The Great Crane Migration

Every autumn, the vast alkaline grasslands of Hortobagy National Park transform into a staging ground for one of Europe's most impressive wildlife events. Up to 150,000 Common Cranes gather here during their southward migration, creating memories that last a lifetime.

Why Hortobagy?

The Hortobagy puszta offers everything migrating cranes need: vast open spaces for safe roosting, shallow fishponds for overnight shelter, and abundant food in the form of waste grain from surrounding agricultural fields. The park sits along the major Central European flyway, making it a natural stopover point.

Common Cranes breeding across Scandinavia and the Baltic states funnel through Hungary each autumn, with Hortobagy serving as the most important staging site. Birds arriving in September may stay for several weeks, feeding and resting before continuing to wintering grounds in Spain, North Africa, and increasingly in France.

When to Visit

Crane numbers build through September, typically peaking in mid to late October. The exact timing varies with weather conditions further north - cold snaps in Scandinavia push birds south earlier. In some years, significant numbers remain into early November.

Best Viewing Locations

Hortobagy Fishponds

The traditional heart of crane watching. The extensive fishpond system provides roosting habitat, and observation towers positioned around the ponds offer excellent vantage points. The largest concentrations typically occur at Fishpond No. 5 (Halasto V).

Hortobagy Village Area

The area around the famous Nine-Arch Bridge and the surrounding puszta regularly hosts feeding flocks during the day. The visitor center here provides maps and current information.

Nagyivan Fields

Agricultural areas to the south of the main park attract feeding flocks, especially in years when the corn harvest is late. Less crowded than the fishponds but requiring local knowledge.

The Evening Roost Flight

The highlight for most visitors is the evening roost flight. As the sun begins to set, cranes that have spent the day feeding across the puszta gather into ever-larger flocks. Family groups call to maintain contact, and the sky gradually fills with V-formations heading toward the fishponds.

The sound is unforgettable - thousands of trumpeting calls echoing across the flat landscape, growing louder as the sky darkens. On peak evenings, the flight continues for well over an hour, with wave after wave of birds passing overhead.

"Standing on the puszta at dusk, surrounded by the calls of countless cranes, remains one of my most profound wildlife experiences. The scale of it defies description."

Practical Tips

• Arrive early. Popular viewing spots fill up on peak weekends. Stake out your position at least an hour before sunset.
• Dress warmly. October evenings on the exposed puszta can be cold, especially with wind. Layers and a warm hat are essential.
• Bring a scope. While cranes often pass close overhead, a spotting scope helps observe roosting birds on distant ponds.
• Stay for the dawn flight. Fewer visitors witness the morning departure, which can be equally spectacular in good light.
• Book accommodation early. Limited options in the area fill quickly during peak season.

Other Birds to Watch For

While cranes dominate attention in autumn, Hortobagy hosts numerous other species worth seeking:

• Great Bustard - Small groups feed on the puszta year-round
• White-fronted and Bean Geese - Arrive as cranes depart in late autumn
• Rough-legged Buzzard - Winter visitor, hovering over grasslands
• Saker Falcon - Resident, sometimes hunting around crane flocks
• Long-eared Owl - Communal roosts in scattered tree clumps

Conservation Context

The Common Crane is a conservation success story. Populations have recovered dramatically since hunting bans were implemented across Europe, and the Hortobagy gatherings grow larger most years. Hungary's protection of traditional pastoral landscapes provides crucial habitat.

Visitors can support this by following park guidelines, using designated observation points, and avoiding disturbance to roosting or feeding flocks. The cranes' trust in this safe haven depends on respectful behavior.

Last updated: February 2026