Báldi (2001) studied how inundation affected the local breeding passerines at the Kis-Balaton wetland. He collected observations in 3 groups (before, immediately after, and years after inundation) and quantified the changes in community structure parameters, community composition, differences between areas and periods, and species and abundances. Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides, declined immediately after inundation, while Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, and Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, declined in the long term. However, the Great Reed Warbler (GRW), Acrocephalus arundinaceus, was the only species with a continuous increasing trend. Vadász et al. (2008) reported that the cutting of reed negatively influenced species richness and the abundance of reed passerines on Lake Kolon in Central Hungary. Savi's Warbler, Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon, Sedge Warbler, and Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus especially avoided cut areas, while GRW did not (Vadász et al., 2008). Báldi and Moskát (1995) and Moga et al. (2010) recorded the presence of GRW in unmanaged, burned, and mowed reed stands. Despite these sporadic observations, our knowledge about the effects of reed management and environmental factors on the breeding success of GRW is weak.Nests of small open-nesting birds are often difficult to detect in the early stages of the breeding season (Mayfield, 1975). Due to the lack of information for the period before nests are found, estimates of mortality, survival, and breeding success can be severely biased. Mayfield (1975) developed a method for estimating breeding success that reduced potential sources of error. The proposed Mayfield estimator has been further recognized as a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE). The asymptotic distribution of the MLE has been calculated, which provides a measure of asymptotic variance (Hensler and Nichols, 1981). MLE and variance can be used to test the significance of daily survival (Hensler and Nichols, 1981). Lloyd and

Ecosystem/habitat restoration has become a major goal of international biodiversity policy. However, restorations are often limited in space or time, and we know little on whether and how restoration and management affect vertebrates. Here we assessed the local and landscape‐scale effects of habitat restoration and management on small‐mammal communities in the Egyek–Pusztakócs marsh system (Hortobágy National Park, Hungary), site of the largest active restoration of grasslands on former croplands in Europe. We live‐trapped mice, voles and shrews in spring and autumn in 2 years (four sampling periods) at two sites in six habitat types: croplands, grasslands restored 3–6 years earlier and natural grasslands. Data on 421 individuals of 12 species showed that restored grasslands were similar to croplands and natural grasslands in species richness, abundance and composition. At the local scale, management influenced abundance because there were more small mammals in unmanaged and early‐mown grasslands with taller vegetation than in late‐mown or grazed grasslands with lower vegetation, or in ploughed croplands. Elevation was also important because sites at higher elevation provided refuges during spring floods or summer droughts. At the landscape scale, the proportion of restored and natural grasslands positively affected the abundance of small mammals, whereas the proportion of linear habitats (roads, canals) had a negative effect on abundance. Our results show that management is more important than restoration per se at the local scale, which is expected for habitat generalists such as small mammals in contrast to specialists such as plant‐feeding invertebrates. However, restoration provides landscape‐scale benefits by increasing the area of grasslands that can serve as refuges for small mammals in unfavourable periods. We thus conclude that a mosaic of restored and appropriately managed grasslands with tall vegetation will provide the best chances for the persistence of small‐mammal communities in dynamic landscapes.

Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) usually winter in groups in settlements, hunt at night and rest in evergreen trees during the day. From prey remnants regurgitated as pellets, one can detect species present in their hunting areas and changes in their abundance. Our aim was to reveal how the ratio of small mammal species in Long-eared Owl prey changes during the winter, since weather can influence hunting success and the availability of prey. There were 40–60 Long-eared Owls wintering in the city of Pécs. From November 2014 to mid-March 2015 we collected 6,328 pellets from which 9,087 prey remains were identified. 97.5% of prey consisted of small mammals belonging to 21 species. The diversity of small mammals in the pellets collected in November was significantly lower in comparison with other months. With the increase of precipitation, the relative abundance of the Common Vole (Microtus arvalis) and Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) decreased, while that of the Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and Wood Mouse (A. sylvaticus) increased. In the periods when the area was covered by snow, the ratio of the Common Vole as prey continually decreased, probably because it stayed under the snow. Since the availability of the Common Vole declined, the proportions of the Striped Field Mouse and Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) as alternative prey grew significantly. In low temperature periods, Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and birds are more often preyed upon. Despite the hunting area being predominantly urban, species preferring open grassland habitats were significantly more common. As winter progressed, the role of forest-dwelling species in the diet continuously increased.

The feeding of the stone marten (Martes foina) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) being flexible, easily adapt to anthropogenic food sources, utilising them effectively. Both carnivores feed on plants, thus the question arises how their food composition changes during the seasons when there is high availability of fruits in their habitat. The diet composition of the two species was investigated for one year in a 14-hectare vineyard surrounded by orchards, based on scat analysis (n = 288 and 110, respectively). The proportion of plant matter in the feeding of both species was strikingly high, although differing seasonally, especially fruits, mostly sour cherries, cherries, grapes and figs being present. Martens consumed plants in greater amounts (89% vs 76%) than foxes. Both carnivores consumed more invertebrates in spring, and more small mammals in winter, whereas frugivory was more substantial in the summer and autumn periods. Trophic niche was quite narrow in both species, with considerable degree of overlap. The revealed feeding patterns are quite novel, that of the stone marten being unique even at a European level; the prolonged high degree of frugivory indicates the perfect adaptability of the two native carnivore species.

Human disturbances and predation on artificial ground nests across an urban gradient.-In our study with artificial nests we observed that the absence of ground nesting bird species in the city centre and in residential districts was due to disturbance by humans and domestic animals (dogs and cats) rather than to predation. Furthermore, predation pressure was higher in the outskirts of the city due to the greater number of natural predators. Our results suggest that planning and creating undisturbed areas could increase the chances of ground nesting birds settling and breeding in human-dominated landscapes.