The Egyptian Vulture, a relatively rare visitor to Sardinia, has defied historical breeding patterns. Attracted by conservation efforts to restore the Griffon Vulture population, a pair settled in 2019 and successfully bred on the island. This success story continued in 2020 and again in 2023, marking a positive trend. The Egyptian Vulture, classified as 'Endangered' globally and 'Critically Endangered' in Italy, faces an alarming situation with only a few nesting pairs in the country.

 

Once home to three vulture species, Sardinia saw the Bearded and Cinereous Vultures extinct mainly due to persecution and poisoning. The Griffon Vulture, the sole survivor, faced population declines until the LIFE Under Griffon Wings project came to life. The project team translocated and released Spanish birds to boost the local population and simultaneously implemented targeted conservation actions to increase food availability and mitigate the main threats affecting scavenger birds. The ongoing LIFE Safe for Vultures initiative further bolsters the population, promoting survival and habitat stability.

Vultures exhibit unexpected dietary variation due to 'vulture culture'. A study in Spain revealed that Griffon Vultures' diets vary within populations due to factors like food availability, competition, and individual traits. Dietary specialisation affects fitness, reproduction, and inter-individual differences, shaped by elements like body size, sex, and social status. Juveniles learn food preferences from parents or other experienced adults, forming cultural patterns. This dietary diversity can impact natural selection and vulnerability to environmental challenges, and sheds new light on vulture behaviour beyond scavenging.

Researchers in Morocco have recently tagged a Hooded Vulture, a species classified as Critically Endangered. The occurrence of this species in Northern Africa is both rare and accidental. What is even more remarkable is that the same tagged vulture resurfaced in Northern Spain, likely marking the first sighting of the species this far north in Europe. This trend prompts researchers to investigate their interactions with European vultures and shifting patterns. The Vulture MsAP's mid-term review offers a vital opportunity to comprehend this northward shift better.