Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus Linnaeus, 1758
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Endangered EN A[2c+4(a+c)] + B[1b(i+ii+iii+iv+v) + 2(b(i+ii+iii+iv+v)] + C[1+2a(i)]+D+E, BDA-II, III; International: CITES-II, BeC-II, BoC-II, BD-I.
General distribution. An Indo-African species whose breeding area embraces Southern Europe, Africa, SW Asia and Asia Minor, Iran, Mesopotamia, Turkestan and India.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A breeding summer visitor, in the past throughout the country [1, 2, 3]. At present its numbers are considerably reduced: in the last 10 years 3 pairs disappeared from the Sinite Kamani Natural Park [8], and in 2005 it did not breed any more [9]; in 1988 in Strandzha there were no less than 9 pairs [11], in 2005 it was not registered [9]; for the area between Studen Kladenets Reservoir and Ivaylovgrad Reservoir in the 1980s, 50 breeding pairs were mentioned [3, 10], in 2005 there were only 16 pairs [9]; in the Vrachanska Planina mountain from 4 breeding pairs in 2001 only one pair remained breeding in 2005 [9]. In the Polomieto, 30-35 pairs bred at the end of the 1950s [1, 4], and in 2005 there were 13 – 16 pairs [9]. In 2005, the total numbers in Bulgaria were 60 – 75 pairs [6].
Habitats. Rocky regions, gorges, gorges; in the past loess walls and settlements, etc. at altitudes of up to 400 m, less frequently up to 900 m.
Biology. It breeds in niches of rocks. The pairs use up to 4-5 different nests. The distance between them is 3-4 km. About 30% of the pairs change their nests from the previous year [9]. It breeds 1-2 young ones. In 2004, the breeding success was 0,9 young ones per pair at the average [8]. Carrion-eating, it feeds leff frequently on turtles, snails, etc.
Similar species. None.
Negative factors. Use of poisons in agriculture and for large predators, deratizations of waste depots. Reduction of the nutrition base. Electric shocks from high-voltage lines. Disturbance during building activities, extraction of raw materials, etc. [7,13].
Conservation measures taken. Protected according to the Biological Diversity Act. Included in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (1985). National and international legal measures and a National Plan for its preservation have been prepared. 55% of the nests are in protected territories and 90% are in the Natura 2000 protected zones [12]. Feeding is maintained for 70% of the pairs. A monitoring programme is being carried out for registering the breeding success of the population. It is also included in a national educational programme.
Conservation measures needed. Declaring the Eastern Rhodopes a Natural Park, working out a plan for its management. Involvement of the municipalities in the Eastern Rhodopes, the Polomie and the Provadiya-Royaksko Plateau in the activities for its preservation. Stimulation of pasture animal breeding and biological agriculture. Multiplication in captivity and restocking. Continuation of the control on the use of poisons.
References. 1. Michev, 1968; 2. The Red Book of Bulgaria, 1985; 3. Simeonov et al., 1990; 4. Baumgart, 1991; 5. Meyburg et al., 2004; 6. Ornithological Database BSPB, Sofia; 7. Kurtev, 2003; 8. Kurtev, 2004; 9. Kurtev, 2005; 10. Iankov, 1977; 11. Milchev, 1994; 12. Kostadinova et al.; 13. Hristov, 1997.
Authors: Marin Kurtev, Iliya Vatev, Dimitar Demerdjiev
