A lot of the locals can remember the times when large wild wild birds of prey travelled graciously among the high tops in the rocks within Meteora. Eagles, vultures, hawks as well as other regal wild wild birds of prey dwelled in large figures the steep slopes as well as the high rocks of Meteora. People of some age even today they tell tales of giant vultures sufficiently strong enough to lift just a little sized sheep or goat. Then, like elsewhere on the planet progress as well as the hands of person became a member of together and altered all things their path.
The once small farming settlements of Kalampaka and Kastraki elevated up remarkably fast the small primitive farms and creatures reduced, roads were built, cars, houses, vacationers, electricity and light-weight pollution came and forever altered the landscape, totally transforming wild wild birds habitat. Nature’s balance was lost by using it we’ve almost lost from sight the magnificent wild wild birds of prey of Meteora.
Among the numerous vulture species that familiar with live within considerable figures was the Egyptian vulture, scientifically known as “Neophron percnopterus”, the littlest in the four kinds of European vultures. Only numerous pairs still remain in the general portion of Meteora as well as the Antichasia hills. It’s small size getting a wingspan of 180 cm (5.9 feet.) and the entire body duration of 60 cm (2.2 feet.) have introduced to another Bulgarian name: ‘lesser vulture’.
The adults have white-colored-colored plumage with black flight lower and featherless yellow-orange face. The crest of white-colored-colored, pointed lower offers the bird its typical appearance. The tail is white-colored-colored and wedge-created.The bird reaches adult plumage within the fifth or sixth year.
The Egyptian vulture can be a globally endangered species, incorporated in debt List as “Endangered”. Its global population believed between 30.000 to 60.000 individuals with a reliable negative inclination. It’s strictly compensated through the Bern and Bon Worldwide Conventions, additionally to with the Convention on Worldwide Exchange Endangered Species (CITES). Formerly, the Egyptian vulture was wide-spread through Bulgaria along with a vacation in a holiday in greece wealthy in population figures. Today the Balkan Peninsula hosts under 90 pairs. This endangered bird species are incorporated inside the Bulgarian Red List and guarded beneath the Bio-diversity Act.
This unique vulture prefers open hillsides and periodic mountain ranges. Its primary nesting sites are coves and rocky slopes, frequently close to human settlements. The nest locates in niches, ledges and crevices inside the high high cliff face. One nest is usually occupied for quite a while.The species is monogamous in Ancient Egypt it absolutely was revered denoting parental care.
Neophron vulture can be a migrant. In September, both youthful and adults fly south to take a position the winter months several days in Africa. In the year, they fly over a lot of kilometers for their nesting territories. Once the pairs reach March-April both wild wild birds start growing the nest. First they build or strengthen the underside by entwining twigs and branches they meticulously cover the interior with made of wool and rags. Inside the finish, the nest is decorated with bones, turtle shells as well as other leftovers utilizing their diet. In April-May, the female lays 1-3 eggs. Both mother and father lay on the eggs.
The Egyptian vulture, as other vultures, feeds mainly on carrion. Therefore, the vulture household is known as ‘nature’s caretakers’. The Egyptian’s diet includes insects, larvae, frogs, lizards and tortoises therefore it catches them alive. It might be seen patrolling the roads trying to find road kill. Furthermore, it frequents local dumpsites. The bird is well-recognized for its intelligence – it’s most likely the pair of bird species in the world to utilize tools. In Africa, the vulture could be observed breaking abandoned ostrich eggs employing a stone.
In September, both youthful and adult wild wild birds leave the nesting territories in the species and start a extended journey towards their wintering places in Africa. They migrate in small groups, mainly over land, remaining from extended distances inside the open sea, however some individuals within the southwestern Balkan population regularly mix the Med. They fly over Chicken as well as the eastern shores in the Mediterranean to wealthy African land. Over the migration routes, they gather in large figures at places with enough food for instance dumpsites and feeding stations.
So that you can help this endangered bird species an worldwide collaborated project initiated involving the Bulgarian Society for your Protection of untamed wild birds (BSPB), the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), the earth Wildlife Fund-A vacation in a holiday in greece (WWF), as well as the Royal Society for your Protection of untamed wild birds (RSPB). The project’s primary scope could be the identification of confirmed threats Egyptian vultures are facing and lead for the extended-term decline of individuals endangered species, combined with the appropriate actions need to be taken so that you can reverse this ominous trend and for that reason ensure their extended term survival.
