Vulture Conservation Foundation news bulletin
August 2021

Participate in the International
Observation Days for Bearded Vultures 

Do you want to spend a day in the mountains observing Bearded Vultures while contributing to the conservation of this magnificent species? You can do just that by joining us in this year's International Observation Days for Bearded Vultures next Saturday on 2 October, taking place across seven countries in the Alps, the Massif Central in France, Aude in the French Pyrenees, Andalusia in Spain and Bulgaria. 

We are inviting you to get involved, pick up a pair of binoculars, spend the day in the mountains, help us look for Bearded Vultures and get counting!
Get involved

Record-breaking Bearded Vulture conservation news 

Since the autumn of 2020, the Bearded Vulture captive-breeding and release seasons have kept us super busy. In the end, our hard work paid off – we managed to release 24 young Bearded Vultures in the wild, the highest ever number,  as part of our five ongoing projects that help reintroduce and restock their populations across different European regions!

Learn more
Bearded Vultures, known to be devoted parents, braved blizzards, snow and cold temperatures for around 8 to 9 months in the Alps while conducting their parental duties, which, among other responsibilities, involved building nests, incubating eggs and rearing chicks. Thanks to their diligent efforts, they have once again broken a record, producing the highest-ever known number of fledglings – 44 birds. This brilliant news shows that Bearded Vulture numbers continue to increase in the Alps, reinforcing the success of the reintroduction project.
Read the story

Latest news about Europe's
vulture species

Bearded Vulture

The only Bearded Vulture in Álava (Spain) dies

Join us for the Annual Bearded Vulture Meeting 2021 and the Final LIFE GypConnect Seminar

Birds of prey and vultures in France continue being illegally shot


Vultures are spectacular. Here are 9 fascinating vulture facts that prove it
 

Egyptian Vulture

The Egyptian Vulture autumn migration has already started!

Egyptian Vultures in Italy: Captive breeding and release season a success

Vultures are spectacular. Here are 9 fascinating vulture facts that prove it

 

Griffon Vulture

Electrocuted Griffon Vulture causes wildfire in Spain: dangerous pylons are a real problem for wildlife

Birds of prey and vultures in France continue being illegally shot


Vultures are spectacular. Here are 9 fascinating vulture facts that prove it
 

Cinereous Vulture

Cinereous Vulture died from plastic ingestion overdose

Vultures are spectacular. Here are 9 fascinating vulture facts that prove it

 

Latest news from our
vulture conservation projects

LIFE GypConnect led by LPO and co-funded by the MAVA Foundation aims to create a breeding population in France's Massif Central and Department of the Drôme to connect the Alpine and Pyrenean populations of Bearded Vultures. 

Latest news
From captivity to the wild: the reintroduction story of Bearded Vulture Pradines

 
The BalkanDetox LIFE project, led by us at the Vulture Conservation Foundation, aims to strengthen national capacities to fight wildlife poisoning and raise awareness about the problem across seven Balkan countries.

Latest news
BalkanDetoxLIFE: Tackling the problem of animal poisoning in Serbia
Second vulture-safe
veterinary NSAID identified!

In 2003, scientists discovered that veterinary Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat livestock, was the leading cause behind the devastating 99% collapse of three South Asian Gyps vulture species. It was urgent to find a safe alternative. But, ever since, scientists only identified one – Meloxicam. Excitingly, a study has recently discovered another veterinary NSAID that is safe for vultures – Tolfenamic acid! 

More about the study
Juvenile Egyptian Vulture was 
likely fatally shot in Malta
According to credible reports, two of the five released birds stopped to Malta during their migration and were both likely shot at. Although one vulture survived and reached Tunisia, Isabel was not so lucky. After the juvenile Egyptian Vulture Isabel emitted its last GPS signal over Dingli cliffs, it vanished from the radars. Searches around its last known location swiftly followed, but there was no sign of Isabel or its GPS transmitter. All suggestions point out to a sad conclusion: Isabel was most probably illegally shot, killed, taken away, and the tag was destroyed. 
Learn more
GPS movements of 60 Bearded Vultures
The International Bearded Vulture Monitoring Network (IBM), coordinated by the VCF, monitors Bearded Vultures across different regions in Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Besides the common observations and the monitoring of the breeding pairs, the network also follows 60 released and wild-hatched birds with GPS tags, which entails analyzing their movements to help inform conservation actions and track them daily to ensure their wellbeing. Each local IBM partner monitors these individuals in the Alps, Massif Central, Maestrazgo and Corsica, where we carry out our reintroduction and restocking projects. 
See maps with movements
We here at the VCF follow the movements of several vultures as part of different projects. You can track the movements of all the European vulture species we tagged within our different projects and regions by visiting our online public maps

Bearded Vulture online maps
Cinereous Vulture online maps
Egyptian Vulture online maps
Griffon Vulture online maps
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Photo credits: Bruno Berthemy, Hansruedi Weyrich, LIFE Egyptian Vulture and Chris Bowden/ RSPB
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If you have any news you would like to share, please contact Eleni Karatzia, Events, Outreach and Communications Officer.  
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