Did you know… that the Bearded Vulture population in southern Africa has significantly decreased from the 1980s is continuing to decline?

The entire southern African population is now estimated to be less than 300 birds and the population is continuing to decline by two percent per annum. The total number of active nest sites has declined from an estimated 240 in the early 1980’s to 92 at present.

KZN researchers in collaboration with ornithologists in Spain, Switzerland and France in 2007 initiated a study using satellite transmitters fitted to three Bearded Vultures. This is the first time outside of Europe that this technology has been used on this species. The data collected is already revealing insights into the movement of individual birds, some of which range from the south-eastern Free State to the north-eastern Eastern Cape in the space of a week. A new nest site in the eastern Free State where Bearded Vultures were thought to have disappeared has also been discovered.

• 25/08/2009 19:50 - GBTs' Bird Guide: Bearded Vulture
• 07/01/2009 13:11 - New chicks transmit data
• 18/12/2008 16:48 - Ringing the yellow fellow
• 17/12/2008 11:56 - Engagement party with risky benefits
• 15/12/2008 11:11 - Power cuts, mini-blogs, lifers and early rising
• 02/12/2008 12:40 - Ringing Wakkerstroom
• 21/11/2008 13:06 - #5: Composition
• 30/10/2008 13:28 - #3: Perception