On the first Saturday in September, International Vulture Day is celebrated, a group of birds that leaves no one indifferent due to its size and appearance. Despite the bad image that these species sometimes have due to their scavenging habitats, vultures are an essential part of the functioning of ecosystems. In fact, these necrophages are responsible for removing decomposing bodies that, otherwise, would remain for days contaminating the water or transmitting diseases, warns SEO/BirdLife.
Furthermore, in the absence of vultures, other opportunistic species (rats, stray dogs) proliferate, altering natural ecological processes, and may also cause other social, health and environmental problems.
The five species that can be observed in our skies are:
black vulture
Among the vultures of our geography we have the largest bird in Europe and, in tough competition with the Andean condor, one of the land birds with the greatest wing span. Indeed, the black vulture reaches three meters in wingspan, and only the largest condors exceed that measurement. The black vulture is included in the Red Book of Birds of Spain 2021 in the category of NT – Near Threatened, which represents a reduction in the degree of threat in relation to that assigned in previous editions. It appears classified as VU – Vulnerable in the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species.
common Egyptian vulture
We also have the so-called “wise vulture”, the common Egyptian vulture, capable of using tools (stones, in this case) to open and feed on ostrich eggs. Because the Egyptian vulture is also a migratory species that spends its youth and much of the year in tropical lands. Be careful, not all populations, since those who live in the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands prefer, and who does not, to enjoy their island life throughout the year. The Red Book of Birds of Spain 2021 includes the Egyptian vulture in the VU – Vulnerable category and grants the EN – Endangered category to the Canary Islands subspecies. For its part, the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species treats the species as VU – Vulnerable at a general level and EN – Endangered in the Canary Islands.
Osprey
The bearded vulture, which ingeniously precipitates bone remains on prominent stones to break them. It is a bird adapted to living in the harshest mountain environments and endowed with excellent abilities for flight. The bearded vulture is also a specialist since it is the last link in the use of carrion, of which it consumes all the tendons and bones, which he fragments by dropping them from a great height onto the rocks. It is included in the Red Book of Birds of Spain 2021 as VU – Vulnerable, improving its conservation status compared to the cataloging proposed in the Red Book of 2004. In the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species it appears in the EN -Endangered category. of extinction.
griffon vulture
Finally, the griffon vulture, revered by the ancient Celtiberians as the only worthy means of taking care of the corpses of warriors fallen in combat. It has been closely linked to man’s pastoral activities, carrying out effective, although sometimes misunderstood, health work. Persecuted for decades, this scavenger entered a dangerous decline from which, once the pressure was relaxed, it recovered spectacularly. It is included as a breeding species in the Red List of Birds of Spain, with the category of LC – Least Concern. It also appears on the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime. However, it is not included in the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species.
The spotted vulture flies over Spain
But… a fifth species? For a few decades now, the spotted vulture has begun to be seen increasingly in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula. This frequentation is due to the fact that young spotted vultures join the griffons (some of the young ones spend their first winter in the Sahel) in the feeding areas and some end up moving to the Iberian Peninsula with their relatives.
The problem they encounter in Spain is that, being a very small population compared to the fawns, they end up mating with them. This behavior deserves a somewhat detailed explanation. The spotted vulture, like other African species, has suffered a catastrophic decline in recent years, reaching the brink of extinction. Since these species are quite gregarious, the young spotted birds join the young fawns and end up accompanying them and, once on this side of the Mediterranean, when they reach adulthood they end up mating with one of them.
In short, paradoxically, the geographical expansion of the spotted vulture is due to an unprecedented demographic crisis on the African continent. Something similar happened in South Asia due to veterinary abuse of the anti-inflammatory diclofenac, which is lethal to vultures. As the pairings are occurring with another nearby species, we cannot consider that the species is reproducing as such in our territory.
live camera
Through any mobile device or the internet, you can track the behavior of a pair of black vultures that nest on the Madrid slope of the Sierra de Guadarrama. SEO/BirdLife has been in charge of monitoring this colony for more than two decades.
The recorded data is used to better manage the protection and care of this species and also to bring its evolution and development closer to people. In this way, the Rascafría black vulture colony, in addition to being the sixth most important in the world, is, without a doubt, one of those with the best monitoring in Spain. The black vulture chick currently in the LIVE camera nest has been tagged this summer with a GPS device to better understand its movements when it leaves the nest.
More information about vultures and other birds in the Guide to the Birds of Spain, which offers the most complete and updated information on the birds present in the country. Includes cards for 632 species of birds.
#70YearsForBirds
SEO/BirdLife celebrates its 70 years in 2024 thanks to the more than 24,000 associated people. Its scientific origin as a reference entity in the study of birdlife is still valid to understand and improve the conservation status of birds and their habitats. Addressing the climate emergency and stopping the loss of biodiversity drive lines of work in energy, water, agriculture or urban biodiversity. Furthermore, environmental education and communication are key tools to convey to society a vision in harmony with nature as a guarantee of health and well-being.
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