Monitoring of the Egyptian vultures in FYR of Macedonia 2012-2013

28.01.2014

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In the last 30 years the Egyptian Vulture population in FYR of Macedonia has dramatically declined, from estimated 140 pairs around 1983 to 40 pairs in 2003. Similar strong decrease has been also observed in the other Balkan countries, and the species is now considered extinct from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Strong population decline has been observed in Bulgaria, Greece and Albania, as well.
In 2012 and 2013, the Macedonian Ecological Society conducted monitoring of the Egyptian Vulture breeding population in the country. The aims of the present project was to undertake monitoring of the breeding pairs of the Egyptian Vultures in Macedonia in 2013, in order to provide complementary data to the LIFE+ project  “The Return of the Neophron” ( LIFE10 NAT/BG/000152, funded by the EC and co-funded by the “A. G. Leventis Foundation”).
A total of 20-21 pairs were found in each of the years (no decrease has been observed in 2013 in comparison to 2012). In 2013, 14 pairs were confirmed incubating and for 6 pairs the incubation were not been confirmed. For some of the the pairs hatchings and fledglings was also recorded.
Some threats were also evidenced. Disturbance by treasure-hunters were observed in May 2013 (see the photos). Cases of treasure-hunters entering Egyptian Vulture nests have been known from Bulgaria, but not observed earlier in FYR of Macedonia. Lead poisoning was also documented (Golden Eagle found poisoned and rescued by MES) in the breeding area of Egyptian vultures.
The breeding parameters in 2013 were unusually low. Although their monitoring remained incomplete, all three pairs in Mariovo region that had four hatchlings in total, were unsuccessful in the end. This also includes the most successful pair in FYR of Macedonia, which again had 2 juveniles in 2013. The reasons remain unknown, although at three occasions severe storms took place in the region.
Based on the results from the survey, specific actions have been identified for the future conservation of the species in FYR of Macedonia.

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