Waiting for the autumn migration of Egyptian Vultures

03.09.2013

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Waiting for the autumn migration of Egyptian Vultures

A joint research of BSPB, Doga Dernegi and RSPB for Egyptian Vultures migration route identification across Turkey began on August 28. After a few days spent in searching for a suitable monitoring site, the team settled down near Osmaniye city. The site is located on a high hill in the middle of a low plain and is a great spot from where to track the migration. After obtaining residence permit to stay in the area, the counting of the migrating birds started in the morning of August 30. During the first hours no birds showed, but at once the wind suddenly changed its direction and strength and a few minutes later the sky turned black because of migrating white storks, honey-buzzards, Black Kites, Booted and Short-toed Eagles. Among them an adult Egyptian vulture showed. The appearance of the first vulture was of great joy for the ornithologists. The research will continue until the end of September, and the most active migration of vultures is expected to be in the middle of next month.
Why near Osmaniye and Erzin? A more detailed look at the map of Turkey shows that they are located in the famous Gulf of Iskenderun. Here the continent makes almost 90 degree turn south to Jordan and Israel. There is a large mountain range on the other side of the gulf very close by, and a narrow strip of land is formed between the sea and the mountain. In the mid-`80s western scientists have counted over 800 Egyptian Vultures here in one season of migration. Apparently all vultures that come from the Balkans and Turkey are using this migration route.
The LIFE+ “The Return of the Neophron” project team is doing a pilot study this year and will try to locate the migration bottleneck of the Egyptian vultures in this part of Turkey. The study will continue in the forthcoming years. Through this study the team, composed of BSPB, RSPB and Doga Dernegi, will try to give an adequate assessment of the species' population in this area and will track any changes in the population size, if any factors have negative impact on the species until it reaches this part of the migration route.

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