The Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is one of the rarest raptors in Europe. It inhabits exclusively high mountainous areas (500-4,000 m). It can be found usually above the tree line, in rugged areas with steep slopes and in alpine pastures.

Its main food source is bones of dead animals (small- or middle-sized), for which it searches alone or in pairs.

The Bearded vulture defends huge areas (territories), in which the pair feeds and breeds. The pair rarely tolerates the presence of other mature individuals of the species in their territory.
 

DESCRIPTION

The Bearded vulture reaches 1.10 m in size (from head to tail), its wingspan is around 2.8 m and it weighs about 5-7 kg.

The mature birds can be easily recognized by the long, pointed wings and the wedged tail; however, its form rather recalls a large falcon than a vulture. Its breast and underparts are usually coloured deep orange

The Bearded vulture acquires this colour by rubbing against calcareous rocks containing iron oxides. In areas where rocks lack iron oxides, the colour of the bird’s underparts is usually "dirty white".

On the head, close to the beak, the bird has a long tuft of feathers which looks like a beard. It is this characteristic "beard" that gives the bird its scientific name (Gypaetus barbatus).

DISTRIBUTION

The Bearded Vulture is the rarest species of vulture of the four found in Europe. It is found in the Pyrenees (Spain - France, 77 pairs), in the island of Corsica (10 pairs) and in the Balkans (2-3 pairs), while in the Alps, where the species has been reintroduced, there are 80 individuals and 4 pairs.

In Greece most of the population can be found in Crete (not more than 25 individuals/4 pairs). In mainland Greece very few individuals can be found.

BIOLOGY - BEHAVIOUR

The Bearded vulture inhabits areas of high altitude (1,500-4,000 m), but during winter when the high mountains are snow-covered, it can be seen in areas of lower altitude (500-800 m).

It nests during the winter period between mid-December and the end of January in small caves on rocky cliffs or in deep gorges with steep slopes.

The female lays two eggs and she incubates them for 55-57 days. However, as with most birds of prey, only one young fledges.

The young fledges in the end of June or in the beginning of July and becomes sexually mature after at least six years.

The territory size is about 200-400 km2 and therefore the distribution of the species is rather sparse.

The young birds, in the first years of their life, cover large distances surveying other areas but usually return to breed in the area where they were born.

On the contrary, mature birds almost never leave their territory to settle in neighbouring mountainous areas, even if these are close by.

The Bearded vulture is the only animal that feeds almost exclusively on bone (70-90%). In Crete, the shepherds call it the "Bone-eater", as they have watched the bird breaking bones in a very characteristic way, since the old times.

The bird throws the larger bones from a height on to rocky slopes in order to break them, and immediately descends after them in a characteristic spiral way. If the bone does not break the first time, the method is repeated many times until the bone finally breaks.

The bird then eats the bone pieces starting with the bone marrow. The smaller bones are swallowed whole, as the bird’s gastric fluids are so strong that they can digest bone easily.

This dietary habit seems odd, but once bones have been digested, they are a nutritious and easily storable type of food; in addition, the bird faces minimal competition for this type of food.

DANGERS - THREATS

The main threats for the species include lack of food, illegal use of poisoned baits set for "vermin" such as wolves, foxes, jackals and crows, habitat destruction and degradation, and illegal persecution.

In mainland Greece, the main reasons for the decrease of the population were lack of food due to pastoral decline, use of poisoned baits for the large carnivores and habitat degradation or loss because of changes in the land use due to the creation of mines, ski centres and hotels.

On the other hand, the main threats in Crete are illegal persecution and high-degree of disturbance, especially during the last years when access even to the most isolated areas became easy through the establishment of a dense network of mountain tracks.

LIFE PROJECT FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE BEARDED VULTURE

In the framework of LIFE - NATURE 1998 programme, the Natural History Museum of Crete and the Hellenic Ornithological Society implemented a project on the "Conservation of the Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in Greece". The project started in October 1998 and was completed by February 2002.

The project was implemented in 10 mountainous areas of Greece that belong to the "Natura 2000" Network. Seven are in Crete (Mountains Selinou, Lefka Ori, Asi Gonia- Kallikratis-Asfendou, Psiloritis, Kedros, Asterousia and Dikti) and three in mainland Greece (Parnassos, Giona, Olympos). These represent the last remaining refuges for the species in Greece.

The aim of the project was the conservation of the Bearded vulture in Greece. This was achieved through the undertaking of urgent measures for the protection of the species, the detailed monitoring of the species’ population and the protection of all the "NATURA 2000" Network sites where the species is found.

During the implementation of the project, emphasis was given to the following issues:

• Conservation of the Bearded vulture and protection of its habitats in some project areas through the preparation of Management Plans and Specific Environmental Studies (which will lead to Presidential Decrees) for those sites.
• Determination of the exact species status as well as its breeding activity at national level.
• Investigation of the possibility of the species’ recovery and/or reintroduction, where meaningful and feasible.
• Undertaking a set of specific measures - actions, targeting for the survival of the Bearded vulture in Crete and mainland Greece, such as:
  • Encouragement of traditional pastoralism and promotion of sustainable grazing systems and land use.
  • Provision of supplementary food for the Bearded vulture in suitably selected sites.
  • Patrolling and warding of the most important sites for the species, e.g. breeding, roosting and foraging areas.
  • Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Associations and Local Authorities in areas where the project is implemented, for achieving better results on the species’ conservation.
  • Inform and educate local people through the production and distribution of information material (leaflets, video, slide series), the organisation of seminars and lectures, and the establishment of Information Centres in strategic places around Greece.
  • Dissemination of the results.

 

TEXT:
C. Papazoglou, M. Probonas, A. Sakoulis, S. Xirouchakis

PHOTOS:
A. Margalida, J. Heuret/APEGE, Fundacion para
la Conservacion del Quebrantahuesos (FCQ)

DRAWINGS:
P. Dougalis

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF CRETE
UNIVERSITY OF CRETE
P.O. BOX 2208, GR-71409, IRAKLIO
CRETE, GREECE
TEL/FAX 2810 324366

HELLENIC ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Themistokleous 80, GR-10681,
ATHENS, GREECE
TEL./FAX: 210 8228704, 210 8227937
 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE GENERAL XI