Storm aftermath in the Puszta

Szerző: Solt Szabolcs - MME // Dátum: Fri, 06/25/2010 - 00:00

The thunderstorm hitting the horse show on the 18th of June 2010 at Mezőhegyes has made it to national news, however it also had a less public but equally devastating effect on the wildlife and agriculture of the region.

The storm swept through the landscape like a hurricane, causing a near 20 degrees drop in temperatures and casting a hailstorm with ice ranging from walnut to orange size (Photo: László Engi)

The hail and strong winds destructed nearly everything that was in the way (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

The hail and strong winds destructed nearly everything that was in the way (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

The storm shaved off the leaves of trees holding Red-footed Falcon artificial colonies (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

The storm shaved off the leaves of trees holding Red-footed Falcon artificial colonies (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Tree bark was also heavily damaged… (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Tree bark was also heavily damaged… (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Trees holding g nest-boxes were ripped out of the soil (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Trees holding g nest-boxes were ripped out of the soil (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Some broods survived while others did not (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Some broods survived while others did not (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Sadly, we found a total of 21 dead Red-footed Falcons, including 7 ringed individuals (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

Sadly, we found a total of 21 dead Red-footed Falcons, including 7 ringed individuals (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

8. We also found an adult female that was pinned to the ground by a branch of a broken tree (Photo: Szabolcs Solt)

The survivors of the storm were so tired that they even forgot to fly off when our team arrived. Kestrels, Pheasants, Hares, and roe deer were also among the casualties found. A hare was practically skinned by the heavy hail coming down in just a couple of minutes.


The continuous rain fall and the below average temperature presumably caused a heavy depletion of prey densities, thus approx. 80% of Kestrel broods either starved to death or were deserted by the parent birds. The Red-footed Falcons delayed the commencement of their breeding with 3 weeks, probably anticipating better weather conditions , however this fierce meteorological phenomena was an accounted for even by the experienced individuals.