20/07/2009 Three Egyptian Vultures are now present at the feeding site near Kotel

20/07/2009 Three Egyptian Vultures are now present at the feeding site near Kotel

One almost adult, one subadult and one immature Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) are feeding regularly at the vultures feeding site supported by FWFF in Kotel Mountain in Bulgaria. The species is not breeding in the area since the 1990 and very few observations are reported for the last 20 years from the area. Now after the release of several Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in last few years the FWFF succeeded to attract young and almost adults Egyptian Vultures in the area and two of them are even showing a kind of breeding behavior. We will follow the situation. The attraction of the Egyptian Vulture in areas where Griffon Vultures are released is known from France and is now proven to work also in Bulgaria. If the Egyptian Vultures start to breed in the area in next years, this will be the first case of re-occupation of a breeding area in the recent history of the species in Bulgaria. This is especially important now as the Egyptian Vulture is facing dramatic decline and is listed as Endangered in IUCN Red List for threatened species. The activities of FWFF for restoration of Griffon Vulture in Kotel Mountain are within the Balkan Vultures Action Plan www.balkanvultures.org

Pictures of the three Egyptian Vultures at the feeding site in Kotel Mountain.