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OUR HIDE NETWORK
Our nature inbuilt hide network has been developed and constructed in various bird habitats In the Hortobágy National Park. The construction of such hides requires patience, given the various and rather dynamic life-cycle of the hides, which includes site selection, construction, adaptation, running, failure, resting, rebuilding, and reactivating or abandoning. Not only does a single hide have a dynamic life-cycle, but the entire network is flexible and dynamic. Shape and colour must blend in with its surroundings. In the network we have installed ground hides, aquatic hides and tower hides. Our hide network is based primarily on nature inbuilt fixed or static hides but we have mobile hides as well.
INNOVATIONS
- Our hides are designed to get close to birds to be able to photograph them at a relative comfort.
- The hides are built from natural substances in perfect harmony with nature and birdlife.
- The unique glass window is covered with a specifically innovated layer. This is not a one-way glass but it does reflect the photon spectrum of natural colours of the environment. This system was invented by the young award-winning Hungarian nature photographer Bence Máté (www.matebence.hu) and most of the Sakertour hides were designed by him.
- The large glass panorama windows make photography an unforgettable experience as you are integrated into nature and in the centre of all bird action. This way you are able to select the best time for your own artistic purposes and the movement of lens behind the glass does not disturb the birds.
- This special glass layering does not interfere with the contrast and sharpness of the picture so you can get perfect results.
- The incoming light quantity is decreased and 1.3 aperture value is lost, which is negligible when applying digital technology.
- Most of our hides in the network are located in the world famous Hortobágy National Park, which is one of the most important sites in Europe for both breeding and migrating birds. The special atmosphere of this World Heritage Site can be experienced in a very different way in our hides.
THE HIDES
AQUATIC HIDES
Pygmy Cormorant Hide
Little Bittern Hide
Reedbed Hide
GROUND HIDES
White-tailed Eagle Hide No.1
White-tailed Eagle Hide No.2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Hide
Passerine drinking Hide No.1
TOWER HIDES
Red-footed Falcon Tower Hide
Heron Flight Tower Hide
MOBILE HIDES
Panorama Hide
Crane Hide No.1
Crane Hide No.2
Roosting Crane Hide
Roller Hide
HIDE COMFORT
Our nature inbuilt hides have wide photo-through panorama windows looking in one, two, three or four directions. We have completely round panorama hides, which are divided inside into mobile and flexible compartments by curtains so that the photo-through glasses can operate properly and effectively. Our nature inbuilt hides are spacious and comfortable enough to be used by up to three photographers. Winter hides are heated and all hides are supplied with toilet bags. Padded chairs with a back support are provided for in some of the hides, while other hides have mattresses. More information about each hide’s comfort can be found at their information page.
HIDE REGULATION
Each hide has its own set of regulations, depending on the bird species and communities around. Species vary greatly in their tolerance of the presence of hides and photographers. Entering and leaving a hide can be very disruptive to some bird species and less disruptive to others. Usually it is preferable to enter the hide before birds revive or arrive at the site. Similarly, do not exit the hide until there is a break in their activity. Some photographers advocate having a second person walk with them to the hide and then leaving them behind, which gives birds the illusion that the intruder has left. However, a reasonable level of human activity is tolerated by birds at most of our nature inbuilt hides. Anticipate how much time you have to spend in the hide and plan accordingly. If you expect to spend a few hours there, food and drink will come in handy. The diuretic and laxative effect of some beverages such as coffee is worth keeping in mind. Comfort is paramount as in a hide your muscles can soon get cramped. Make sure you have a sufficient supply of memory cards, batteries, food, etc. as once you are inside, you might have to stay for quite a long time. Noise will startle certain bird species. More information about each hide’s regulation can be found at their information page.
BIRDS ARE KEPT AT OUR HIDES
(in order of preference)
- by applying the principle of nature inbuilt hides
- by applying hides that are a part of the natural surroundings
- by temporal and spatial obscuring of the photographer
- by bird habitat creation with and around the hides
- by developing natural bird hot spots around our nature inbuilt hides
- by building, transporting and adapting the hides to natural hot spots
- by creating island habitats around the aquatic or reed canopy hides
- by constructing water pools in dry areas
- by creating displaying grounds
- by restoring natural feeding spots
- by constructing perching habitats
- by building feeding perches
- by installing roosting perches
- by installing pre-arranged fly-in perches
- by restoring regular roosting habitats/grounds
- by pre-arranged perches with bait-and-perch technique
- by creating and integrating nesting habitats
- by luring the birds to concentrate in a certain area
- by baiting with food or water
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