At Birding The Strait we take vultures very seriously! We have a deep interest in these fascinating birds and have worked intimately with them in the past. As it happens, today is International Vulture Awareness Day! It’s goal is to carry out activities that highlight vulture conservation and awareness. We are happy to spread the word and make everyone a little bit more “vulture conscious”.
The Rüppell’s Vulture or Rüppell’s Griffon
Here, in the Strait of Gibraltar, we are frequently asked about Rüpell’s Vultures. They are regularly seen in the region, even though they are a pure African species. Every time we see them, there’s great excitement in the group, and we ourselves cannot hide our enthusiasm either.
However, not that many people are aware that Rüppell’s Vultures were upgraded to “Critically Endangered” status by the UICN in 2015. In addition to Rüppell’s, three other African species of vultures have entered this category. They are experiencing a severe decline throughout their entire range.
In consequence, the Rüppell’s Vulture can be now considered one of the most threatened species in the Spanish list of birds. Other birds on this list are the Balearic Shearwater and the Northern Bald Ibis, for instance. In Europe, these three species can only be seen in the Strait of Gibraltar region. Therefore, this should be another good reason to take precautionary measures to keep conserving our Nature reserves. Also, it should serve to protect some important areas that are now exposed to threats like high-impact infrastructures. These include wind-farms and power lines, electrocution, poisoning and illegal hunting. You can find more about the decline of African Vultures on Birdlife International’s website.
Vultures dedicated trips
We dedicate part of our trips and tours to enjoy vultures – not only Vulture Awareness Day, but all year round! Visit Vulture colonies or enjoy the Griffon Vulture migration in the Strait of Gibraltar with us. Go to our Contact page if you want to get more information about these activities!