level, and twelve more up to the height of 500 meters above sea level.
Pure colonies (of only one species) are predominant (26 colonies or 44.8%), followed by two-species colonies (15 colonies or 25.9%). Together these two types comprise 70.7% of all colonies. Pure colonies, as a rule, are colonies of Ardea cinerea and are situated to the south from Sava and Danube Rivers, but they may be seen in Vojvodina, too. There were seven 4-species colonies (12.1%), while other cohorts had only 1-3 cases. Only four colonies are inhabited by six or more species (6.9%). Therefore, we may conclude that up to two thirds of all Serbian colonies live in suboptimal conditions, resulting in minuscule number of larger mixed colonies and favoring only few species.
Analysis of total sum of pairs (all species combined) shows that 30 colonies (51.7%) in Serbia in 1998 were comprised by less than 50 pairs.19 colonies had more than 100 pairs, only four of which had more than 500. According to the averaged number of pairs in 1998, there was not a single colony with more than 1000 pairs. However, colonies in Dubovacki Rit Marsh and Becej Fishpond were very near that number, followed by Gradska Forest and Baranda. This clearly shows the existing conditions of heron habitats. Large mixed colonies, as those in Obedska Bara Marsh (13000 pairs) and Zasavica (about 1000) in the Nineteenth Century and Novosadski Rit Marsh (1000) in first half of Twentieth Century, as well as Carska bara (2500) as late as year 1970, can no longer be formed.
Six out of ten largest colonies in 1998 were in Banat and two each in Backa and Srem. These are all mixed-species colonies with four or more species. Dubovacki Rit Marsh colony and colonies at Baranda and Carska Bara comprise 7 or 8 breeding species. The sole exception is the pure colony of Ardea cinerea in oaks in Molska Forest, which is the eighth most numerous colony in Serbia.
Most colonies are situated in forest trees, forest edge trees or high trees in ecotone habitats (29 colonies or 50%). Twelve colonies (20.7%) were about ponds and channels, and eleven (19%) on fishponds. Four colonies (6.9) were on lakes and two (3.5%) in marshes.42% of nests were in reeds and cattails, 38% in trees and 20% in bushes. There were 26 colonies where nests were only in trees, 21 colonies had nests only in reeds and cattails, in two colonies nests were only in bushes and 9 colonies were mixed according to this definition.
In 1998, there were ten breeding species of herons, egrets and cormorants in Serbia, with 6640-8034 (7337) pairs. Eight heron and egret species had 5578-5911 (5744) breeding pairs, while two cormorant species had 1042-1123 (1082) pairs. Herons and egrets were 81% of the total, while cormorants were 19% of the total number of pairs. If we compare these species with species present in Nineteenth Century, the only missing species is the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis).
As there were 7337 pairs in ten species, it could be assumed that each species should comprise 733 pairs, if all of them were equally spread and abundant. Only three species are above that hypothetical average (N.nycticorax, A.cinerea and A. purpurea), one is about average (Ph.carbo), while the other six species lag far behind. N. nycticorax and A. cinerea together comprise 3979 (54.2%) of all breeding pairs, and if we include A. purpurea, that number is 66.5%. This points that there are three dominating species in Serbia, with more or less safe prospects, while all the other species are endangered due to their small numbers. Especially P. falcinellus, P. leucorodia, A. ralloides and Ph. pygmeus may be forced over the edge of extinction with any small negative change in their present breeding-grounds. On the other hand, E. alba and Ph. carbo show positive population trends both in Serbia and Middle Europe. E. garzetta is particularly interesting, as its numbers were constantly decreasing during the Twentieth Century, allowing for constant fluctuations, but its numbers are now stabilized and even slightly increasing due to founding of new fishponds.
After the high initial numbers of pairs in the Nineteenth Century and first decades of Twentieth Century, there were some huge negative changes in habitats and the numbers diminished. Some species even stopped nesting in Serbia in the period of 1960-1980 (Ph. carbo and E. alba) or they bred only in exceptional years (P. leucorodia and P. falcinellus).
From the analysis of distribution of former colonies in Serbia, it may be concluded that these negative processes were strongest in Posavina (8 colonies exterminated), followed by the Upper course of Danube and Negotinska Krajina. Few colonies also died out near Tisza and Tamis. All the colonies in southern Banat which were far from large rivers died out (Dobrica, Kovacica and Alibunar). Three colonies in the middle course of Velika Morava were destroyed too, as well as the interesting colonies on Krupacko Lake and near Toponica.
There are no doubts about the large international importance of breeding colonies of some herons, egrets and cormorants in Serbia. It is larger than the importance of this area for other systematic groups of birds. When the share of Serbian-breeding birds in total number of pairs in Europe (without Russia) is determined, it showed out that 10.9% of European A. purpurea population breeds in Serbia. This species is followed by A. ralloides (8.7%), Ph. pygmeus (7%), P. leucorodia (4.7%), N. nycticorax (4.3%), E. garzetta (2.2%) and A. cinerea (1.5%). Ph. carbo (0.5%) and P. falcinellus (0.1%) lag at the bottom of the list. When these numbers were complemented with the Degree of International Endangerness (SPEC Cat), it turns out clearly that the most important Serbian populations are those of Ph. pygmeus and P. leucorodia. Serbia is one of the most important strongholds of this species in Europe. It is on the second place concerning Ph. pygmeus, N. nycticorax, A. ralloides, E. garzetta, E. alba, A. purpurea and P. leucorodia. In most cases, the most important European country is Romania. Bulgaria nad Hungary usually have numbers slightly smaller than Serbia.
Only ten colonies (17.2%), all in Vojvodina, are now within the borders of Natural Reserves. Nine more will be protected till 2010 according to the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia. Locations of other 39 colonies (67.2%) are not going to be legally protected as Natural Reserves in the next decade. Some of them will probably totally dissappear due to change of space use, such as the large mixed colony in Gradska Forest, which days or years are numbered. The other great problem is how to protect colonies on carp fishponds, as fishpond managers organize scaring or even killing of birds in the colony and pulling down nests. Sometimes they increase the water-level on purpose, so that the colony is flooded in the reproductive season.
The Charter on Natural Rarities of Republic of Serbia (sl.glasnik RS 50/93) includes all species. In Vojvodina, as natural rarities are not considered A. cinerea, N. nycticorax, E. garzetta and Ph. carbo. The Hunting Act of Republic of Serbia (Sl.glasnik RS 39/93) and Order on non-hunting season (Sl.glasnik RS 84/93) cite that A. cinerea may be hunted between September 1st and February 28th, but not in reproductive season, except in Vojvodina. It is interesting that hunting cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) is banned whole year-round. New Charter on Natural Rarities, which is due to year 2000, will protect all herons, egrets and cormorants, except Ph. carbo and A. cinerea.
- 00722 Phalacrocorax carbo
In 1998, Ph. carbo in Serbia bred only in Vojvodina in four colonies. Its numbers were estimated to 700-760 (730) breeding pairs. Three colonies are along Danube (Sasiceva Ada Island, Gradska Forest and Smederevska Ada Island). The fourth is in Tisza area (Carska bara). There is a colony in Montenegro which numbered 100-200 pairs in 1998 (Vizi, voce viva). This species always breeds together with A. cinerea, while additional species may be present. During the last decades of Twentieth Century, this species returned to its former breeding grounds in Vojvodina. The colony in Gradska Forest was formed in mid-1980-s. There were about 50 pairs in 1985 and 436 pairs in 1989, since when numbers have stabilized. The colony on Carska bara originated in the same time. Small colony on Sasiceva Ada Island was formed in 1989, with nine pairs, but it shut up to 70-80 pairs. The freshest colony on Smederevska Ada Island originated in 1995.
- 00820 Phalacrocorax pygmeus
In 1998, Ph. pygmeus certainly bred only in Dubovacki Rit Marsh, on the bank of Danube. There were 342-363 (352) breeding pairs. This breeding ground is formed two decades ago, due to increase of water-level after the Djerdap Dam was built. Up to 1981 this species appearantly bred on the Romanian side of Danube near Nera mouth, wherefrom it moved to Cibuklija, and in 1985 into Dubovacki Rit Marsh. It is possible that few pairs may be breeding in the mixed colony near Baranda, where 2-3 pairs were observed in 1999. 1-3 pairs were observed on nesting grounds on Carska Bara Marsh (1964, 1997), Becej Fishpond (1994) and Gradska Forest (1989).
- 01040 Nycticorax nycticorax
This was the most common breeding heron in Serbia in 1998, as well as in former decades.It was found in 21 colonies, 6-7 of which were uniformely distributed in Backa, Banat and Srem. Virtually all colonies were on the territory of Vojvodina, excepting for one on Batuse Fishpond in Kosovo and one on Beli Drim in Metohija. The largest colony is on Becej Fishpond, followed by Baranda and Dubovacki Rit Marsh. These colonies comprise almost half of all population in Serbia, as all the others have individually below 10%. In 1998, this species doesn't fare well in Serbia, as 47.6% colonies have less than 50 pairs. Seven colonies are on fishponds proper, and few other are just nearby. N. nycticorax usually breeds in mixed colonies, where it is most abundant, but it may breed with a single other species (A. ralloides, E. garzetta and A. purpurea) or in one-species colonies.
- 01080 Ardeola ralloides
This species bred in Serbia in 1998 only in Vojvodina in 11 localities. 57% of population is concentrated in two colonies (Becej Fishpond and Dubovacki Rit Marsh). Carska Bara Marsh used to have a strong population of about 90-100 pairs, but only 12-14 pairs were observed in 1998. Eight out of 11 colonies had less than 50 pairs. In four most endangered colonies had less than ten pairs. Half of all colonies is on fishponds and rest on lakes and ponds. It is interesting that this species no longer breeds in Srem, as it dissappeared from Obedska Bara Marsh in 1993 and from Ratno Ostrvo Island in 1998. It nests among other species, rarely breeds in two-species colonies. It is estimated that 364-462 (412) pairs bred in Serbia in 1998. Only E. alba, P. leucorodia and P. falcinellus have smaller numbers of individuals. The number of this species' pairs seems to be stable in last decade, but it shows some traces of continous declining.
- 01190 Egretta garzetta
During the year 1998, this species bred principally in Vojvodina, and also in Negotinska Krajina and Kosovo with one colony each. It was present altogether in 15 colonies, together with several other herons, egrets and cormorants. Only rarely did it breed with only one other species (mostly N. nycticorax). It breeds in six colonies in Banat, five in Backa and four in Srem. 80% of all breeding pairs in 1998 were in following four colonies : Dubovacki Rit Marsh, Baranda, Becej Fishpond and Bezdan. Half of all colonies had less than ten pairs, which is disturbing. Carska Bara Marsh and Jegricka had many pairs in period 1994-97, but only few or none in 1998. Obedska Bara Marsh used to be famous on its Snowy Egrets, which stopped breeding for several years, bur returned back in 1998-99. It was estimated that 547-724 (633) pairs bred in Serbia in 1998, 98% of which in Vojvodina. In some colonies, numbers are fluctuating.
- 01210 Egretta alba
This bird bred in nine localities in 1998, but it never had more than 50 breeding pairs in any locality. The largest colonies were in western Banat, on Carska Bara Marsh (Ecka Fishpond), Okanj and Baranda. In Backa, there were two colonies in the Upper Danube Area and two in northern Tisza area. This species mostly breeds single, separated from other herons and egrets, and if it does have a comensal species, it is mostly A. purpurea. It was estimated that mid-1990 population was about 200-300, with a tendention of growing, but it was nailed to 161-205 (181) pairs by detailed counting. This points that populations are fluctuating. On Carska Bara Marsh there were 70-100 pairs in 1996-97 and only 45-50 in 1998. Lukac and Ternovac (voce viva) have counted over 100 pairs in 1996-97, and none at all in 1998 (!). It is common for this species that it breeds in one locality one year and in other the next year (Jazovo Fishpond, Novi Knezevac, Zobnatica accumulation, Becej Fishpond). However, generally observing, this is a species in expansion and conquers new breeding grounds, with ever larger number of pairs.
- 01220 Ardea cinerea
This is the only species except Ixobrychus minutus that breeds throughout Serbia. In Vojvodina, it bred in 1998 in 30 locations, equally spread through all regions, in mixed or pure colonies, mostly along greater rivers. It breeds in 12 more colonies to the south from Sava and Danube rivers, on trees along Drina, Morava, Danube, Vlasina, Toplica, Sitnica and Beli Drim. There were 20 one-species colonies in trees. It also breeds in most colonies of Ph. carbo, and also in larger mixed colonies in marshes and fishponds. It was estimated that 1678-2062 (1863) pairs bred in Serbia in 1998. 1479-1768 (87%) bred in Vojvodina, and 199-294 (13%) pairs in the southern regions. It is the second most numerous species, right behind N. nycticorax, and contributes to 25.5% of all birds counted in this investigation. Six colonies (all in Vojvodina) had over 100 pairs, two of which even more than 200, and there50% of national population breeds.
- 01240 Ardea purpurea
In 1998, this species bred only in Vojvodina (possibly also in Batuse Fishpond in Kosovo). 13 colonies were in Backa, 11 in Banat and only 2 in Srem. It was a dominant species in only two colonies (Becej Fishpond and Baranda), holding 35% of all national population. The colony on Ludasko Lake is near behind it. Although this is the second species in Serbia if we consider number of colonies, it is on the third place if we analyze number of breeding pairs, behind N. nycticorax and A. cinerea. Almost 50% of all colonies had less than 20 pairs, so their future survival is totally unsure and depends on existance of minimum breeding and feeding requirements. There were only five one-species colonies. It may also breed with only E. alba or A. cinerea. The nests are mostly situated in reeds, but it may also nest in willows (on Cibuklija). It was estimated that there were 799-1002 (895) breeding pairs in Serbia in 1998. The population looks stabilized and increasing in numbers.
- 01360 Plegadis falcinellus
The only regular breeding place of this species in Serbia and Yugoslavia in the period 1995-99 was in the Dubovacki Rit Marsh in southern Banat. Birds begin breeding there a decade ago and their numbers depend on varying circumstances. It was estimated that 5-15 pairs bred in 1996-97, but this number was obtained by observing adults near colony. Only 3-5 pairs were observed in 1998. This species also bred in 1998 on Jazovo Fishpond (northern Banat), where it bred for the first time. However, it did not breed there in 1998. It always bred in mixed colonies with many species. Nests were on willow bushes or on wide-leaved cattails. Only 7-9 (8) pairs bred in Serbia in 1998, so it is the rarest observed species of all egrets, herons and cormorants. Large numbers used to breed on Obedska Bara Marsh (max. 4500 pairs, extinct about 1960), Novosadski Rit Marsh (max 600 pairs, extinct about 1955), Zasavica (max. 250, extinct about 1960), Makis (large flocks in 1900, extinct abiut 1930). There also used to be a small colony in Negotinsko Blato. In the midst of Twentieth Century it once bred on Carska Bara Marsh and in 1951 on Uzdin. During the period 1965-73 it bred in Banat only on Carska Bara Marsh on 1965 and 1969.
- 01440 Platalea leucorodia
This species bred in Serbia in 1998 only on three localities in Middle Tisza Area. Okanje and Carska Bara Marsh were on Banat side and Becej Fishpond on Backa side of the river. These were also the only breeding places in Yugoslavia. This species bred on Carska Bara in former decades, but in very small numbers. A pair bred on Becej Fishpond for the first time in 1990, and in 1992 there were already 45 pairs. It bred on Okanje for the first time in 1998. All the colonies are in reeds, with numbers fluctuating in consecutive years. 40 pairs were noted breeding on Jazovo fishpond in early 1990-ties. Only 130-141 (135) pairs were estimated for Serbia in 1998, so it is the penultimate species of all herons, egrets and cormorants by this reason. In the second part of Nineteeth Century there was a large breeding ground of this species on Obedska Bara Marsh with at least 500 pairs. It also used to breed in Negotinsko Blato, in Zasavica (a few), Toponicka Bara near Nis in 1917 and in Uzdin Forest in 1950-60-ties.
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