Number Of Vultures Research Articles

Some Important Observations on the Populations of Hooded VulturesNecrosyrtes monachusin Urban Ghana

Despite major declines in the population of vultures around the world, noticeable increases were reported in the populations of Hooded VulturesNecrosyrtes monachusover the past decade in Accra—an important vulture habitat in Ghana. In recent times, however, there is a growing concern that the vulture numbers are decreasing even though scientific data to support this is nonexisting. As a vital zoogeographical and conservation tool, it is important to keep an up-to-date knowledge about urban bird populations amidst rapid urbanization and associated changes. Using a combination of field data, literature review, and stakeholder consultations, it was indicative that severe decline might have indeed occurred in the populations of Hooded Vultures in Accra. Evidence suggests the killing of vultures for consumption, traditional medicine, and black magic in an undercover trade with possible transboundary connections as important underlying factor. Additional factors suspected to underlie the declines include changes in management of urban facilities and destruction of roosting and nesting trees. The implications of interspecific competition with Pied CrowsCorvus albuson Hooded Vultures however remain unclear. There is an urgent need for conservation campaign and education to save the Hooded Vulture in Ghana.

Assessment of the occurrence and threats to Hooded Vultures <i>Necrosyrtes monachus</i> in western Kenyan towns

The Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus is endemic to Africa and has recently been uplisted to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Populations of Hooded Vulture in Kenya have declined significantly in recent decades and urban populations exist primarily in western Kenya towns where they typically forage at slaughterhouses and dumpsites. We surveyed seven western Kenyan towns and one neighbouring Ugandan market centre to assess the occurrence and threats to this species using opportunistic observations and interviews with employees at slaughterhouses and dumpsite facilities. We observed 23 Hooded Vultures, 20 in Bungoma Town and 3 in Busia-Uganda. Scavenging vultures were only observed at open-air slaughterhouses or dumpsites. We conducted 34 interviews at 14 facilities of which 23 interviews from six facilities were determined to be of good quality and used for subsequent analyses. At four of the facilities employees confirmed that Hooded Vulture numbers had declined and two respondents indicated declines had occurred from the year 2000 onwards. Possible reasons for declines mentioned by respondents were the introduction of closed-system of slaughterhouses, poisoning of stray dogs, cutting of roost trees, and increased competition for food. There was little evidence of exploitation of the birds for witchcraft or for food.

Use of Thermal Power Plants by New World Vultures (Cathartidae) as an Artifice to Gain Lift

Because of recent increases in populations of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), vulture-human conflicts have become more common. We can begin to mitigate these conflicts by first identifying what attracts these birds. We investigated the use of thermal power plants (TPPs) by vultures in Manaus, Central Amazon, Brazil, from February–September 2012, and monitored six TPPs throughout urban areas. We visited each TPP six times at three intervals. At all TPPs, we observed vultures use artificial thermals as a way to gain elevation during flight. The largest number of vultures was observed in TPPs near feeding sites and roosting areas. We recorded the largest concentration of vultures in the late afternoon. We observed an interaction effect between site and time, where TTPs near roost sites had more vultures early morning and late afternoon, while TPPs near feeding sites had more vultures at mid-day. Our results show that vultures intensively use TPPs to aid their flight, and this behavior is used mainly at those times under the lowest natural thermals and when the vultures are moving from feeding sites to roosts in the late afternoon.

Bird sky networks: how do avian scavengers use social information to find carrion?

The relative contribution of personal and social information to explain individual and collective behavior in different species and contexts is an open question in animal ecology. In particular, there is a major lack of studies combining theoretical and empirical approaches to test the relative relevance of different hypothesized individual behaviors to predict empirical collective patterns. We used an individual-based model to confront three hypotheses about the information transfer between social scavengers (Griffon Vultures, Gyps fulvus) when searching for carrion: (1) Vultures only use personal information during foraging ("nonsocial" hypothesis); (2) they create long chains of vultures by following both other vultures that are flying towards carcasses and vultures that are following other vultures that are flying towards carcasses ("chains of vultures" hypothesis); and (3) vultures are only attracted by other vultures that are sinking vertically to a carcass ("local enhancement" hypothesis). The chains of vultures hypothesis has been used in existing models, but never been confronted with field data. Testing is important, though, because these hypotheses could have different management implications. The model was parameterized to mimic the behavior and the densities of both Griffon Vultures and carcasses in a 10,000-km2 study area in northeastern Spain. We compared the number of vultures attending simulated carcasses with those attending 25 continuously monitored experimental carcasses in the field. Social hypotheses outperformed the nonsocial hypothesis. The chains of vultures hypothesis overestimated the number of vultures feeding on carcasses; the local enhancement hypothesis fitted closely to the empirical data. Supported by our results, we discuss mechanistic and adaptive considerations that reveal that local enhancement may be the key social mechanism behind collective foraging in this and likely other avian scavengers and/or social birds. It also highlights the current need for more studies confronting alternative models of key behaviors with empirical patterns in order to understand how collective behavior emerges in animal societies.

Mechanisms of Coexistence in Vultures: Understanding the Patterns of Vulture Abundance at Carcasses in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Abstract. Because of the high, albeit seasonal, availability of carcasses, the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, Kenya, has a high diversity of scavengers, leading to considerable competition between species. From patterns of occurrence of vultures at 163 carcasses over an 8-year period in the Masai Mara National Reserve, we were able to identify some mechanisms that may reduce competition. Species are associated on the basis of similar dietary needs and beak morphology, and they are highly interdependent, showing little evidence of disassociation. Social vultures (genus Gyps) dominated the vulture scene at the reserve; they were more abundant at carcasses when migratory ungulates were present in the dry season, when more carcasses are likely to be available, than when migratory ungulates were absent. In addition, regardless of the predator's identity, presence of a predator reduced the number of vultures, suggesting that vultures prefer carrion not killed by predators where available. Comparisons between past an...

The First Report of Laying of a Vulture Injured and bred in Korea

A vulture injured and bred in Paju, Korea laid its eggs for the first time. The vulture Rescue Center in Paju of the Korean Association for Bird Protection has 31 vultures which were injured due to accidents. Most of them started showing signal of breeding. They collected various sizes of branches provided in the rescue center to form nests in March 2010. The pairs touched their heads or rub their bodies which were considered as copulation in the early March 2011. Then, the pairs formed nests with 1m length branches and incubated round-edged stones with the dimension of 6 cm×4 cm×3 cm instead of eggs from March 15, 2012. The sizes are smaller than vulture egg (average size of 9 cm (longer axis)×7 cm (shorter axis)) in their natural size. Actions like copulation had been shown since March 5, 2012. A vulture laid an egg around 10:00 AM in March 19, 2012. This is the first breeding report of a vulture spending winter in Korea. The Red List of IUCN 2008 showed that there were 10,000 pairs of vultures all over the world (IUCN, 2008) and they showed decreasing of population. They mainly live in Asia centered on Mongolia and some live in the southern Europe and some area in the Middle Asia. A vulture (Aegypius monachus) has wings of 250-295 cm and a female has the weight between 8 and 12.5 kg, a little bit larger than a male with 7.5-11.5 kg (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Brown and Amadon 1968). The number of eagles which spend winter in Korea has increased from 1,200 in 2002 up to 2,500 in 2012. The vultures distribute all over the Korea but tend to focus on vulture restaurants including Paju City (Jin et al., 2012). As well, the number of vultures rescued from accidents has increased.

Behavioural and virological studies on a rescued Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis from western Maharashtra, India

An exhausted Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis was rescued in Maharashtra State, India. Examination revealed that it was not injured but was emaciated due to starvation. The vulture was fed in captivity by the Forest Department. To rule out the possibility of viral infections, cloacal, tracheal and serum samples were collected from the vulture. They were negative for Avian Influenza (AI) viruses, Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), Infectious Bursal Disease Virus by virus isolation. We observed neck drooping behavior by vulture when approached by humans. The vulture flew away but after two days, was found dead 60km away, due to electrocution. Our report suggests that electrocution may also be an explanation for the decreasing numbers of vultures in India.

Use of a communal roost by Turkey Vultures in northeastern Iowa

ABSTRACT Communal roosts are an important aspect of Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) biology, but remain inadequately studied. We observed the use patterns of Turkey Vultures at a communal roost in northeastern Iowa from their arrival on 17 March 2005 to their departure on 19 October 2005. The roost was on a forested hillside and vultures roosted below the forest canopy in 10 live deciduous trees, spending an estimated 10–16 h per day in the roost. The birds also used nearby pre- and postroost perch sites, and formed pre- and postroost kettles near the roost site. The number of vultures using the roost ranged from about 20 early in the season to a peak of 281 on 4 October. The apparent pattern was one of moderate and fluctuating numbers early in the 7-month season, increasing numbers in the middle of the season, and high and fluctuating numbers late in the season. Hatching-year vultures began to appear at the roost during the last week of August. The mean monthly time of departure from the roost ranged from 3 min before sunrise to 131 min after sunrise. Vultures departed the roost significantly later in the morning during the summer (June, July, and August) than during other months (April, May, September, and October), probably due to differences in soaring conditions (longer thermal generation times during the summer) and available foraging time (longer days in the summer). Las áreas comunales de pernoctar o dormideros son un aspecto importante de la biología de buitres (Cathartes aura), que ha sido estudiada, inadecuadamente. Observamos los patrones de uso de un área utilizada como dormidero por parte de buitres en el noreste de Iowa. Es estudio se llevó a cabo desde la llegada de las aves el 17 de marzo de 2005 hasta su partida el 19 de octubre de 2005. El dormidero se encontró en un área de colinas forestadas. Los buitres pernoctaron bajo el docel del bosque en 10 árboles deciduos vivos y pasaron de 10–16 horas diarias en dicha área. Las aves también utilizaron vegetación cercana como perchas, antes y posterior a pernoctar, y formaron pre y post dormideros cerca del lugar utilizado para pernoctar. El número de buitres utilizando el dormidero resultó variable, desde 20 individuos (temprano en la temporada) hasta un pico de 281 el 4 de octubre. El patrón aparente de uso, fue moderado y de números fluctuantes desde temprano en la temporada de siete meses, con incrementos en el medio de esta, y con números altos y fluctuantes al final de la misma. Aves producidas el mismo año comenzaron a llegar al dormidero en la última semana de agosto. El periodo promedio de tiempo mensual de partida del dormidero fue variable, desde 3 minutos hasta 131 minutos después de la salida del sol. Los buitres dejaron el dormidero significativamente más tarde en la mañana durante el verano (junio, julio y agosto) que durante los otros meses de estudio, debido, probablemente, a diferencias en las condiciones para planear (generación de corrientes termales de mayor amplitud durante el verano) y la disponibilidad de tiempo para forrajear (días más largos durante el verano).

The pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in vultures

Vulture populations across the Asian subcontinent have declined dramatically in the last 15 years and are now on the verge of extinction. Although the cause of the population decline was initially unknown, the decrease has recently been conclusively linked to the use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in cattle that inadvertently ended up in the vulture food chain. With the vulture numbers continuing to decline by up to 48% a year, the Indian, Nepali and Pakistan governments have recently banned the manufacture and importation of veterinary diclofenac. They have also suggested meloxicam as an alternate anti-inflammatory for use in cattle. This recommendation was based on extensive acute safety studies in the African White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), which evaluated worst case scenarios of maximum intake based on a once in three day feeding pattern. However, the possible cumulative pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in vultures receiving multiple daily doses of meloxicam over time were not assessed. At present very little pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic information is available to add further support for the safety of meloxicam in this animal species. This article discusses the oral and intramuscular pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in Cape Griffon vultures (Gyps coprotheres). Therapeutic drug monitoring was also undertaken in White-backed, Egyptian (Neophron pernopterus) and one Lappet Faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). In all these species, meloxicam was characterized by a short half-life of elimination. The rapid metabolism of meloxicam in combination with a short duration of effect in the studied species Gyps vultures shown in this study makes it unlikely that the drug could accumulate. This confirms the safety of repeated exposure to meloxicam in vultures of this genus.

The Idea of a Town

The Idea of a Town

Decline of Vultures in Asia

The random samples item “Vulture Culture” (3 Feb., p. [587][1]) presents the appearance of large numbers of Eurasian griffon vultures in Rajasthan, India, as good news, but this is far from the case. In India, populations of three species of vultures endemic to South Asia (oriental white-backed, long-billed, and slender-billed) have declined to less than 3% of what they were about a decade ago and the decline continues ([1][2]). The Eurasian griffons are mostly immature birds from Central Asia, Tibet, and Mongolia that return there to breed, probably attracted in larger numbers by plentiful supplies of livestock carcasses left uneaten now that the resident species have almost disappeared. There is now substantial published evidence that the cause of the Asian vulture decline is veterinary use of the drug diclofenac, which vultures take in when they feed on the carcass of a cow or water buffalo treated with the drug ([1][2]–[3][3]). Eurasian griffons are as susceptible to kidney failure caused by diclofenac as their Asian relatives ([4][4]), so it is likely that the source populations of this species that winter in India will also be affected. Such an effect will not be detected soon, however, because there is virtually no systematic monitoring of numbers of vultures breeding in these inaccessible areas. Numbers of immature Eurasian griffons wintering in India may continue to grow, but this will probably just indicate a growing drain on their source populations. A ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac, announced by the Indian prime minister in March 2005 ([5][5]), will therefore probably benefit Eurasian griffons as well as the resident species, but only if it can be implemented successfully. The Random Samples item also contained inaccuracies about recently published findings on the safety to vultures of meloxicam, an alternative to diclofenac that could help to save the vultures by speeding the removal of diclofenac from their food supply ([6][6]). The vultures used in the experiments were captive, but not captive-bred, and 72 birds (not 35) were treated, of which 66 were given meloxicam itself, rather than meat from treated cattle. 1. 1.[↵][7]1. R. E. Green 2. et al. , J. Appl. Ecol. (2004)41, 793. 2. 2.1. J. L. Oaks 2. et al. , Nature (2004)427, 630. 3. 3.[↵][8]1. S. Shultz 2. et al. , Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. B (Suppl.) (2004)271, S458. DOI 10.1098/rsbl.2004.0223. 4. 4.[↵][9]1. G. E. Swan 2. et al. , Biol. Lett. (2006)doi:10.1098/rsbl.2005.0425 9. 5. 5.[↵][10]1. P. Bagla , Science (2005)307, 1851. 6. 6.[↵][11]1. G.E. Swan 2. et al. , PloS Biol. (2006)4 (no. 3), e66. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.311.5761.587a [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #ref-6 [7]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1. in text [8]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3. in text [9]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4. in text [10]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5. in text [11]: #xref-ref-6-1 View reference 6. in text

Habitat Associations of Migrant and Resident Vultures in Central Venezuela

We investigated spatial and temporal differences in the habitat associations of five New World vulture taxa (family Vulturidae auct. Cathartidae) in the Llanos of central Venezuela. Overall numbers of vultures were higher over open or semi-open savanna habitats than closed canopy riverine gallery forest. Black Vultures Coragyps atratus brasiliensis and Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures Cathartes burrovianus foraged principally in open habitats at all times. Although King Vultures Sarcoramphus papa were counted mainly over gallery forest they also sometimes foraged outside the forest area. During the wet season, resident Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura ruficollis foraged in all habitats but highest densities occurred over gallery forest, east of the main highway. This indicated that, to some extent, vulture species were ecologically segregated by habitat. During the dry season, a larger, dominant, migratory race of Turkey Vulture, C. a. meridionalis, coexisted with the resident subspecies. Migrants foraged at highest densities over open and semi-open habitats, but they also occurred in low numbers over gallery forest. When sympatric with these migrants, resident Turkey Vultures foraged almost exclusively in closed gallery and semi-deciduous tropical forest to the east of the highway, and, in contrast to the wet season, avoided open habitats. At the end of the dry season (March to April), migrant Turkey Vultures departed for North America to breed, resulting in a dramatic reduction in densities of Cathartes vultures. Despite the absence of migrants, densities of Cathartes vultures remained higher in open and semi-open savanna habitats than the gallery forest area. Support for a possible niche shift came from the proportion of carcasses visited in different habitats by resident Turkey Vultures, habitat sightings of wing-tagged birds and radiotracking studies.

Winter Use and Habitat Characteristics of Vulture Communal Roosts

We examined winter use and characteristics of 16 communal roosts used by black (Coragyps atratus) and turkey (Cathartes aura) vultures during 1986 and 1987 in southern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and northeastern Virginia. Eight roosts were classified as primary and 8 as secondary based on numbers of vultures per roost and on frequency of use in both winters. Roosts had a greater density of conifers and larger trees (deciduous and coniferous) than random wooded sites and presumably provided vultures nocturnal perches with favorable microclimates, increased food availability, and enhanced soaring conditions. Roosts that contain large conifers (>56 cm dbh and >21 m tall) and are near (50-200 m) habitat features that contribute to air currents should be preserved for wintering vultures. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 54(1):77-83 Populations of black and turkey vultures in the Mid-Atlantic region have declined in recent decades (Brown 1976). A knowledge of both winter use and habitat characteristics associated with communal roosts is required to manage habitat for wintering populations of vultures. Previous studies of vulture roosts focused on roost dynamics (Sweeney and Fraser 1986, Taylor 1986), behavioral interactions and movements (Stewart 1978; Rabenold 1983, 1986; Coleman and Fraser 1989), and thermoregulation (Byman 1985, Clark and Ohmart 1985). With the exception of 1 communal vulture roost study in southcentral Pennsylvania (Wright et al. 1986), little is known about winter use and characteristics of roosts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our objectives were to determine winter use of communal roosts by black and turkey vultures in southern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and northeastern Virginia and to describe habitat characteristics of communal roosts. J. D. Fraser, H. G. Hughes, and W. L. Myers reviewed the manuscript, and J. W. Grimm provided statistical advice. We thank J. S. Coleman and W. L. Myers for comments on the manuscript and J. F. Karish and H. J. Greenlee for cooperation with all aspects of the study. Funding was provided by the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the Jesse Rossiter Rapp Scholarship of the School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University. This is Journal Series Paper 7892 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

Über das regelmäßige Vorkommen von Gänsegeier und Bartgeier in den salzburgischen Alpen

In the Tauern area near Salzburg the griffon-vulture (Gyps fulvus fulvus) is observed as a regular summer bird. The lowest limit of its occurrence is reported to be about 1000 m NN. The number of vultures living from Mai to September in this area (averagely about 200) shows an immediate dependence on the date of the departure of sheep for the Alpine pastures and the quantity of sheep to be found there. The griffon-vultures do not build their eyries in the Salzburg mountains, but they immigrate into this area after their hatching time in February, coming from the Balcans. The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), however, returned to keep to these same grounds since about 1930.