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Armenian reared cinereous vulture and vulture researchers |
The cinereous vulture (aka Eurasian black vulture) is considered “Near-threatened” in the wild. It is very large and breeds in loose "colonies". In Armenia and Georgia the numbers are extremely small and the breeding colonies are only found in or very near protected areas. Changes in the number of shepherded animals in these countries since the fall of the Soviet Union has probably had an effect on food supply. Curiously, in neighbouring Azerbaijan, there has not been a decline in numbers of sheep and goats and the population of black vultures is thought to be quite large. We'd like to conduct surveys in Azerbaijan in the future. Keep visiting this site to see our periodic updates!
Natural Research has a long, varied and successful history of vulture research in the Caucasus (click here and browse pages about some of those projects). In 2007, our long-running partners, the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds (ASPB), secured funding from the Lush Foundation (UK) through BirdLIfe to fit satellite tags to three cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus). Natural Research, the Georgian Center for Conservation of Wildlife (GCCW) and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary all provided in-kind support for this effort in 2007. This extends our effort to track cinereous and other vultures from the region.
Below are maps of the vultures' movements. All three migrated south in the autumn of 2007, along the Iran-Iraq border. One, 75459 wintered south of the Iranian city of Ilam. The other two, 75458 and 75460, moved farther south and wintered in Saudi Arabia, NNW of Riyadh.
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Cinereous vulture with wing tag and satellite transmitter (75459) |
Having survived the winter, all three birds started their northward migration in early spring 2008. 75458 retraced its southward migration to a location north of Ilam, Iran then moved on to the area of the Vashlovani Nature Reserve in Georgia on the border with Azerbaijan. Similarly, 75460 retraced its autumn migration, but continued north through western Iran. It seems to like eastern Turkey. 75459 moved north from its wintering area along the Iran-Iraq border to SE Turkey, south of Talvan, spent some time near the Khosrov Nature Reserve in Armenia and is currently in the border region between Georgia and Azerbaijan..
It is probably no real coincidence that a bird reared in Vashlovani Nature Reserve in Georgia has spent some time near Khosrov Nature Reserve in Armenia and a bird reared in Khosrov has spent time near Vashlovani. That these reserves hold breeding cinereous vultures attests to the (relatively) suitable habitat and availability of food for the vultures. Also, vultures often congregate to forage, feed and breed. Because of this, they are seen to be a bit more "social" than other raptors. It may be that these birds are visiting these places because other cinereous vultures are there. In the fullness of time, it would not surprise us to see some of our satellite tagged birds visit the areas of Azerbaijan (and elsewhere), where cinereous vultures breed.
This corridor along the Iran-Iraq border seems to be quite an important migration route for vultures from the Caucasus. We have tracked both griffon and cinereous vultures that use this route. Sadly, some of these birds have died during their migration.
For more information please contact mike.mcgrady@natural-research.org
Photos: Copyright M. Ghasabian, Maps: Copyright Natural Research Ltd
Movements of first year cinereous vultures reared in the Caucasus
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Above left: 75458; above right 75460; below centre 75459 |
    
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