Migrations and sojourn in Africa of Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) tracked by satellite

Abstract

By means of satellite telemetry, the migrations of three young Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) from France and Bulgaria were studied and data obtained (over 4,300 Argos locations) to describe movement patterns, timing of migration, routes followed, speed of flight and ranging behaviour in Africa. Two French vultures migrated at almost the same time and, after travelling ca. 3,570 km, remained in the Sahelian zone, in southern Mauritania. The Bulgarian bird, after travelling 5,340 km, ended in south-east Chad, in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. It was possible to determine two remarkably long daily flight distances of this bird of over 500 km on two successive days (1,017 km in total) when crossing the Sahara. In January and February, the Bulgarian bird wandered extensively over 2,600 km, even as far as north-east Nigeria. Both French vultures remained in their home ranges in Mauritania once they had adopted them, which extended to 69,000 km2 and 50,000 km2, respectively. One continuously-tracked vulture from France first left its African home range when 3 years old (probably in its fourth plumage type).