Abstract:

In this study the post-breeding movements were analysed by used data of the birds
ringed from 2001 to 2007 on the Bird Ringing Station of Tömörd (West Hungary). In total,
2691 individuals of Blue Tits were marked between from 5th August to 8th November in 2001–2007. On average, migration of the Blue Tits started on 25th August. The median date of the passage calculated from the average daily captures were 7th October for juveniles and 15th October for adults. The peak period of migration fell on the end of September and early October in the years 2001–2007. We established that the Blue Tit was a partial migrant species, but it did exhibit intensive migration in 2004. It can be in context with less beech crop and number of Bule Tits breeding in Alps and Carpathians as well as on the northern areas. Significantly more Blue Tits were captured in the grassland with scrub in the intesive migration year (74% in 2004) than in the weak migartion year (42% in 2003). According to recoveries of birds ringed at Tömörd the migratory Blue Tits probably followed SSW direction from Tömörd and wintered at the Adriatic region (Croatia).