Cranes are stopping for longer in Hungary and breeding as they delay their flight south with warmer weather affecting migration.

The birds are renowned for their migratory journey from northern Europe to Africa – but hotter temperatures and an abundant food supply means they have put off their departure.

Attila Szilágyi, a ranger tracking the crane population at Hungary's Hortobagy National Park, watches as dawn breaks and he hears the morning chorus of thousands of cranes as it reverberates across the landscape.

He notes that this season, marked by an extraordinary influx from eastern Scandinavia, set a record with 194,000 cranes, surpassing the previous record of 160,000.

Hortobagy National Park, a crucial staging area for common cranes, experienced an uncharacteristically warm autumn with temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius. Coupled with abundant food from nearby cornfields, these conditions have dissuaded many cranes from continuing their migration south.

"Fewer birds are migrating to Africa due to climate change," says Szilágyi. "Central and southern Europe now provide a favorable climate for cranes, eliminating their need to fly out of Hungary."

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Since the 1980s, the number of cranes roosting in Hortobágy has substantially increased, multiplying by 20 annually. Large flocks of cranes continue to roost in shallow marshes, defying their typical migration schedule.

Global warming is altering the breeding habits of the crane population, with some birds now choosing Hungary as their breeding ground. This shift contributes to the overpopulation of cranes in continental Europe.

"Hortobágy has become a safe haven for cranes, providing abundant food and water," says Szilágyi. "The learned behavior has been passed down through successive generations of birds, who now embrace this secure environment."

This behavioral change is also redirecting the birds' regular migratory route to northern Europe, their traditional breeding grounds. "Some cranes now spend the entire year here, forming new breeding pairs when they reach sexual maturity, marking a unique phenomenon," Szilágyi notes.

This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of Hortobágyi, Hungary's first national park. In this region, common cranes hold immense symbolic importance, with the migration being a highly anticipated annual event that draws around 1,500 visitors to observe the breathtaking spectacle of feeding sites during the day and roosting places at sunset.

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