Release of six Egyptian Vultures
During the last month the team of the Green Balkans’ Wildlife rehabilitation and breeding center in partnership with the Bulgarian society for the protection of birds (BSPB) took part in the preparation of six young Egyptian vultures which were released in the region of Potochnitsa, Eastern Rhodope mountain.
Health examination was made by the vets from the Rescue center. The birds were tagged with GPS transmitters for the purposes of real-time monitoring of their movements and behavior in the period after their release and in the following years.
Earlier in the day together with students from “Ivan Vazov’ Primary school in the village of Potochnitsa the International day of migratory birds was celebrated with presentation for the Egyptian vulture and the challenges they meet on their migratory way to Africa. The students learned about the difficulties in life of this globally endangered from extinction species and the activities for its conservation. They were interested to hear about the fate of Luis and Paulina – the two Egyptian vultures graduates from the “Vulture school” in 2023.
Green Balkans in support of the Egyptian vulture population in Northwestern Bulgaria
In the peak of the breeding season and chick raising of the Egyptian vultures, the team of the Green Balkans is taking care not only for the birds in the aviary, but also for the wild population.
The day before we carried out the traditional feeding of the specialized site near Partizani village, Dalgopol municipality. Food from the reserves of the Rescue center was carefully distributed on a visible for the vultures place. On the very same day and in the day after the place was visited by Egyptian vultures, which feasted on the abundant meal along with the local ravens.
Why is it important to feed the Egyptian vultures?
The population of these birds declined significantly during the last few years. That is why the team of Green Balkans independently or in joint initiatives with non-governmental organizations does everything possible to support its fragile population. The survival of the chicks is one of our priorities and the nesting period is crucial for their future life.
The activities of Green Balkans, related with the release of Egyptian vultures in the area of Potochnitsa village are carried out with the financial support of the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP) and the activities are funded by the Municipality of Prague and Prague Zoo as part of project “Protection of the Egyptian Vulture in the Balkans”.
Two eggs rescued from the Egyptian vulture pair in Eastern Rhodope Mountain have hatched successfully
In the middle of May two Egyptian vulture eggs were rescued by our colleagues from the Bulgarian society for the protection of birds (BSPB) and were brought to the Green Balkans’ Wildlife rehabilitation and breeding center for artificial incubation.
The rescue mission was undertaken after observation of extremely aggressive behavior of a male bird to a pair in a wild nest. After the attacks continued a few hours, the expert team of the BSPB decided that the risk of breaking the eggs and failure of the season for the pair is too big, they urgently organized extraction of the eggs from the nest. By the means of alpine equipment they reached the nest and the eggs were carefully transported to the Rescue center for artificial incubation.
The eggs were put in an incubator where they hatched and the team of the Center is currently taking care of them. Soon they will be fostered to one of the pairs in the breeding section in order to avoid imprinting which is very likely in this stage of their development.
The young vultures will be raised in the Rescue center for a year and in the spring will be released by the BSPB team in the wild in the area where they were rescued. The release will be made following a special methodology for slow adaptation to the environment and the birds will be strictly observed during this process.
The Egyptian vulture is one of the most endangered species of birds in Bulgaria. As a result of years of dedicated work in the last season we registered significant increase of the population for the first time after 40 years and now the breeding pairs are 35. The survival of each egg and chick is extremely important for the conservation of the species in the country.
Three Egyptian vulture chicks hatched in the Green Balkans’ Wildlife rehabilitation and breeding center
Three Egyptian vulture chicks hatched this season at the Green Balkans’ Wildlife rehabilitation and breeding center.
We already shared the news for the first two chicks. They hatched from eggs rescued by our colleagues from the Bulgarian society for the protection of birds and taken for incubation at the Green Balkans’ Wildlife rehabilitation and breeding center.
The third chick is from one of the breeding pairs from the Rescue center.
Because the pair is still young and unexperienced, the team decided to take their egg and incubate it artificially and eventually it hatched.
Temporary neck muscle problem was the reason we kept it for longer in the nursery room under the supervision of our experts. Fortunately the treatment was successful and it recovered well.
Currently the three chicks are being adopted by a foster pair and they are taking wonderful care of all three of them. That is needed to avoid imprinting and to make sure that the chicks will adapt better to the wild after their release.
The activities of Green Balkans, related with the release of Egyptian vultures in the region of Potochnitsa village are implemented with the financial support of the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP).