This month, we feature the CINEREOUS VULTURES, which are perhaps some of the less well-known birds on the park.

Also known as Monk Vultures and European or Eurasian black vultures, their species name is Aegypius monachus. They are the largest of the Old World vultures with a wingspan of 8-10ft, and a weight range of 16-28lbs. The males are often smaller, though the sexes look alike. They have the characteristic bare head of the large vultures and the mature birds have a pale feathered cap, which is perhaps where the name Monk Vulture came from. They have a very large hooked beak that is able to tear the tendons and skin of the carrion that they feed on. Often they will be the first bird at a carcass, and their size enables them to rob other vultures at the scene. They are not particularly gregarious, and can be quite solitary or are to be found in pairs or small groups. Having no predators, (other than man), they are long-lived, up to about 40 years.

Their range is from mountainous parts of Spain eastwards through S. France, Greece and the Balkans, the Caucasus, Turkey, Iran and then on through Tibet to China and Mongolia. They are mostly found in open, hilly or mountainous regions and also over steppes and grassland. Their large wings enable them to soar for long periods in search of carrion, making use of any thermals and updraughts that they can find. Observations have also been recorded of their taking live lizards and tortoises. Sightings have been made at up to 23000ft on Mt Everest.

Breeding starts at 5 to 6 years of age when they build a massive stick nest, sometimes nearly 6ft in diameter, in trees or on a rocky ledge. The nest is often reusable with more material added each year. A single egg is laid and is incubated for 50-55 days, with both parents being involved.

Mature Cinereous Vulture

The status of Cinereous Vultures at present is near threatened. Causes of the decline are habitat alteration (forest destruction disturbing nest sites), poisoning (both deliberate and accidental), hunting, and the reduction of available wild and domestic food sources. Better care and health of livestock has reduced the number of carcasses left for them to feed on. However, the population in Spain has started to increase, and there has been a successful reintroduction programme in France.

Here at the Conservancy we have three of these birds and it is hoped that we can start a breeding programme and be able to have youngsters available for reintroduction to the wild in future. Our birds are all disabled but, having only physical disabilities, they can be used for breeding.

Perhaps the best known of the three is Dolores. She is the one most likely to be seen at the front of the aviary making ‘goo-goo’ eyes at passers-by. She is 15 years old and came to us from Moscow Zoo in 1994. She is unable to fly and also has a form of rickets giving her a disfigured foot. On arriving here she was in such a bad way that Ashley Smith, our CEO, took her to our vet John Chitty immediately, despite the fact that it was a Saturday evening and John was hosting a dinner party at home. With typical dedication, and to the amazement of his guests, John cleared the dinner table and examined Dolores on it there and then. The guests subsequently commented that it was the most interesting party that they had been to!

With a great deal of ‘TLC’, Dolores made a gradual recovery. The amount of personal care that she was given makes her very comfortable with humans, and she seems to prefer our company to that of her fellow vultures. When we put sticks and twigs in the aviary for nest building in the breeding season, Dolores will bring them to the wire by way of a gift to us and as an invitation to join her in making her nest. She always shows that she is pleased to see us by raising the feathers on her breast which act as mood indicators on these birds. If we enter the aviary to do maintenance work, she will make a complete nuisance of herself and try to steal buckets and tools etc. If she succeeds, it is the devil’s own job to get anything back off her. At present it doesn’t look as if she will pair up with Tigger, the male.

Tigger (so named because he hops around everywhere) is around 36 years old and sometime in the past his right wing has been pinioned. After living in various collections he came here in 2000 to be paired with Dolores. Unfortunately, he paired up with another male (the late Wesley) with whom he bonded and displayed, and he eventually built a nest and roosted with him! He is now showing some interest in the third and newest member of the trio who, thankfully, is a female (with no name). She is about 6 years old, coming to us last year from Plankendael in Belgium, and also has a pinioned wing after it had been badly broken. She originated from Spain where she was rescued after her injury in the wild. We have high hopes that she and Tigger might ‘get it together’ in the next breeding season