Bearded Vulture Reintroduction into the Alps Annual Report 2002 Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture Frankfurt Zoological Society

Transcription

1 Bearded Vulture Reintroduction into the Alps Annual Report 2002 Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture Frankfurt Zoological Society

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3 BG 140, Averell in 1999 Photo: RICHARD ZINK, Austria FOREWORD Undoubtedly, the most important event in the year 200 has been the discovery of two new free-living breeding pairs of Bearded Vultures in the Alps. The known number of breeding pairs now stands at six and each of them produced a young. Of these five managed to fledge successfully, in itself an extraordinary result reflecting the excellent conditions in the Alps. The International Monitoring Scheme that was begun in 2001 continued its indispensable work successfully. I am confident that it will reveal many pairs more in the years to come. At this point in time the ultimate goal of the project becomes clearly within reach. In this past year our friend KAREL PITHART lived through an ordeal when the Prague Zoo was flooded, and we felt all relieved and grateful when he managed to save both pairs of Bearded Vultures. Dr. MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND President of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture

4 2 Contents 2002 Foreword 1 Breeding Network Release Monitoring Reproduction in Transfers - Increases - Deaths in EEP stock in Reproduction between 1978 and Age distribution in Report on Releases in Release in NP Hohe Tauern, Anlauftal, Salzburg, Austria in Release in Haute-Savoie in Release in Martelltal/Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio in Release in Alpi Marittime Nature Park in Wing marks and ring colours from Bearded Vulture Monitoring in Engadine, Switzerland in Sightings of Bearded Vultures in the Piedmontese valleys (except Canavese and Gran Paradiso National Park) January to December Alpine Monitoring of Bearded Vultures: preliminary data on dispersal, pair settlement and survival 53 Alpine Monitoring of Bearded Vultures: pair formation - new pairs - pairs & reproduction 59 A new pair in Austria: Gastein, National Park Hohe Tauern 60 Austrian Bearded Vulture Monitoring A farewell to Averell (BG ) the Bearded Vulture from the Lechtal in Austria 64 BG , Paolo Peila s Health Problems 66 Observations on a Bearded Vulture in the Netherlands in Autochthonous Populations Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) population in the French Pyrenees Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Spanish Pyrenees in Miscellaneous Bearded Vulture reintroduction project in Andalucia, Spain 72 Annual Report of the Breeding Center Natur- und Tierpark Goldau 81 Mounting devices for satellite tracking of Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) - preliminary results 82 On the former distribution of the Bearded Vulture in Italy 83 Predation of a Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) on a young Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 84 A short note: how many subspecies has Gypaetus barbatus? 85 Minutes of the Annual Meeting Rhêmes Notre Dame 20th October Minutes of the Annual Meeting Zernez, 26 October Note on the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (FCBV), its ORIGIN and GOALS 91 Board members of the FCBV/Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture 91 Editorial 92

5 2002 Breeding Network 3 Reproduction in 2002 by Hans Frey * The Vienna Breeding Unit In this breeding season, eight pairs produced a clutch: Stiftung bedrohte Tierwelt Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt Zoological Society BG 009 x BG produced two eggs (13th/14th and 18th of December. The first young died in the early stage of hatching (BG on the 4th of February). The second egg hatched on the 12th of February (BG ) but died on the 19th of February from an infection of the yolksac. The single egg of BG 014 x BG was laid on the 19th of December. Three days later it laid broken in the nest as was another egg laid on 13th of February. BG x BG had again two eggs (7th and 12th of January). The first hatched on the 2nd of March (BG ), the second on the 9th of March (BG ) but died during hatching. BG x BG 178 had two eggs laid on the 21st and 26th of December. Both eggs disappeared during incubation and the pair stopped brooding on the 8th of February. Maybe a second clutch was produced on the 11th of March, but the pair abandonded incubation four days later. No egg remains could be found in the nest. The pair BG x BG produced two eggs (31st of December and 5th of January), which hatched on 21st and 27th of February (BG and BG respectively). BG 031 x BG 003 laid their clutch on the 1st of January and another egg on the 23rd of January. The first egg disappeared on the second day of incubation, the second egg proved to be infertile. BG 199 x BG had two eggs (24th and 29th of December), which hatched on the17th and 24th of February (BG and BG respectively). BG x BG had produced one egg (13th of February), which hatched on the 7th of April (BG ) in the nest of the parents. A second egg was found beside the nest a few days after hatching of BG 402 on the 10th of April. It proved to be fertile with a well developed fetus but died because of hypothermia. Remarks on pair BG 014 x BG The female still behaved sometimes rather dominant and did not tolerate her mate at the eyrie for some time during the 3rd week of January. Although the eggs disappeared the pair could be used as foster parents for BG (offering dummy eggs after the loss of the clutch). Remarks on pair BG 031 x BG 003. On the 2nd of January the incubation of the first egg was stopped and maybe the egg was broken; on 23rd of January BG 003 remained laying in the nest during the feeding in the facility. On the next day male BG 031 too stayed in the nest during feeding and made brooding movements. On the 9th of February the single egg was removed and transferred to male pair BG 204 x BG 158. In particular female BG 003 did not take part in the brooding as intensively as she used to do in the past and stopped participation in February and March. BG 031 took care for the dummy egg during the night but during day time only for some hours. On 6th of March, BG was transferred from the incubator and hand rearing to this old pair. During the first three days the female did not participate in the raising (she only visited the eyrie to have a look on the young and to pick up some food) but the male warmed the young immediately and started to feed it from the next day on. From 9th of March on, also BG 003 took care of the foster chick. Remarks on BG 204, Oskar. As in 2001, BG 204 was paired with BG 158 (see AR 2001, p. 3) and both first brooded intensively on a dummy egg (put into the nest on the 26th of January) and afterwards (from 9th of February on) the egg of pair BG 031x BG 003. On 8th of March, BG was transferred to the male pair and Oskar immediately took care of the nestling. * Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medicine University Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. Hans.Frey@vu-wien.ac.at

6 4 Breeding Network 2002 Table 1: Breeding pairs in 2002 AUSTRIA Alpenzoo Innsbruck Tiergarten Schönbrunn BG 019 x BG 021 1st: 04th Jan disappeared 2nd:10th Jan embryo died 3rd:02nd Mar embryo died Vienna Breeding Unit FRANCE BG 201 x BG st:20th Jan 15th Mar BG 031 x BG 003 1st: 01st Jan 2nd:23rd Jan broken broken BG 014 x BG st: 19th Dec 2nd:13th Feb disappeared disappeared BG 009 x BG st: 13th/14th Dec 2nd:18th Dec embryo died 12th Feb BG 199 x BG st: 24th Dec 2nd:29th Dec 17th Feb 24th Feb BG x BG st: 31st Dec 2nd:05th Jan 21st Feb 27th Feb BG x BG st: 07th Jan 2nd:12th Jan 02nd Mar 09th Mar BG x BG 178 1st: 21st Dec disappeared 2nd:26th Dec disappeared 3rd: 11th Mar disappeared BG x BG th Feb? 07th April embryo died Breeding Centre Haute-Savoie BG x BG st: 18th Dec 2nd: 25th Dec embryo died embryo died GERMANY Hannover Zoo Nuremberg Zoo Wuppertal Zoo KAZAKHSTAN Almaty Zoo BG x BG rd Jan died during hatching BG x BG st: 03rd Jan embryo died 2nd:09th Jan Falconry stat. 3rd:16th Feb disappeared (stolen?) BG x BG th Jan infertile BG x BG st:13th Jan infertile 2nd:23rd Jan infertile 3rd:04th Feb infertile 4th:11th Feb infertile BG 159 x BG 270 1st:06th Jan infertile 2nd:21st Jan 13th Mar 3rd:01st Feb 25th Mar

7 2002 Breeding Network 5 SPAIN Centro de Cría Guadalentín BG x BG st: 22nd Dec 21st Feb 2nd:27th Dec 27th Feb 3rd: 05th Jan embryo died SWITZERLAND Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi BG x BG st: 14th Jan 07th Mar 2nd:21st Jan embryo died BG x BG th Jan infertile BG x BG th Feb infertile La Garenne BG 034 x BG st Dec 14th Feb Bern Zoo BG x BG th Jan infertile TS-REPUBLIC Prague Zoo Liberec Zoo BG 134 x BG nd Jan 26th Feb BG x BG 274 1st:22nd Dec embryo died 2nd:14th/15th Feb 16th April 3rd:19th Feb embryo died It was nearly impossible to shove him from the nest exchanging the dummy egg against the nestling. BG 158 seemed to be a little bit afraid of the young but eyed it rather interested and rested beside his partner. From 13th of March on, also BG 158 took care for the nestling. Remarks on pair BG x BG These birds (male coming from Berlin Zoo) were brought together at the beginning of October From the beginning on, the female was rather dominant, occupied the eyrie and chased the male from the nest platform. But no heavy aggressions were observed. Both birds carried branches and wool to the eyre bit did not cooperate. From the end of December on, both birds started to build at the eyrie, but again not together. Copulation attempts were observed on the 19th of December, but the female chased the male away. First real pair bonding behaviour was observed from 5th of January on, when the female started to nibble on the throat plumage of her mate at the nest site. The male reacted without fear and both birds built intensively at the nest site. The first succcessful copulation was observed on 12th of January. Remarks on pair BG x BG 178. The pair cancelled brooding on the 8th of February. Female BG 178 behaved extremely aggressive towards the keeper who put a dummy egg into the nest, which was not accepted by the pair. A lot of copulations could be observed as from the 8th of February and the pair again started to incubate on 11th of March. Obviously this pair produced a very late second clutch, as both birds showed incubation bevahiour but not egg remains were found. The 11th of March is the latest date for egg laying ever documented for the bearded Vulture in captivity. Remarks on BG 065 and BG This pair was formed at the beginning of October From the beginning on, female BG 137 (coming from the Wassenaar Wildlife Breeding Centre) was dominant, but did not chase the male all the time. However, on the 23rd of December, BG 065 had to be removed from the aviary as BG 137 proved to be very aggressive, chasing the older and injured male in the facility.

8 6 Breeding Network 2002 Summary - Vienna Breeding Unit Nine pairs laid 17 eggs (at least). Nine young hatched, nearly all of them in the incubator. After a maximum of 7 days of handrearing, the nestlings were adopted by their parents or foster parents. Six of them fledged successfully, three died. Breeding Station Haute-Savoie BG x BG started incubation on the 18th of December and laid a second egg on the 25th of December. No young hatched and BG 011 died on the 28th of February. Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi, Switzerland Three pairs are kept in the Swiss Breeding centre, each of which produced a clutch. Mascha x Caesar (BG x BG ) laid their first egg on 14th of January. It hatched on 7th of March in the nest of the parents (BG ). The second egg was produced on the 21st of January but died short time before hatching. Hans and Winnie (BG x BG ) produced their egg on the 9th of January and Felix (BG ), paired with the subadult female BG , laid on the 14th of February. Both eggs did not hatch and proved to be infertile. BG 276 laid her first egg with an age of six years. Breeding Centre Centro de Cría Guadalentín (CCG), Spain The only adult pair at the Spanish Breeding Centre (BG x BG ) had three eggs (egg pulling; 22nd and 27th of December and 5th of January). The first two eggs hatched (21st, BG and 27th of February, BG ). BG 390 had difficulties during hatching and died a few hours afterwards. The third egg failed. Wassenaar Wildlife Breeding Centre, The Netherlands As decided in the last year, pair BG x BG was separated. BG 137 was transferred to the VBU on the 30th of September 2001 and female BG was sent to the Netherlands in exchange. BG 303 hatched in 1998 and being too young no mating occurred this year. Summary - other Breeding Centres Five pairs laid 8 eggs. Three young hatched, two of them survived. One pair did not reproduce. ZOOS AUSTRIA Alpenzoo Innsbruck The founder pair BG 019 x BG 021 laid three eggs this year: on 4th and 10th of January as well as on 2nd of March. One of the first two eggs disappeared, the second died during artificial incubation and the third egg failed too. Tiergarten Schönbrunn As decided in 2001, pair BG 201 x BG was transferred from the VBU to Schönbrunn. It laid one egg on the 20th of January, which hatched on the 15th of March (BG ). SWITZERLAND Bern Zoo Pair BG x BG produced their single egg on 8th of January. As from 26th of March the incubation was interrupted and on the 9th of April the egg was removed by the keeper. it proved to be infertile or the embryo had died at an early stage of development.

9 2002 Breeding Network 7 La Garenne Zoo The single egg of pair BG 034 x BG was produced on the 21st of December and hatched on the 14th of February (BG ). GERMANY Hannover Zoo The single egg of the pair BG x BG was laid on the 23rd of January but died during hatching. Nuremberg Zoo The pair BG x BG had three eggs (egg pulling). The first egg was laid on 3rd of January, the second on 9th of January and both were transferred to an incubator. The third egg was produced on 16th of February and remained in the nest of the parents. The first egg died during incubation, the second egg was given to a Falconry station where it hatched (BG ) but is again lost for the project and the third egg disappeared in the nest. Maybe it was stolen as the clutch of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) too disappeared from the neighbouring facility. The Bearded Vulture pair cancelled brooding as from 22nd of March. Wuppertal Zoo The pair BG x BG incubated the single egg as from 8th of January. Unfortunately the egg was infertile or the embryo died in an early stage of development. KAZAKHSTAN Almaty Zoo Two breeding pairs are housed in the Almaty Zoo. BG x BG and BG 159 x BG 270, a founder pair. Both pairs produced a total of 7 eggs! Pair BG 156 x BG 157 laid on 13th and 23rd of January and on 4th and 11th of February. None of them hatched, all proved to be infertile. Pair BG 159 x BG 270 laid on 6th and 21st of January and on 1st of February. The first egg did not hatch, but remaining two did: BG and BG on the 13th and 25th of March respectively. BG 398 became hand reared, BG 399 was raised by his parents. TS REPUBLIC Liberec Zoo This new breeding pair (BG x BG 274) laid one egg on the 22nd of December, which died during incubation. On 14th/15th of February, a second egg was laid, which hatched on 16th of April (BG ). A third laid on 19th of February did not hatch. Prague Zoo This experienced founder pair (BG 134 x BG 135) produced their egg on 2nd of January. It hatched without any problems on 26th of February (BG ). Pairs with no reproduction in 2002 Furthermore the following already adult pairs did not start reproduction: BG x BG , Stuttgart Zoo, Germany, BG x BG , Vogelpark Walsrode, Germany, BG x BG , Antwerp Zoo, Belgium, BG 161 x BG , Moscow Zoo, Russia,

10 8 Breeding Network 2002 Table 2: Offspring 2002 STUDBOOK No. PARENTAGE SEX 7) BREEDING STATION/ZOO BG 384 1) BG 009 X BG 006? Vienna Breeding Unit BG 385 2) BG 009 X BG 006? Vienna Breeding Unit BG 386 BG 199 X BG 107 f Vienna Breeding Unit BG 387 BG 134 X BG 135 m Prague Zoo BG 388 BG 017 X BG 070 m Vienna Breeding Unit BG 389 BG 199 X BG 107 f Vienna Breeding Unit BG 390 3) BG 124 X BG 041? Centro de Cría Guadalentín BG 391 BG 124 X BG 041 m Centro de Cría Guadalentín BG 392 BG 017 X BG 070 f Vienna Breeding Unit BG 393 BG 086 X BG 104 f Vienna Breeding Unit BG 394 BG 034 X BG 130 m La Garenne Zoo BG 395 BG 122 X BG 118 f Breeding Centre Goldau BG 396 4) BG 086 X BG 104? Vienna Breeding Unit BG 397 BG 201 X BG 044 f Tiergarten Schönbrunn BG 398 5) BG 159 x BG 270? Almaty Zoo BG 399 BG 159 X BG 270 m Almaty Zoo BG 402 BG 108 X BG 175 m Vienna Breeding Unit BG 405 BG 180 X BG 274 m Liberec Zoo BG 408 6) BG 018 X BG 272? Nuremberg Zoo 1) BG 384 died during hatching. 2) BG 385 died 7 days after hatching because of a yolk sac infection. 3) BG 390 died short time after hatching. 4) BG 396 died during hatching 5) BG 398 became hand reared 6) BG 408 was given to a falconry station and is lost for the project. 7) Sex determination was done by Barbara Gautschi, University of Zurich, Switzerland BG x BG , San Diego Zoo, USA, BG x BG , Basel Zoo, Switzerland, BG x BG , the second pair of Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, BG x BG , Helsinki Zoo, Finland. Remarks on pair BG 152 x BG153 in the Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde, Germany. As in the last year this old and well respected pair did not produce a clutch although copulations were observed. In the middle of February the male had an injured wing and was only able to sit on the floor of the aviary, which this pair shares with other raptors since decades. He had to be recovered and died later on. Remarks on pair BG X BG in Prague Zoo, Czech Republic. This pair, already sexual mature (male 8 years, female Geo, 7 years) built a nest and took care for dummy eggs but did not produce a clutch for their own. Summary - Zoos Eleven pairs laid 22 eggs. Seven young hatched, all of which were successfully reared, five by their parents, two were totally hand-reared (Almaty Zoo, Nuremberg Zoo). Furthermore, eight adult pairs did not start reproduction up to now.

11 2002 Breeding Network 9 Private collaborator The pair BG x BG kept by a private collaborator in Germany produced no eggs. Total Breeding Centres, Zoos and private collaborators Out of 34 adult pairs, 24 produced a clutch. 19 young hatched, of these 15 were reared successfully, 13 by their parents or foster parents, and two, unfortunately, by hand. New participants The Centro di Riproduzione e Conservazione dei Rapaci Notturni in Monticello Brianza (Italy) received a very young pair (both birds hatched in 2002: BG x BG ) on the 10th of December. We warmely welcome DR.ENRICO ALBERTINI and his team within the Bearded Vulture EEP and the reintroduction project. The Riga Zoo in Latvia received the female BG We are very happy that Riga Zoo agreed to collaborate within the Bearded Vulture breeding network. A cordial welcome to our new Bearded Vulture friends in Riga! TRANSFERS - INCREASES - DEATHS TRANSFERS The female (F1 generation) BG was transferred from Almaty Zoo, where it was born on the 1st of March 2001 and hand raised to Riga Zoo in Latvia on the 13th of January. The pair BG x BG so far kept in the Vogelpark Walsrode, was brought to the Wildpark Lüneburger Heide on the 14th of February. The founder female BG 153, so far kept in the Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde was brought to the Centro de Cria Guadalentin on the 23rd of May. On 29th of May, male BG , born in Liberec Zoo in 2001 and male BG , born in Prague Zoo in 2002 were transferred to the Vienna Breeding Unit. Male BG , born in La Garenne Zoo in 2002 was transferred to the Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi on the 24th of June. Female BG , born in Tiergarten Schönbrunn in 2002 was transferred to the Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi on the 5th of July. Male BG , born in Liberec Zoo in 2002 was transferred to the Vienna Breeding Unit on the 8th of July. The male BG , born on the 17th of March 1999 and kept so far in Almaty Zoo was transferred to Moscow Zoo on the 11th of september BG 398, born on the 13th of February 2002 in Almaty Zoo was transferred to a private keeper in Czech Republic (out of EEP) in the course of September The young pair BG x BG had to be transferred from Prague Zoo to Ostrava Zoo on the 16th of August. The reason was the terrible flood, which overflowed Prague Zoo in August Male BG , born in the Vienna Breeding Unit in 1998 was transferred from the Wildpark Lüneburger Heide to the Vienna Breeding Unit on the 29th of September.

12 10 Breeding Network 2002 Male BG , born in the Vienna Breeding Unit in 2001, was transferred from the Vienna Breeding Unit to the Centro de Cría Guadalentín on the 23rd of October. Male BG , born in Almaty Zoo in 2002 was transferred to the Vienna Breeding Unit on the 22nd of November. Male BG , born in the La Garenne Zoo in 2002 and female BG , born in Tiergarten Schönbrunn in 2002 were transferred from the Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi to the Centro di Riproduzione e Conservazione dei Rapaci Notturni in Italy on the 10th of December. Furthermore the following birds were sent to the release site: Female BG and male BG , both born in the Vienna Breeding Unit in 2002 to the Italian release site in the NATURE PARK ARGENTERA on the 17th of May. Male BG , born in Prague Zoo in 2002 and female BG , born in the Vienna Breeding Unit were transferred from the Vienna Breeding Unit to the NATIONAL PARK HOHE TAUERN to be released in the ANLAUFTAL IN SALZBURG on the 29th of May. Female BG , born in the Vienna Breeding Unit in 2002 to MARTELL TAL in the ITALIAN NATIO- NAL PARK STELVIO on 31st of May as was female BG , born in the Breeding Centre Goldau/Rigi. Male BG and male BG , born in the Vienna Breeding Unit in 2002 were transferred to the French release place DORAN in HAUTE SAVOIE on the 9th of July. INCREASES No increases in DEATHS * Male BG died on the 28th of February 2002 with an age of 23 years. This bird hatched in the Vienna Breeding Unit on the 20th of March 1979 where he stayed until the 15th of October in the facility of his parents. Then he started to chase male BG 002 and had to be removed. On 13th of May 1980, BG was transferred to Nuremberg Zoo and kept there together with BG Both showed rather harmonic pair bond behaviour (BG being the dominant but not aggressive bird) but sex determination undertaken in 1985 showed that both birds were males. However, this male pair stayed together until 13th of December 1989, when BG was transferred to the breeding centre Haute Savoie and was paired with BG From the beginning on, both birds had a rather good relationship but did not produce a clutch in the first season, although they built a nest together. In 1991, the first young hatched in the nest of the parents after natural incubation without any problems. BG , a male, died at the beginning of June, short time after release. In 1992, two eggs were laid, both incubated naturally by the pair and one young hatched (BG , Republic 2, released in Haute Savoie). In 1993, female BG (Republic 4, released in Haute Savoie) again hatched in the nest of the parents. In 1994, the single egg was lost during incubation. In 1995, BG , Geo, a female, hatched in the nest of her parents and was released in Mercantour. In 1996, female BG (Republic 8, released in Haute Savoie) hatched in the nest of the parents. In 1997, two eggs were laid but broke during incubation.

13 2002 Breeding Network 11 In 1998, two eggs were laid. Female BG (Republic 11, released in Haute Savoie) hatched in the nest of the parents. BG died during hatching. In 1999, two eggs were laid and both young hatched (male, BG , Roubion and female BG , Péone, both released in Mercantour). In 2000, again two eggs were incubated by the pair. Male BG , Sereno was released in Argentera. The second egg disappeared during incubation. In 2001, a single egg was produced but died during incubation. In 2002, two eggs were laid and incubated by the pair but did not hatch. On 28th of February the so successful male BG died from lead poisoning! Carcasses of wild ungulates, found dead beside streets and highways were fed to the birds in Haute Savoie and one of them seemed to have been shot by a poacher before dying by a car accident. In all, BG had 10 young, two of which died, eight were released: BG , Republic 2, sex undetermined, released in 1992, stayed for the most of its life in France, but made excursions to Germany (1993) and Austria (1998), where the last observation of this bird was made on the 3rd of June BG (Republic 4, female, released in Only 5 observations were made from this bird (one in France, two in Switzerland and one in Italy), the last on the 29th of November 1994 in Austria. BG , Geo, female, released in Nationalpark Mercantour in This bird had to be recaptured appr. 5 weeks after her first flight with an injured wing and is now kept in Prague Zoo (see Annual Report 1995, p. 44). BG , Republic 8, female released in A total of 107 observations were made from this bird (the last on the 7th of September 2002 in Switzerland). Also Austria, Italy and of course the birth and release country France were visited by this female. BG , Republic 11, female, was released in This bird mainly stayed in France and made only short excursions to Austria (1999) and Switzerland (2000 and 2001). The last observation of this bird was made in France on the 5th of May BG , Roubion, male and female BG , Péone, both released in Roubion made excursions to Italy and Austria but always returned to France. The last observation was made on the 22th of October 2001 in Italy. Only three observations were made of Péone, all three in Italy, the last on the 25th of May BG , male, Sereno was released in Most of his time he spent in Italy, but also made visits to France and once to Switzerland. The last observation of this bird was made on the 9th of November 2002 in Italy. So the only offspring of BG within the breeding network is female BG BG 151 died on the 7th of October This founder bird, coming from the former Sovjet Union was imported on the 10th of April 1963 by Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde, Germany. There she was kept together with male BG 150 (see Annual Report 1997, p. 9). The pair was kept in a separated facility but did not reproduce until Two eggs were laid in 1987, both naturally incubated by the parents. The first young, BG died on the same day from an oedema of the lungs. The second bird (BG ) survived and was successfully raised but died on 28th of August from aspergillosis. In 1988 again two eggs were laid. Both hatched in the nest of their parents. Female BG , now kept in the Vienna Breeding Unit and male BG , now privately kept in Germany. The latter became handraised and is therefore imprinted on man. In 1989, two eggs were laid, both naturally incubated by the pair. Female BG was hand- * The data on the whereabouts of the released offspring of the dead birds were generously provided by IBM-International Bearded Vultue Monitoring NP Hohe Tauern - R.ZINK/EGS, A.S.T.E.R.S, PN Alpi Marittime, PN Stelvio, PN Vanoise, Stiftung Pro Bartgeier

14 12 Breeding Network 2002 reared for 9 days and then transferred to the Vienna Breeding Unit. This bird died in Berlin Zoo in BG was reared by its parents but died 3 weeks after hatching. In 1990, again two eggs were laid. BG , a male, was raised by his parents (and exchanged with his sibling BG on a daily basis in order to prevent imprinting on humans) and is now kept by a private owner in Germany. BG , a female, is now kept in La Garenne Zoo. In 1991, only one egg was incubated (maybe the second was broken). BG , Margunet, a male, hatched and was raised by his parents and released in the Swiss National Park Engadine. In 1992, again only one egg was laid and incubated. BG , a male, Fulvio, was released in Rauris, NP Hohe Tauern. In 1993, two eggs were laid. BG , a male, was raised by his parents. He was transferred to Adlerwarte Berlebeck, Germany and died there in The second offspring, BG was handreared and died 5 days after hatching. In 1994, again two eggs were laid. BG , a female, was raised by her parents and is now kept in San Diego Zoo. The second bird, BG was hand reared and died 3 weeks after hatching. In 1995, only one egg was laid but disappeared at the end of the incubation period. In 1996, two eggs were laid. BG , Republic 9, was released in Haute Savoie, BG , female, Marga, was released in Rauris. In 1997, one egg hatched in the nest of the parents (BG ) but died on the next day. One infertile egg (artificial incubation) was laid on the 25th of December On the next day, BG 150, the partner of nearly 35 years died (see Annual Report 1997, p. 9). BG 151 was transferred to Dortmund Zoo on the 5th of August There she was paired with BG , who lost his female BG on the 17th of January 1997 (see Annual Report 1997, page 8). In 1999, one egg was incubated by the new pair and hatched on the 2nd of April (BG , a male, Doran, released in Haute Savoie). In 2000, two eggs were laid. One young hatched (BG ) but was found dead one day later. Male BG died on the 1st of November 2001 (see Annual Report 2001, p ). Female BG 151 stayed alone until 7th of October 2002, when she died from a purulent inflammation of the genital tract. This bird was kept for more than 39 years. In all, BG 151 had 19 offspring, 9 of which died, five were included into the breeding network (two males, one imprinted and three females) and five were released: BG , Margunet, male, released in Swiss National Park Engadine in Until 15th May 1994, a total of 220 observations were made, most of them in Switzerland, but also some in Italy, two in Germany (9th/10th January 1993 in Oberstorf) and one in Austria (10th August 1992 in Holzgau, Tirol). The last secure observation was made in Switzerland on the 15th of May Since 15th of August 1998, a number of observations were made in the Austrian Lechtal (Tirol) which were believed to be of Margunet (see also Annual Report 1999 pages 1 and 56). But then, Averell (BG 140, released in Haute Savoie in 1991) was found dead in June 2002 in the Lechtal (see p ) and so maybe all those Austrian Margunet-observations were observations of Averell. BG , Fulvio, male, released in Rauris, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, in 1992 was observed in Rauris until the middle of September The last secure observation of Fulvio was made on the 18th of October 1992 in Switzerland. BG , Republic 9, released in Haute Savoie, France in The sex of this bird was not determined. Most of the observations of this bird were made in France and a few in Switzerland until 14th of May 1997 (Thollon, France). Then, on 20th of May 1997, this birds was caught exhausted in a meadow in the Netherlands (see Annual Report 1997, p ). CHRISTOPHE COTON brought this bird back to France after the 9th of June 1997, where it was released. Afterwards a number of observations came from Switzerland and from France (the last secure one from Bonneval, France on the 27th August 1998). Maybe BG 259 also was observed in Livigno (Italy) on the 15th February BG , Marga, female, released in Rauris, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, in In

15 2002 Breeding Network 13 this year nearly all observation were made in Rauris, only 3 in Italy (Sexten-Innichen-Toblach on the 2nd/3rd November 1996). From 1997 on (22nd July 1997), Marga spent most of her time in Zernez (Switzerland). BG , Doran, male, released in Haute Savoie in This bird was mainly observed in France and Austria and once in Switzerland. The last secure observation was made in Morzine (France) on the 27th of November 1999, the last hypothetical in Badgastein (Austria) on the 14th of August The founder male BG 152, origin former Sovjet Union, was kept in the Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde together with the founder female BG 153 in the huge flight facility. In winter 2002 this pair was already mating when the male was found injured on the ground of the aviary on the 30th of January. Then he was seperated and treated but unfortunately died on the 2nd of April. Offspring of this founder male are well represented within the breeding network as well as in the wild ranging Alpine population. The first successful brood happened in 1992: the female BG hatched in the nest of the parents and was successfully raised. This female is now kept in the Vienna Breeding Unit. The second nestling in this year (BG ) died during hatching. In 1993 another offspring, the male BG was raised by his parents and is now kept in Vogelpark Walsrode, Germany, and a second one (BG ) a female reared with the help of foster parents in the Vienna Breeding Unit. The latter unfortunately died during rearing. In 1994, the only offspring, the female BG , fledged in Berlin. This bird is now living in the Zoo of Stuttgart. In 1995 and 1996 the pair failed although they had a clutch. In 1997, female BG hatched in the Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde but was raised in the Vienna Breeding Unit. BG was released in the Nationalpark Mercantour, France in 1997 (Gelas). In 1998, two males were successfully raised, one by the parents, BG , and the second in the Vienna Breeding Unit by foster parents (BG ). Both birds were released in Parco Naturale Argentera (Aisone and Vernante, respectively). In 1999, the female BG was raised in Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde. The offspring is now kept in Ostrava Zoo, Czech Republic. In 2000, the last clutch of this pair failed and in 2001 no reproduction took place. In all, four offspring were included into the breeding network, one male and three females. Three young, two males and one female were released: BG , Gelas, was released in Mercantour in During the first year she stayed in the surroundings of the release site. In 1998, this bird started a spectacular journey, which led her to the Netherlands (Annual Report 1998, p ) and back to France within 12 days (12th of May to 24th of May 1998). The last secure observation was made in Larche (France) on the 29th of June BG , Aisone, was released in Argentera in This bird spent most of his time in Italy and France with very few visits to Austria (four in 1999) and Switzerland (seven in 1999). The last verified observation was made in Pietraporzio (Italy) on the 17th of February 2001, the last hypothetical also in Pietraporzio on the 3rd of February BG , Vernante, was released in Argentera in As his brother Aisone, he stayed at the relase site until the end of Most of the observations of the following years (11 in 1999; 14 in 2000) were made in Italy, four of them in France and only three in Switzerland. The last verified observation was made in Valdieri (Italy) on the 19th of February 2000, the last hypothetical in St-Etienne-de-Tinée (France) on the 17th July 2000.

16 14 Breeding Network 2002 Female BG 155, a founder bird kept in Almaty Zoo, died already on the 28th of October 2001 because of senile dystrophia. Almaty Zoo acquired this bird in 1966 and as from 1969, this female started reproduction. So this bird was one of the oldest within the breeding network and at least 41 years old when she died. Most of her offspring (with her partner, founder male BG 154) are kept within the breeding network: The female BG , kept in the Breeding Centre Goldau, Switzerland. The male BG and female BG , both living in Almaty Zoo, Kazachstan. Male BG is kept in Moscow Zoo, Russia. Male BG is living in Helsinki Zoo, Finland. Male BG is kept in Fauconery du Puy, France. Consequently, a total of seven offspring (four males and three females) exist from this founder female. BG , a female, hatchd in Hannover Zoo, Germany, on the 6th of March 1998, died in the Wildpark Luneburger Heide, Germany, on the 2nd of June This bird was raised by her parents and first of all transferred to Vogelpark Walsrode, Germany on the 27th of August The female was kept there together with male BG from the Vienna Breeding Unit. On 14th of February 2002, both birds were transferred to Wildpark Luneburger Heide, where BG died four months later because of a purulent pulmonary infection with an age of four years and three months. Furthermore the following nestlings died during or short time after hatching: BG in the Vienna Breeding Unit, just before pecking the eggshell on the 4th of February. BG in the Vienna Breeding Unit on the 19th of February. Eight days after hatching the young bird fell ill from a yolk sack inflammation and died in the nest of its parents. BG died short time after hatching (the eggshell had to be opened) on the 21st of February in the Centro de Cria Guadalentin. It proved to be an extremely weak bird. BG died in the Vienna Breeding Unit during hatching in the incubator in the 9th of March. BG Photo: ALEJANDRO LLOPIS, SPAIN Special thanks go to all collaborators of the breeding network of the EEP and those of the Reintroduction Project, who helped entirely benevolently.

17 2002 Breeding Network 15 Table 3: EEP Stock in December 2002 No (m/f) LOCATION Age m Age f PARENTAGE {m/f}/{m/f} GENERATION m/f REMARKS 156/157 Almaty {154/155}/{154/155} F1/F1 159/270 Almaty wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent 310/ Almaty 9 wildcaught/ parent/ 431/432 Almaty 3 4 wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent handraised/ 347/ Almaty 4 wildcaught/ parent/ handraised/ 058/234 Antwerp Zoo 21 8 {019/021}/{086/104} F1/F2 145/225 Basel 12 8 {131/132}/{031/006} F1/(F1/F2) 294/292 Berlin Friedrichsfelde 5 5 {017/070}/{199/107} F1/F1 298/320 Berlin Zoo 5 4 {122/118}/{018/272} F2/F2 148/142 Bern {019/021}/{009/041} F1/(F1/F2) 340/338 Chomutov 4 4 {018/272}/{134/135} (F2/F1)/F 1 /132 Dresden 36 /wildcaught /parent 160/ Faucounery du Puy 21 {154/155}/ F1/ 174/091 Goldau {134/135}/{005/006} F1/F2 060/276 Goldau 20 6 {034/035}/{199/107} F1/(F1/F2) 122/118 Goldau {014/010}/{154/155} F1/F1 046/ Grünau 23 {022/023}/ F1/ handraised 080/081 Hannover {019/021}/{004/027} F1/F1 087/ Haute-Savoie 17 {014/010}/ F1/ /054 Haute-Savoie 21 /{034/035} /F1 179/281 Helsinki 22 6 {154/155}/{131/132} F1/F1 202/ Hochlehnert 15 {150/151}/ F1 handraised 203/218 Hochlehnert 13 9 {150/151}/{080/081} F1/F2 019/021 Innsbruck wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent 351/352 Jerez 3 3 {017/070}/{086/104} F2/F2 034/130 La Garenne wildcaught/{150/151} parent/f1 180/274 Liberec {161/162}/wildcaught F1/parent both handraised 161/125 Moscow wildcaught/{009/041} parent/(f1/f2) 342 Moscow 4 4 {159/270} F1 handraised

18 16 Breeding Network 2002 No (m/f) LOCATION Age m Age f PARENTAGE {m/f}/{m/f} GENERATION m/f REMARKS 018/272 Nuremberg {019/021}/{161/162} F1/F1 both handraised 325/322 Ostrava 4 4 {017/070}/{152/153} F2/F1 207/227 Prague 9 8 {017/070}/{011/054} F2/F2 134/135 Prague wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent 328/336 Poznan 4 4 {080/081}/{201/044} F2/(F1/F2) /381 Riga 2 /{159/270} /F1 handraised 047/209 San Diego 22* 9 {034/035}/{150/151} F1/F1 * handraised 286/153 CCG?? wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent 124/041 CCG 13 23* {131/132}/{034/035} F1/F1 * handraised 362/278 CCG 3 6 {080/081}/{065/074} F2/(F1/F2) 337/317 CCG 4 4 {201/044}/{017/070} (F1/F2)/F2 313/330 CCG 4 4 {009/006}/{108/119} (F1/F2)/(F3/F2) 172/290 CCG 11 5 {031/006}/{134/135} (F1/F2)/F1 232/329 CCG? 4 wildcaught/{043/040} parent/f2 223/103 CCG 8 15 {014/010}/{065/040} F1/(F1/F2) 217/ CCG 9* {051/049}/ F2/ * handraised /360 CCG 3 /{018/272} /F2 368/ CCG 3* {159/270}/ F1/ * handraised 371/ CCG 2 {105/178}/ (F2/F1)/ 391/ CCG 1 {124/041}/ F2/ 129/212 Stuttgart 13 9 {051/049}/{152/153} F2/F1 201/044 Schönbrunn, Vienna wildcaught/{002/003} parent/f1 /307 Tel Aviv, Ramat- 5 /{159/270} /F1 handraised 326/319 Tel Aviv, Univ. 4 4 {080/081}/{086/104} F2/F2 031/003 VBU wildcaught/wildcaught parent/parent 014/133 VBU wildcaught/{134/135} parent/f1 009/006 VBU wildcaught/{019/020} parent/f1 065/ VBU 31 wildcaught/ parent/ 199/107 VBU? 15 wildcaught/{150/151} parent/f1

19 2002 Breeding Network 17 No (m/f) LOCATION Age m Age f PARENTAGE {m/f}/{m/f} GENERATION m/f REMARKS 017/070 VBU {019/021}/{022/023} F1/F1 086/104 VBU {014/010}/{030/026} F1/F1 105/178 VBU {161/162}/wildcaught F1/parent 204/ VBU? wildcaught/ parent/ 158/ VBU 23 wildcaught parent/ 108/175 VBU {065/040}/{152/153} (F1/F2)/F1 297/137 VBU 5 18 {086/104}/{154/155} F2/F1 327/314 VBU 4 4 {105/178}/{009/006} (F2/F1)/(F1/F2) 376/ VBU 2 {180/274} F2/F1/ /389 VBU 1 /{199/197} /{F1/F2} 399/ VBU 1 {159/270} F1/ 190/233 Walsrode 10 8 {152/153}/{122/118} F1/F2 076/303 Wassenaar 18 5 {022/023}/{009/006} F1/{F1/F2} 043/040 Wuppertal 23* 23 {019/021}/{034/035} F1/F1 * handraised BG Photo: KARL HOFBAUER-HÖFER, Austria

20 18 Breeding Network Drawing: Ueli Iff, Switzerlanmd Table 4: Reproduction between 1978 and (1) (3) (5) (4) (4) (4) (4) (7) (4) (4) (8) (10) (9) (8) (9) Number of egg laying pairs (Number of successfully reproducing pairs) nnn nnn For breeding nnn Died as juvenile, immature or adult Released nnn Released and dead or lost

21 2002 Breeding Network * Drawing: Ueli Iff, Switzerland * * * (11) (12) (7) (6) (6) (13) (17) 24 (11) 24 (11) 24 (11) Number of egg laying pairs (Number of successfully reproducing pairs) nnn Died as nestling nnn stolen n.n.n male.female.sex unknown nnn * had to be given to a commercial falconry station

22 20 Breeding Network 2002 Table 5: Age distribution of Bearded Vultures within the breeding network as on 31 December 2002 Age in years males nnn Studbooknumber females

23 2002 Release 21 Report on Releases in 2002 by Hans Frey * In the year 2002, eight young Bearded Vultures were to be released, two at each of the four release sites (NP Hohe Tauern, Stelvio NP, Haute Savoie and NP Argentera). These were: BG female born in the VBU, Austria BG male born in Prague Zoo, Czech Republic BG male born in the VBU, Austria BG female born in the VBU, Austria BG female born in the VBU, Austria BG female born in Goldau, Switzerland BG male born in the VBU, Austria BG male born in Liberec Zoo, Czech Republic In all, four females and four males. The studbooknumber, sex, name, ring and feather marks of the released birds are shown in FIGU- RE 1. Figure 1: Markings BG 386, female, Alpidoc ring:right talon: black; left talon: blue right wing: 2-3; tail left: 2-3 BG 388, male, Paolo Peila ring:right talon: black; left talon: black left wing: 2-3 right wing: 3-4; BG 387, male, Franz ring:right talon: black; left talon: violet left wing: 3-4 right wing: tail left: 3-4 BG 392, female, Ambo ring:right talon: black; left talon: silver right wing: 12-14; tail left: 2-3 * Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medical University Vienna, Josef Baumanngasse 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. Hans.Frey@vu-wien.ac.at

24 22 Release 2002 BG 393, female, Stift ring:right talon: black; left talon: gold right wing: 3-4; tail right: 1-2 BG 395, female, Martell ring:right talon: black; left talon: green left wing: 3-4; right wing: BG 402, male, Life ring:right talon: black; left talon: copper left wing: tail left: 2-3 BG 405, male, Aravis ring:right talon: black; left talon: red left wing: 4-5; tail right: 2-3 Bearded Vultures released in the period 1986 to 2002 Rauris, Mallnitz, Gschlöß & Gastein Between 1986 and 2002, 35 Bearded Vultures were released in the NATIONAL PARK HOHE TAUERN: 13 males, 22 females. They are the offspring of 14 different breeding pairs. One female was shot (Nina, BG , in France, at the age of seven years in 1993), one female died in an avalanche (Jackpot, BG , in Austria, being one year old in 1995), two females and one male had to be recaptured (Winnie, BG , in Austria, being one year old in 1986, Keno, BG in 1999, some days after her first flight at the release site and Hubsi, BG , at the release site in 1990). Five birds are missing (Heinz, BG , since 1987, Ulli, BG , since 1992, Bernhard, BG , since 1992, Winfried, BG , since 1993 and Paradatsch, BG , since 1997). Haute-Savoie 33 Bearded Vultures have been released since 1987: 15 males, 15 females and three birds of unknown sex. They derive from 18 different breeding pairs. Six males and three females died (Robespierre, BG in its first year of life through collision with a power line in 1989, BG and BG , Europa Life, because of illness at the nest site in 1991 and in 2001 respectively, Republic 7, BG killed at the nest site by a fox in 1994, Danton, BG , in its seventh year of life as a result of colliding with a power line in 1996 in France, the female Mélusine, BG , in its third year, killed by an avalanche in 1989 in Switzerland and the female Republic 5, BG shot in 1997 in Wallis, Switzerland). Another adult bird was found dead in Sex determination based on feathers of the dead bird proved that it is Republic, BG The ring with the studbooknumber was missing, leaving only the second ring. The latter indicated only the release site of Haute-Savoie and the year of release (1991), so the examination of the feathers revealed the identity of the Bearded Vulture. An additional male, Saturnin, BG is missing as from Recently, some evidence has come to light indicating

25 2002 Release 23 that this bird was already shot not far from its release site in the summer of Averell, BG was found dead in the Lechtal (Austria) in The reason of death still is not documented (see page 64-65). The first vulture born in the wild and named Phénix Alp Action (BGW 01) fledged successfully in Haute Savoie in 1997 followed by the second one, named Dominique (BGW 03) in Also in 1999 the pair Assignat (BG 111) x Melchior (BG 101) bred successfully, producing BGW 05 (Rhonealp) and in 2000 BGW 06 (Reposoir). In 2001, this pair ceased brooding, in 2002 one young hatched (BGW 15, Clarins) but died falling from the rock with parts of the eyrie with an age of 2.5 months. Two additionally young fledged in Termigno (BGW14, Arpont) and Val d Isere (BGW 16, Free Ride) in Engadin/Nationalpark Stelvio Between 1991 and 2002, 25 Bearded Vultures were released in the Swiss National Park and Stelvio Nationalpark: 13 males and 12 females. They are the offspring of 17 different pairs. A male (Felix, BG ) was shot at the age of one year on the border between Austria and Italy in Another, Roseg, BG disappeared short time after fledging. A young bird (Stelvio, BGW 02) was born in the wild not far from the release site, near the Italian- Swiss border in In 2000, two pairs, one in Bormio, the second in Livigno (both territories near the Italian-Swiss border) successfuly reared BGW 07 (Diana Stelvio) and BGW 08 (Livigno) respectively. In 2001 again one young was born in Bormio, BGW 09 (Stelvio 01), which successfully fledged, whereas the young of pair Livigno (BGW 10) died on the 1st of June. In 2002, three young vultures were reared in the wild: BGW 11, Moische-Livigno in Livigno, BGW 12, Zebru in Val Zebru and BGW 13, Beverin-Stelvio in Bormio. Argentera/Mercantour Since 1993, 21 Bearded Vultures, being the offspring of ten breeding pairs, have been released: 11 (five males, five females and one bird of unknown sex) in the Mercantour N.P. and 10 (six males and four females) in Argentera Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime. They are the offspring of 11 different pairs. One female (Geo, BG ) had to be recaptured in 1995, one male, Mounier (BG ) was found dead, shot in 2000 and one female, Mercantour (BG ) is missing. TOTAL Within the framework of the Bearded Vulture Project a total of 114 young Bearded Vultures have been released into the Alps since 1986: 52 males, 58 females and four birds of unknown sex. They are the offspring of 31 different pairs. Four young Bearded Vultures had to be returned into the breeding network (Winnie, BG , Hubsi, BG , Geo, BG , Keno, BG ). Thirteen, possibly 15, died (Mélusine, BG , Nina, BG , Danton, BG , Robespierre, BG , Averell, BG , Republic, BG , BG , Republic 5, BG , Felix, BG , Jackpot, BG , Republic 7, BG , Saturnin, BG {?}, Mounier, BG ), EuropaLife, BG , Roseg, BG {?}), while six are missing (Heinz, BG , Ulli, BG , Paradatsch, BG , Bernhard, BG , Winfried, BG , Mercantour, BG ). At present at least 72 Bearded Vultures are living in the wild.

26 24 Release 2002 Site RAURIS 1986 BG Hans m Wassenaar BG Fritz f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG Ellen f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG / Winnie f recaptured Grünau 1987 BG Heinz m lost Wassenaar BG Nina f shot La Garenne 1988 BG Alexa f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG Ulli m lost Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Paradatsch f lost Grünau 1989 BG / Karl f Vienna Breeding Unit BG Joey m Vienna Breeding Unit BG Colleen f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG / Baselisk f Vienna Breeding Unit 1990 BG / Hubertus m recaptured Vienna Breeding Unit BG Lotte f Vienna Breeding Unit 1991 BG / Nicola f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Diana f Vienna Breeding Unit 1992 BG / Bernhard m lost Vienna Breeding Unit BG Fulvio m Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1993 BG Helmut m Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Winfried m lost Vienna Breeding Unit 1994 BG Hans Rupert f Vienna Breeding Unit BG Jackpot f dead La Garenne 1995 no release took place 1996 BG Andreas Hofer f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG Marga f Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1997 no release took place 1998 BG Daniel m Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG Jackpot 3 m Vienna Breeding Unit 1999 BG Zonta f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG / Keno f recaptured Wuppertal Zoo TOTAL Site MALLNITZ 2000 BG / Bingo f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Georg m La Garenne TOTAL Site GSCHLÖß 2001 BG / El Dorado f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Christa f Vienna Breeding Unit TOTAL

27 2002 Release 25 Site GASTEIN 2002 BG Franz m Prague BG / Ambo f Vienna Breeding Unit TOTAL TOTAL Site HAUTE-SAVOIE 1987 BG Mélusine f dead Wassenaar BG Saturnin m lost (dead?) Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG Marie Paradis f Alpenzoo Innsbruck 1988 BG Balthazar m (?) * Wassenaar BG Melchior m Alpenzoo Innsbruck 1989 BG Assignat f La Garenne BG Danton m dead Wassenaar BG Robespierre m dead Vienna Breeding Unit BG Marie-Antoinette f Alpenzoo Innsbruck BG / Charlotte f Grünau 1990 BG / Yvan f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Robin f Vienna Breeding Unit 1991 BG / Averell m dead Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Republic f dead Dortmund BG / m dead Haute-Savoie 1992 BG / Republic 2? Haute-Savoie BG / Republic 3 m Vienna Breeding Unit 1993 BG / Republic 4 f Haute-Savoie BG Republic 5 f shot Vienna Breeding Unit 1994 BG / Republic 6 f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Republic 7 m dead Vienna Breeding Unit 1995 no release took place 1996 BG / Republic 8 f Haute-Savoie BG Republic 9? Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1997 no release took place 1998 BG / Republic 11 f Haute-Savoie BG Crystal f Alpenzoo Innsbruck 1999 BG / Republic 13 m Haute-Savoie BG /151 Doran m Dortmund 2000 BG Pablo m Prague BG / Montblanc m Hannover 2001 BG / EuropaLife m dead Hannover BG / Natura Mate f Wuppertal 2002 BG / Life m Vienna Breeding Unit BG /274 Aravis m Liberec TOTAL m (?) */f (?) * = sex assumed according only to the body size.

28 26 Release 2002 Site ENGADIN 1991 BG Settschient m Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Moische f Vienna Breeding Unit BG Margunet m Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1992 BG / Jo f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Ivraina f Vienna Breeding Unit 1993 BG / Cic m Dortmund BG / Felix m shot Vienna Breeding Unit 1994 BG / Pisoc m Dortmund BG / Valimosch m Tel Aviv 1995 no release took place 1996 BG /003 Berna m Vienna Breeding Unit BG Mauritio m Dresden 1997 BG / Tell m Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Sina f Vienna Breeding Unit 1998 BG / Gildo f La Garenne BG / Diana-Valais m Hannover 1999 BG / Veronika f La Garenne BG / Sempach f Wuppertal 2000 BG / Christelle f Goldau BG Louis m Alpenzoo Innsbruck 2001 BG / Roseg m lost (dead?) La Garenne BG / Felice f Vienna Breeding Unit TOTAL Site MARTELL 2000 BG Interreg m Prague BG / Rätia f Vienna Breeding Unit 2002 BG / Stift f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Martell f Goldau TOTAL Ambo, BG 392 Photo: MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN, Austria

29 2002 Release 27 Site MERCANTOUR 1993 BG / Argentera f Vienna Breeding Unit BG Mounier m dead Dresden BG Florent m (?) * Dresden 1994 no release took place 1995 BG / Geo f recaptured Haute-Savoie BG / Firmin m Dortmund 1996 no release took place 1997 BG / Pelat m Nuremberg Zoo BG Gelas f Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1998 no release took place 1999 BG / Roubion m Haute-Savoie BG / Péone f Haute-Savoie 2000 no release took place 2001 BG / Larche m Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Roure f Vienna Breeding Unit 2002 no release took place TOTAL Site ARGENTERA 1994 BG / Mercantour f lost Vienna Breeding Unit BG Topolino m Dresden 1995 no release took place 1996 BG / Entrague m Vienna Breeding Unit BG Valdieri f Dresden 1997 no release took place 1998 BG Aisone m Berlin Friedrichsfelde BG Vernante m Berlin Friedrichsfelde 1999 no release took place 2000 BG / Sereno m Haute-Savoie BG / Ciabri f Vienna Breeding Unit 2001 no release took place 2002 BG / Alpidoc f Vienna Breeding Unit BG / Paolo Peila m Vienna Breeding Unit TOTAL Franz, BG 387 Photo: MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN, Austria

30 28 Release 2002 Age distribution of released Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) as on 31 December 2002 year male age female No of released birds * * * * Total undetermined 56 (4) 62 (4) 114 dead 8 5 recaptured 1 3 maturity nnn lost nnn sex not determined nnn breeding pairs nnn dead nnn* recaptured

31 2002 Release 29 Release in the National Park Hohe Tauern, Austria, in 2002 Report on the first release in the Anlauftal, Salzburg by Michael Knollseisen* Due to the continuous aggressive presence of Nicola (BG ) at the former release site in the Krumltal near Rauris (see Annual Report 1999, p. 30), a new site in Salzburg had to be chosen being the Anlauftal/Valley of Gastein. The valley is situated 20 km east of Rauris and very close to the Carinthian release site (Mallnitz, 2000). The upper Gastein valley was regularly used by released Bearded Vultures in the past, but regular observations in the release area (Anlauftal) were lacking. The release cave is situated at a distance of 10 km to the core area of the pair Gastein (see page 60-61). The release took place on May 31st in the Anlauftal, the private property of STANISLAUS GRAF CER- NIN-KINSKY. The birds released were Ambo (BG , 93 days old) and Franz (BG , 94 days old). Ambo was sponsored by the AUSTRIAN LOTTERIES/WWF AUSTRIA, Franz was named after the Landeshauptmann of Salzburg, FRANZ SCHAUSBERGER. After Pablo (BG 359), released in Doran, Haute Savoie and Interreg (BG 354), released in the Martell valley (Italy) both in 2000, Franz (BG 387) was the third male offspring donated for release by our friends in Prague Zoo, Czech Republic. As in the previous years, KAREL PITHART from Prague Zoo attended with his wife the release. Our most sencere thanks go to Prague Zoo and its excellent team for the continuous support of the Alpine reintroducton project. FRANZ BG 387, male, born on 26th of February 2002 born at Prague Zoo (BG 134 x BG 135) feather marks: left wing 3 to 4 right wing 21 to 23 left tail 3 to 4 rings: right black, left violet AMBO BG 392, female, born on 27th of February 2002 born at Vienna Breeding Unit (BG x BG ) feather marks: right wing 12 to 14; 21 to 23 left tail 2 to 3 rings: right black, left silver * EGS Österreich, Untertauern 3, A-9844 Heiligenblut, Austria, bartgeier@gmx.at

32 30 Release 2002 Birds were cared for in collaboration with game wardens of the NATIONAL PARK HOHE TAUERN (Salzburg) and students of the VETERINARY UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA. The HUNTERS ASSOCIATION OF SALZBURG offered two telescopes, food for the birds was provided by the two slaughter-houses HUTEGGER and TAUERNLAMM, our dinner by MICHI & MANUELA from a local mountain hut. Thanks to all collaborators! Aggressive behaviour between the two young Bearded Vultures could be observed almost every day. Despite being the dominant bird, Franz tried several times to leave the nest and spent long rainy days at a site with no protection from bad weather conditions. The big size of the release cave proved to be very useful in avoiding more serious conflicts. Only 113 days old, Franz started his first flight on June 20th. In the weeks before the young bird had to be brought back to the cave twice having escaped by jumping and climbing. Only Hans-Rupert (BG , Rauris, 1995) left the nest earlier than Franz. Ambo left the nest at the age of 122 days. Both birds had to cope with an attack of Golden Eagles within the first days of flying. The adult pair started to visit the release site on July 6th. In the following six weeks one or both adult birds (PAIR GASTEIN) could be seen regularly in the Anlauftal, but aggressive behaviour against the young Bearded Vultures did not occur. The adult birds also never approached the sheep bones offered to the released birds (up to the end of August). Franz left the release site on July 28th, while Ambo could be seen in the Anlauftal until the end of August. None of these young birds were observed in the core area of the neighbouring adult pair. In the weeks after leaving Gastein, Franz moved to Tyrol (border area to Switzerland) but returned to the National Park Hohe Tauern in autumn. Ambo could be observed exclusively within or near to the National Park Hohe Tauern, where she choose to winter in the Katschberg area (20 km east of Gastein). Report on the release at the Haute Savoie site in 2002 by Marie Zimmermann *, Patrick Gardet * & Jérôme Déthes * With much interest and pleasure of the public and the media, two young birds, Life (BG ) and Aravis (BG ) were set free on the 10th of July 2002 in the cave of the Doran comb, used for the release site since They were 95 and 86 days old respectively. Both birds were marked by bleaching some feathers and were ringed. Life stayed 34 days in the cave before its first flight at the age of 129 days on the 14th of August The delay in this maiden flight can be explained by bad weather conditions during the previous week. The advanced age of Life can also explain the high number of flights during this first flying day. Aravis stayed 33 days in the cave before fledging at the age of 119 days on the 13th of August This first flight was very short and remained the only one on this day. Comparing these two maiden flights to those of the previous years, where the young birds seemed to have moved by accident, Life and Aravis gave the impression of a deliberate taking off. Two days after the release, Life behaved very aggressive towards Aravis (which is 9 days younger) and did not allow him access to the food.only 4 days after the release, Aravis was able feed normally. * ASTERS, 278 avenue de Saint-Martin, Sallanches, FRANCE marie.zim@asters.asso.fr or gypaete@asters.asso.fr

33 2002 Release 31 Aggression decreased but Life remained the dominant bird. Life stayed alone during one day in the cave after the 13th of August. On this date it made its first flight and flew twelve times on this single day. After fledging both birds had only contact at the feeding site. The behaviour changed and no more aggression was observed: they fed together and begged mutually for food. LIFE BG 402, male, born on 7th of April 2002 born at Vienna Breeding Unit (BG x BG ) feather marks: left wing 20 to 22 left tail 2 to 3 rings: right black, left copper ARAVIS BG 405, male, born on 16th of April 2002 born at Liberec Zoo (BG x BG 274) feather marks: left wing 4 to 5; 14 to 15 right tail 2 to 3 rings: right black, left red The released birds had contact with five other Bearded Vultures. Assignat (BG 111) used to visit the released site nine times.only once a fight between Assignat and Life was observed. Afterwards Life followed Assignat. Melchior (BG 101) came only three times to the site but never had contact with the young birds. One sub adult used to visit a few times and broke bones near the release cave. An other one, Crystal (BG 289, released in Haute Savoie in 1998 ) stopped near the birds and Life tried to chase it away. An immature bird, Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc (BG 361, released in Haute Savoie in 2000) attacked Life while flying and was attacked itself by Assignat just afterwards. Life was observed during the rest of the year in the Aravis chain in Haute-Savoie and Aravis, after staying in the same site moved further to the Bauges Mountain at the border of Savoie/Haute- Savoie. Photo: JULES HEURET, France Life, BG 402

34 32 Release 2002 Surveillance of the release in the Martelltal/ Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio by Daniel Hegglin*, Kathi Märki* and Hanspeter Gunsch** The two juvenile Bearded Vultures Martell (BG , female) and Stift (BG , female) were released the 1st of June at the age of 85 and 91 days. Martell originates from the Tierpark Goldau, Switzerland, and Stift from the Vienna Breeding Unit, Austria. The birds were observed by THOMAS THALER, FLORIAN PERKMANN, FRANZ GAMPER, KATHI MÄRKI und the employees of the Corpo Forestale. Observations of flying exercises, flying, feeding and social behaviour were noted every hour. The juveniles interacted frequently in a friendly manner. They showed a normal development and fledged at the age of 114 days (Martell) and 119 days (Stift). The frequency of flying exercises and the flying activity was similar to the juvenile birds that were released in former years in the Südtirol and the Engadine (s. FIGURE 1). In total four interactions with golden eagles were observed: two times Golden Eagle and juvenile Bearded Vultures flew together, once a flying juvenile was attacked and chased by an eagle and once two eagles landed near the feeding juveniles St ift Martel Roseg Feli ce Int erreg Raetia C hr ist e l e Luis Ve ro nik a Sem pach Gildo Diana-Valais Tel Si na Ber na 0 Woche-3 Woche-2 Woche -1 Woche+1 weekbefore and afterfledging week afterfledging Mauritz Figure 1. Mean number of flying exercise per day, age of fledging, and mean number of flights per day of all birds released in SÜDTIROL and the ENGADINE since STIFT BG 393, female, born on 2nd March 2002 born at Vienna Breeding Unit (BG x BG ) feather marks: right wing 3 to 4 and 10 to 11 right tail 1 to 2 rings: right black, left gold * SWILD Work Group Urban Ecology & Wildlife Research, Wuhrstr. 12, CH-8003 Zürich, Switzerland, dhegglin@access.ch ** Nationalpark Stilfserjoch, Rathausplatz 1, I Glurns, Italy, info@stelviopark.it

35 2002 Release 33 MARTELL BG 395, female, born on 8th March 2002 born at Goldau (BG x BG ) feather marks: right wing 14 to 16 left wing 3 to 4 and 20 to 21 rings: right black, left green Release in the Alpi Marittime Nature Park in 2002 by Roberto Toffoli * On the 18th of May 2002, the fifth release in the Alpi Marittime Nature Park took place at the habitual Isterpis release site, in the Barra Valley (Entracque), at about metres. The two Bearded Vultures released, named Alpidoc (BG ) and Paolo Peila (BG ), respectively 90 and 86 days old, were kept under observation by a team of five people (ROBERTO TOFFOLI co-ordinator, MARA CAL- VINI, MANUELA COIA, SANDRO QUALIC, ADRIANO ROVERE), until the 31st of July. Behavioural data were collected using the standard protocol from of years. During their stay in the nest a few problems arose, which however, did not affect the outcome of the release. A fox was seen eating the vultures food on several occasions, at times it also slept in the nest for a few hours. A net was put up to stop the fox getting into the nest but without the desired result. The most serious problem arose when Paolo Peila swallowed a bone so large that he risked suffocation. The swift removal of the bird from the nest and a visit to the vet s saved him; he was taken back to the nest after a couple of days (see p. 66). Alpidoc s maiden flight went well on the 11th of June as did Paolo Peila s on the 19th, at the age of 114 and 118 days respectively. The average age at first flight this year was with 116 days in line with the average calculated for previous releases (116.5; TABLE 1). Year Release Site Average Age Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime 116 * Via Tetto Mantello n. 13, I Borgo S. Dalmazzo (CN), Italy. rtoffoli@iol.it

36 34 Release 2002 ALPIDOC BG 386, female, born on 17th February 2002 born at Vienna Breeding Unit (BG 199 x BG ) feather marks: right wing 2 to 3 and 19 to 21 left tail 2 to 3 rings: right black, left blue PAOLO PEILA BG 388, male, born on 21st February 2002 born at Vienna Breeding Unit (BG x BG ) feather marks: right wing 3 to 4 and 20 to 21 left wing 2 to 3 rings: right black, left black After their first flights the vultures remained in the area around the release site until the middle of August. Gradually they moved further away, reaching the French-Switzerland border and the Ecrins National Park in France (Alpidoc) or having disappeared for several weeks to return to the Park at the end of October (Paolo Peila). Our thanks go to Dr. HANS FREY, KARL HOFBAUER-HOFER, and Dr. GIAMPIERO LOCATELLI for their help with Paolo Peila. Alpidoc Figure 1. Cumulative Flight times for Alpidoc, BG J u n J u n J u n J u n-0 n J u n-0 n Jun-0 6-Jun Jun 9-Jun Jul -Jul Jul -Jul Jul -Jul J u l-0 l J u l-02 l J 17-Jul-0 ul-02 Paolo Figure 2. Cumulative flight time for Paolo Peila, BG ,00 600,00 500,00 400,00 300,00 200,00 100,00 0, J u n J u n J u n J u n J u l J u l Jul J u l J u l J u l J u l-0 2

37 2002 Release 35 BG 349 BG 355 BG 357 BG 348 BG 350 BG 354 BG 361 BG 364 BG 370 BG 359 BG 363 BG 369 BG 372 BG 373 BG 374 BG 375 BG 380 BG 392 BG 388 BG 395 BG 387 BG 386 BG 393 BG 405 View from below! BG 402 Individual marks of Bearded Vultures Aravis, BG 405 Photo: Jules Heuret, ASTERS, France

38 36 Release 2002 Name, number, sex, place of release, wing marks and ring colours between Name Number Wing left Wing right Tail left Tail right Leg left Leg right Hans BG silver red Fritz BG black red Ellen BG red red Winnie BG Heinz BG green - Melusine BG Saturnin BG green - Marie Paradis BG green - Nina BG Balthazar BG silver Alexa BG silver Melchior BG silver Ulli BG silver Paradatsch BG silver Karl BG gold - Joey BG gold - Assignat BG gold - Colleen BG gold - Danton BG Robespierre BG Marie-Antoinette BG gold - Charlotte BG gold - Baselisk BG gold - Hubertus BG Lotte BG black Yvan BG black Robin BG black Nicola BG blue - Diana BG blue - Averell BG blue - Settschient BG blue - Republic BG Moische BG blue - xxx BG Margunet BG blue - Republic 2 BG violett Republic 3 BG violett Bernhard BG violett Fulvio BG violett Jo BG violett Ivraina BG violett Republic 4 BG pink - Republic 5 BG Helmut BG pink - CIC BG pink -

39 2002 Release 37 Place of release Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris, A Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, A Engadine, CH Haute-Savoie, F Engadine, CH Haute-Savoie, F Engadine, CH Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris, A Engadine, A Engadine, A Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Engadine, CH Sex Remarks Date of birth Date of release Date of death m - 14 feb may 86 - f - 17 feb may 86 - f - 23 feb may 86 - f recaptured 03 apr jul 86 - m - 10 feb may 87 - f dead 14 feb may jul 89 m - 19 feb may 87 - f - 24 feb may 87 - f dead 04 feb may aug 93 m - 17 feb may 88 - f - 18 feb may 88 - m - 23 feb may 88 - m - 23 feb may 88 - f - 03 apr jun 88 - m? - 12 feb may 89 - m - 12 feb may 89 - f - 01 apr jul 89 - f - 19 feb may 89 - m dead 21 feb jun apr 96 m dead 22 feb jun nov 89 f - 27 feb jun 89 - f - 25 mar jul 89 - f - 30 mar jun 89 - m recaptured 03 feb may 90 - f - 20 feb may 90 - f - 15 mar jun 90 - f - 23 mar jun 90 - f - 05 feb may 91 - f - 12 feb may 91 - m - 23 feb jun 91 - m - 28 feb jun 91 -? dead 05 mar jun jul 97 f - 13 mar jun 91 -? dead 18 mar jun jun 91 m - 28 feb jun 91 -? - 13 feb may 92 - m - 21 feb may 92 - m - 29 feb may 92 - m - 22 feb may 92 - f - 09 mar jun 92 - f - 09 mar jun 92 - f - 06 feb may 93 - f dead 14 feb may nov 97 m - 20 feb may 93 - m - 02 mar jun 93 -

40 38 Release 2002 Name Number Wing left Wing right Tail left Tail right Leg left Leg right Winfried BG pink - Felix BG Argentera BG pink - Mounier BG Florent BG pink - Hans Rupert BG light violet red Pisoc BG gold red Mercantour BG blue red Jackpot 1 BG Topolino BG black red Republic 6 BG brown red Republic 7 BG Valimosch BG green red Geo BG Firmin BG black silver Republic 8 BG copper green Republic 9 BG red green Andreas Hofer BG violett green Marga BG grey green Berna BG gold green Mauritio BG black green Entraque BG blue green Valdieri BG black green Pelat BG blue dark-copper Gelas BG black dark-copper Tell BG green dark-copper Sina BG gold dark-copper Phénix BGW Republic 11 BG copper silver Crystal BG red silver Daniel BG violet silver Jackpot 3 BG silver silver Gildo BG gold silver Diana Valais BG green silver Aisone BG blue silver Vernante BG black silver Stelvio BGW Dominique BGW Roubion BG blue gold Péone BG black gold Zonta BG violet gold Veronika BG green gold Sempach BG gold gold Keno BG Republic 13 BG copper gold

41 2002 Release 39 Place of release Rauris, A Engadine, CH Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Rauris, A Engadine, CH Argentera, I Rauris, A Argentera, I Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Engadine, CH Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris, A Engadine, CH Engadine, CH Argentera, I Argentera, I Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Engadine, CH Engadine, CH Le Reposoir, F Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Rauris, A Rauris,A Engadin, CH Engadin, CH Argentera, I Argentera, I Bormio, I Le Reposoir, F Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Rauris, A Engadin, CH Engadin, CH Rauris, A Haute-Savoie, F Sex Remarks Date of birth Date of release Date of death m - 07 mar may 93 - m dead 09 mar jun mar 94 f - 21 mar jun 93 - f dead 22 mar jun mar 00 m - 28 mar jun 93 - f - 18 feb may 94 - m - 03 mar jun 94 - f - 11 mar jun 94 - f dead 15 feb may may 95 m - 14 mar jun 94 - f - 20 mar jun 94 - m dead 28 mar jun jul 94 m - 27 feb jun 94 - f recaptured 16 feb jun 95 - m - 01 mar jun 95 - f - 04 feb may 96 -? - 24 feb may 96 - m - 26 feb may 96 - f - 29 feb may 96 - m - 04 mar jun 96 -? - 08 mar jun 96 - m - 17 mar jun 96 - f - 20 mar jun 96 - m - 12 feb may 97 - f - 04 mar may 97 - m - 18 mar jun 97 - f - 24 mar jun 97 -? wild 12 apr aug 97 * - f - 28 feb may 98 - f - 24 feb may 98 - m - 02 mar jun 98 - m - 23 feb jun 98 - f - 13 mar jun 98 - m - 13 mar jun 98 - m - 18 mar jun 98 - m - 26 mar jun 98 -? wild 08 apr jul 98 * -? wild 19 apr aug 98 * - m - 05 feb may 99 - f - 11 feb may 99 - f - 19 feb may 99 - f - 22 feb jun 99 - f - 27 feb jun 99 - f recaptured 07 mar may 99 - m - 19 mar jun 99 - * the date of release for the wild born birds means the date of fledging

42 40 Release 2002 Name Number Wing left Wing right Tail left Tail right Leg left Leg right Doran BG red gold Rhonealp BGW Sereno BG blue blue Ciabri BG ; black blue Bingo BG ; violet blue Interreg BG ; pink blue Georg BG silver blue Rätia BG blue Pablo BG copper blue Montblanc BG red blue Christelle BG , gold blue Louis BG green blue Reposoir BGW Diana Stelvio BGW Livigno BGW Larche BG blue pink Roure BG ; black pink El Dorado BG violet pink Christa BG ; 10-11; - - silver pink Roseg BG ; gold pink Felice BG green pink EuropaLife BG copper pink Natura mate BG ; red pink Stelvio 01 BGW Alpidoc BG ; blue black Franz BG violet black Paolo Peila BG ; black black Ambo BG ; silver black Stift BG ; gold black Martell BG ; green black Life BG copper black Aravis BG ; red black BGW Moische- Livigno Zebru Beverin- Stelvio Arpont Free-Ride BGW 12 BGW 13 BGW 14 BGW

43 2002 Release 41 Place of release Haute-Savoie, F Le Reposoir, F Argentera, I Argentera, I Mallnitz, A Martell, I Mallnitz, A Martell, I Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Engadine, CH Engadine, CH Le Reposoir, F Bormio, I Bormio, I Mercantour, F Mercantour, F Gschlöß, A Gschlöß, A Engadine, CH Engadine, CH Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Bormio, I Argentera, I Gastein, A Argentera, A Gastein, A Martell, I Martell, I Haute-Savoie, F Haute-Savoie, F Livigno, I Zebru, I Bormio, I Termigno, F Val d Isere, F Sex Remarks Date of birth Date of release Date of death m - 02 apr jun 99 -? wild 16 apr aug 99 * - m - 03 feb may 00 - f - 07 feb may 00 - f - 13 feb may 00 - m - 28 feb jun 00 - m - 18 feb may 00 - f - 03 mar jun 00 - m - 04 mar jun 00 - m - 12 mar jun 00 - f - 23 mar jul 00 - m - 12 mar jul 00 -? wild 01 apr jul 00 * -? wild 16 mar jul 00 * -? wild 30 mar jul 00 * - m - 05 feb may 01 - f - 16 feb may 01 - f - 18 feb may 01 - f - 21 feb may 01 - m - 23 feb jun 01 - f - 02 mar jun 01 - m dead 10 mar jun 01 2nd jul 01? - 13 mar jun 01 -? wild 06 apr f - 17 Feb may 02 - m - 26 feb may 02 - m - 21 feb may 02 - f - 27 feb may 02 - f - 02 mar jun 02 - f - 08 mar jun 02 - m - 07 apr jul 02 - m - 16 apr jul 02 -? wild 24 mar jul 02 * -? wild mar jul 02 * -? wild 2125 mar jul 02 * -? wild 01 apr 02? -? wild 01 mar 02? - * the date of release for the wild born birds means the date of fledging

44 42 Monitoring 2002 Bearded Vulture Monitoring in Engadine, Switzerland in 2002 by David Jenny * For the first time, three pairs bred successfully. In both traditional territories, BORMIO and LIVIGNO one fledgling left each nest site, already known from the past years. A new pair, which had established itself in the Valle dello Zebru in 2001, produced an offspring as well, which fledged successfully. These three pairs - all of them most likely originated from the Engadine release site - raised so far seven nestlings (PAIR BORMIO four, PAIR LIVIGNO two and PAIR ZEBRU one). Methods In 2003, 158 observations were made during 257 hours working in the field. The main part of the observations in the field covers the area of "Val Sienstra (121 h), "Livigno (33 h), "Bormio (28 h) and "Zebru (20 h). Searching for pairs was partly undertaken outside of the Engadine (21 h) and slightly more also in the "middle Engadine during the winter (34 h). The "Livigno nest site was continously monitored from the beginning of brooding by the team of CORPO FORESTALE DI LIVIGNO AND BORMIO, and furthermore by wardens of the SWISS NATIONAL PARK (two whole days per week from 11th of February to 28th of March). A first analysis with respect to relieving, appearance of other Bearded Vultures and the influence of other species (Golden Eagle, raven, etc.) was done by CH.BUCHLI and A. RICCI. During the hatching period, D. HEGGLIN and K. MÄRKI made additional observations of all three occupied nest sites. The database in the NP house of the Engadine NP provided information on the new pairs concerned, which helped to focuse more on the field research done. Field observations of other persons completed the research of the author and the names of the observers are mentioned in the text. In addition to the monitoring of D. HEGGLIN, K. MÄRKI and the staff of the NP, mentioned above, checks on the occupied nests were done by the author himself. After the juveniles had fledged, prey remains and moulted feathers were collected in the surroundings of nest sites and roosting places. Feathers were sent to B. GAUTSCHI for DNA analysis, the results of which could be included just before the deadline of the manuscript. Results Winter 2001/2002 The winter 2001/2002 was comparatively moderate with little snow. Only 42 cm of snow fell in the months of January and February (compared to 129cm alone in January of 2001); already in April the bottom of the valleys were no longer covered with snow (AIRPORT SAMEDAN, SWISS CENTRAL METEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE). The mean temperature from January to April was the highest since four years. Losses of game were therefore estimated to be low in the region in Large invasions of immature Golden Eagles and Bearded Vultures, as in the winter 2000/2001, did not occur (see Annual Report 2001, p ). Up to March 2002, an adult Bearded Vulture was recorded in the area of Brail-Zernez, like in the previous winter (e. g. on 4th of January in Val da Barcli, on the 17th of March near Prazet), presumably being Marga (BG 261, see chapter further observations, p. 49). In March, an adult Bearded Vulture occupied a territory in the Val Bever. On the 17th of March, this bird attacked an immature Golden Eagle near Prasüratsch trying to land beside it on a spruce. Clearly visible white patches covered the cliff face north of Prasüratsch, possibly indicating Bearded Vulture roosts. But further observations are lacking. Unlike 2001, there were almost no observations of immature Bearded Vultures in the middle Engadine. * Suot Aquadotas, CH-7524 Zuoz, Schweiz, jenny.d@compunet.ch

45 2002 Monitoring 43 PAIR LIVIGNO After the interruption of incubation at the nest site Dardaglino, which had been occupied for the first time in 2001, the same nest was successfully used in As in 2001, the majority of observations of the pair were made on the left side of the lake. About Photo: DAVID JENNY, Switzerland half a dozen roosts are known in the surroundings of the nest site. On 30th of December, R. SCHÖPF (Corpo Forestale di Livigno) observed both birds landing at the nest site. On 4th of January, copulations were documented on the top of the nesting cliff. During the day, the pair was regularly seen flying above the southern slopes of Il Motto, sometimes close to chamois and ibex herds. From January on, climbers frequented the icefalls on both sides of the lake, even close to the nest site Dardaglino On the 2nd of February, the nest became occupied for the first time at 14:15, when the author watched Baron (the male CIC, BG 186) incubating in the nest stuffed with wool. At 15:00, female Aurora (Ivraina, BG 170/Moische, BG 146) continued brooding at least until 17:00 and most likely also during the night. On the 3rd of February, CH.BUCHLI and R. SCHÖPF prevented two climbers from climbing the nest cliff. From then on continuous monitoring of the nest was begun. In February, severe fights between the pair and ravens were observed (Corpo Forestale, wardens of the NP) on 7 out of Icefall climbers in the area of Dardaligno 22 observation days (32%). The ravens, forming small flocks, frequently flew and landed immediately near the nest, and sometimes even resisted to the continuing flight attacks of the Bearded Vulture pair. Compared to the previous year, fights with Golden Eagles occurred rather rarely (on 2 out of 22 observation days 2% vs. 27 % {3 out of 11 days between February and June 2001}). On the 24th of March, R. SCHÖPF and H. ANGERER (Corpo Forestale di Livigno) detected movements of the incubating bird, which indicated the hatching of a juvenile. One day later, N. A. WILLY (SNP) documented the transport of food and feeding activities for the first time. On the 27th of March, Aurora fed the nestling for 6 minutes in the evening and warmed it afterwards at night. From this day on, feeding by both adults was observed and monitored on a daily basis (Corpo Forestale). In the afternoon of 17th March, Aurora stayed in the nest all the time, alternating feeding and warming, while Baron flew on the opposite side of the valley. On 29th April, heavy attacks and fighting between the Bearded Vulture pair and two ravens in front of the eyrie were observed for 15 minutes. On 20th May, both adults left the nest for a longer period. Aurora approached the nest and fed past 17:00, the nestling remaining invisible. Three weeks later, on the 9th of June, the then 10 weeks old nestling presented itself on the edge of the eyrie, while Aurora stayed in a cliff cave approx. 100m south of the nest site preening her feathers for one and a half hour. On the 2nd of July, the juvenile, almost fully grown, was visible in front of the nest, stretching its wings from time to time. Both parents attacked three Golden Eagles above Dardaglino for 20 minutes, until these disappeared to the north. Afterwards Aurora visited her offspring in the nest. On the 15th of July, the nestling could be observed until midday (R. SCHÖPF, H. ANGERER). The next morning, K. MÄRKI found the nest site empty (with high probability fledging happened therefore in the afternoon of the 15th of July). The fledgling remained invisible until the 18th of July when it was seen perched in the cliffs north of Dardaglino (Corpo Forestale). On the 19th of July, it was observed flying for the first time. On 20th of July, the young bird sat hidden in the Dardaglino-cliff,

46 44 Monitoring 2002 while its parents landed together in a cave near the eyrie and billed for 4 minutes. On the 26th of July, the young bird (named Moische-Livigno, BGW 11) was observed flying above Dardaglino, while Baron soared to Serraglio in the north. On the 5th of August, the adult birds flew together with the GOLDEN EAGLE PAIR ALPISELLA south of the nest cliff. One could hear the eagles screaming as they were chased away without attacks by the Bearded Vultures. On this day, the author climbed the nest cliff to collect remains of food and feathers. Aurora and Moische-Livigno flew high above Dardaglino. During the entire incubation and rearing period, heavy machines were used to exploit grit in a gravel-pit (distance: 600m from the nest). No adverse effects could be observed with respect to brooding activities but the number of inquisitive bird watchers increased because of the easy approach of the observation point. From September to November, both adults remained in the centre of their territory (Corpo Forestale). H. FREY and other collaborators of the project observed the pair together with Moische-Livigno on the 25th of October near Dardaglino. On the 19th of December, Baron soared above the rocks near Dardaglino and spent the night there. Branches and wool were detected in the eyrie of 2002, indicating that this nest will probably be used in Brooding data of PAIR LIVIGNO in 2002 Copulations 07th November 2001; 04th January 2002 Clutch 31st January to 2nd February 2002 Hatching 24th March 2002 (52 to 54 days) Fledging 15th July 2002 (113 days) Results of BARBARA GAUTSCHI S analysis of the feather samples MALE: son of BG 051 x BG 049; age according to the state of moulting in March 1997 established at 4 years. In 1997, two males were released and CIC (BG 186) stems from BG 051 and BG 049. FEMALE: daughter of BG 017 x BG 070. Age in March 1997: 5 or 6 years. In 1991 and 1992 one female in each year had been released, both descending from BG 017 x BG 070: Moische (BG 146) and Jo (BG 169). With high probability, Jo is the female of PAIR BORMIO (H. FREY observed this female, then with feather marks together with the older male Settschient (BG 143) at the Stilfserjoch on 10th of June 1994). Further immature or subadult Bearded Vultures seen in the core area over the course of 2002 Livigno (BGW 08, 2000) Retia (BG 357; rel. 2000) subadult unidentified 17th April 10th February 9th and 17th February PAIR BORMIO Since 1994, PAIR BORMIO still occupies the same core area in Valle del Braulio. In 2002, the pair reproduced successfully for the fourth time (a total of 5 broods since 1998). After the first successful reproduction in the eyrie PALONE in 2001, this year (2002), they used the nest site RADISCI, which they occupied twice in the past years. Already in September 2001, the pair built at the RADISCI eyrie. A. RICCI watched the pair brooding for the first time on the 1st of February. On the 13th of February, Collare (Settschient, BG 143) warmed the clutch for 5.25 hours without arising. He remained there until 18:00 and probably also over night. Zora (Jo, BG 169), the female, was observed only once, after 16:00, chasing a Golden Eagle

47 2002 Monitoring 45 to the north. At the end of March, wardens of the Nationalpark (Corpo Forestale) observed the hatching of a young bird. On the 25th of May, a grey offspring approx. the size of a marmot, was seen at the entrance to the nest cave, while Zora was feeding every now and then. Meanwhile Collare stood at a look-out 400m west of the eyrie. Photo: DAVID JENNY, Switzerland On the 7th of July, the nest site was empty and the fledgling (Beverin-Stelvio, BGW 13) supposedly left the eyrie little time before (Corpo Forestale). K. MÄRKI observed the young bird sitting directly below the nest site, where it was provided with food by the parents. It also flew around. On the 3rd of August, it was seen soaring above the Corne del Palone (Corpo Forestale), and on 5th of August by CH. BUCHLI, who led a group of Swiss birders. On 6th of August, only the adult pair was seen when flying over the Valle del Braulio they disappeared among the south exposed cliffs near Reith. On the next day, Beverin-Stelvio soared in the Valle dello Zebru near the new PAIR Beverin-Stelvio BGW 13 ZEBRU and their offspring Zebru (BGW 12). On the 25th of August, the pair flew in the Valle del Braulio unaccompanied by the young bird, which obviously inspected other parts of the territory. As fresh branches were detected in the more western situated eyrie PALONE, it seemed likely that the pair could use this alternate nest site in On the 1st of September, M. WEINZETTEL observed the juvenile Bearded Vulture above Bagni Vecchi, where it landed at a place hidden from sight. The pair stayed in the Valle del Braulio from October to December (A. RICCI). Brooding data of PAIR BORMIO in 2002 Clutch Hatching Fledging 29th January to 1st February th March to 27th March th July 2002 (103 to 105 days) Results of the feather analysis done by BARBARA GAUTSCHI FEMALE: feather, collected beneath the eyrie pointed to parents related to BG 034 and BG 054. Republic 2 (BG 165, released in Haute Savoie in 1992) or Republic 4 (BG 181, released in Haute Savoie in 1993) could come into questions. The latter bird was verified in Valle dello Zebru in 2002 by feather analysis (see chapter PAIR ZEBRU, p. 46). The existence of another female was demonstrated - by using feather material from 2001 and to be a daughter of BG 017 and BG 070 This could be Moische (BG 146, released in Engadine in 1991) or Jo (BG 169, released in Engadine in 1992). The latter bird was identified by H. FREY at the Stilfserjoch on the 19th of June At this time she was still marked but already paired. Possibly the female, which had been identified in 1998, was a stranger or the PAIRS BORMIO and ZEBRU changed partners a question, which remains unsettled for the time being. As for the MALE the analyses made so far give no indication who the male partner of PAIR BORMIO could be. H. FREY made an observation of, most likely, Settschient on the 10th of June 1994 (BG 143, released in Engadine in 1991), being older than Jo, or possibly of Margunet (BG 149, released in Engadine in 1991).

48 46 Monitoring 2002 Identified, immature or subadult Bearded Vultures sighted in the core area over the course of 2002 Felice (BG 375, rel. 2001) 25th October PAIR ZEBRU In the Valle dello Zebru, a side valley of Valfurva, situated 6km southeast of Valle del Braulio, Bearded Vultures were observed on a regular basis by wardens of the Stelvio NP (Corpo Forestale di Bormio) since the winter of 2000/2001. One of the birds, probably the female, was rather light-coloured (M. AZZOLINI), the second one, possibly the male, was perceived as not being fully adult in the course of 2001 (M. AZZOLINI). S. SALA (Corpo Forestale) was the first to note that this "pair roosted and spent the night regularly on a small cliff at the southern side of the valley, near the eyrie of Golden Eagles. On the 25th of December 2001, M. AZZOLINI observed copulations and also nesting material being carried by both birds to the former eagle eyrie. The pair sat at the nest cliff, a few metres away from an adult Golden Eagle at the end of January/beginning of February 2002 (L. PED- ROTTI), the nest site being unoccupied. The author observed brooding for the first time on the 14th of February: the adult female, fully mature, warmed the clutch for at least 4.5 hours without any interruption. Approx. each hour the brooding bird probably turned the clutch and showed the typical rocking movements of an incubating bird. The male appeared three times at the opposite side of the valley where he chased an immature Golden Eagle. He was estimated to be 5 years old. Similar to the monitoring of PAIR LIVIGNO, a team of the Corpo Forestale observed full-time and daily from a hut of the National Park, at a distance of 1km. The young bird (BGW 12, Zebru) hatched between 17th of 20th of March. The first observation of this bird was made on the 26th of May, being approx. 8 weeks old, not fully grown but with well developed plumage. In a 9-hour observation period, at least one adult bird was present in or beside the nest up to 61 % of the time (32% the male; 52% the female). At noon, the male approached the eyrie with food, approx. the size of a cat, and fed the young and then ate himself for 15 minutes. In the afternoon feeding intervals became more irregular: 16 % of the observation time (4% the male and 12 % the female). The longest feeding phase lasted 42 minutes. Only for 3 % (15 minutes), the young fed on the food. The very long presence at the eyrie and the long feeding rate in this phase of rearing point to ideal and undisturbed breeding conditions. On this day, the pair flew above both sides of the valley, broke bones in the near Val Corta, carried twigs and food to the nest. It stayed in close vicinity (the female beside and the male underneath the nest). On the late morning of the 9th of July, Zebru fledged. The next day was spent at the opposite slope, where it was fed by the adults and made its first flights. On the 7th of August, all three birds spent the day in cliff niches in the northern part of the valley. Traces of excrements pointed to the use of approx. half a dozen roosting sites in this impressive, vertical, south exposed cliff face beneath the Monte Cristallo at approx. 2400m altitude. There, the pair stayed together, fed together, billed and groomed their plumage. Zebru approached them and was fed by the female for 15 minutes. Later, it fed on food that the female had brought. On several occasions, the adult bird tried to break bones however without success. In the afternoon, another juvenile Bearded Vulture soared around, close to the site of the eyrie of PAIR ZEBRU. It peeled off and flew, in front of the three resident birds, westwards and disappeared in the direction of Valle del Braulio. This must have been the offspring of PAIR BORMIO, Beverin-Stelvio, BGW 13 (see p. 45). From September to October the pair was regularly observed together with Zebru, in particular on the right side of the valley (Corpo Forestale). At the beginning of December, the pair carried nesting material to the eyrie (A. RICCI), which points to a renewed use of this nest site in 2003.

49 2002 Monitoring 47 Brooding data of PAIR ZEBRU in 2002 Clutch 7th February to 16th February 2002 Hatching 17th March to 20th March 2002 Fledging 9th July 2002 (111 to 114 days) Results of the feather analysis done by BARBARA GAUTSCHI FEMALE: The parents of this bird are related to BG 034 and BG 054, which points to Republic 2 (BG 165, released in Haute Savoie in 1992) or Republic 4 (BG 181, released in Haute Savoie 1993). The existence of the latter bird was proved in 1998 using a moulted feather. When considering philopatric behaviour, Ivraina (BG 170, released in Engadine in 1992) should also be a possibility. At least BG 034 was her paternal grandfather. MALE: Mauritio (BG 264, released in Engadine in 1996) was verified without any doubt. PAIR SINESTRA This pair, recorded at the bottom of Val Sinestra since spring 1999, also used this core area in For some periods, only one bird was observed and on other occasions no Bearded Vulture at all could be seen. Winter roosting sites up to 2400m sea level were used until the end of May. Afterwards, the pair roosted exclusively on cliffs on the Piz Tschüttas at 3050 m altitude until middle of October. But roosting sites at different unknown locations certainly exist outside the core area STAMMERSPITZE, as the pair occasionally did stay away at night. In January, the core area STAMMERSPITZE was rather often visited by immature Golden Eagles, provoking at times heavy attacks by the Bearded Vulture pair, e. g. on the 12th of January, when the male (N3) fought with a single eagle and both trundled to the ground, clasping each other with their talons. Such scenes were observed three times on this day, straight under the roosting sites above Griosch. On the next day, the pair soared together for a long time, close to a field of debris, in a kind of flight play. Later, they spent the night at one of the roosting sites at Mot Ot. In February, the presence of both the pair and the Golden Eagles decreased. Actually, a positive correlation was verified between the appearance of immature Golden Eagles and the frequency of Bearded Vulture observations (fig. 1, y = 1.18 x , r = 0.68). This may be traced back to the increased flying activity of the pair defending its territory. The presence of adult Golden Eagles also caused territorial behaviour but much less intensively, and only when adult eagles entered the core area of the territory. 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,9 Figure 1. Frequency of observations of the Bearded Vultures in Val Sinestra 0,8 0,7 (column; left axis) and frequency (per hour) of penetrating, immature single 0,6 0,5 Golden Eagles (line; right axis) in the course of 2002). 0,4 0,3 0,4 0,2 0,2 0,1 0 0 Januar Februar März April Mai Juni Juli August September Oktober November Dezember

50 48 Monitoring 2002 On the 11th of February, the male (N3) soared in the core area practically all day and spent the night at a roosting site at Mot Ot. On the 17th of February, again only one bird was observed, this time the female. On the 23rd of February both birds flew close to the author, looking curiously at the camera. In March, the presence of the Bearded Vultures pretty much decreased. On the 9th of March, one of the birds was observed for a short while above Val Tromas, but on the 27th of March no bird was seen, in spite of excellent flying weather. Again on the 14th of April, only the male was observed in the core area, but the GOLDEN EAGLE PAIR SINESTRA was observed while showing courtship behaviour. On the 5th of May, again fierce conflicts were observed between the Bearded Vultures and immature Golden Eagles. One of the vultures chased an eagle from the core area up to the Alp Pradgiant, turned and flew back to Mot da Luf. On the 21st of May, observation of playful flight (mutual feigned attacks) and billing showed the continuing pair bond. The female spent the night at the highest roosting site at Piz Tschüttas (3050m altitude) during a thunderstorm on 16th of June. On the 22nd of June, the pair landed together at a very high cliff and billed there. An immature Golden Eagle approached them provoking a chase by the pair. The eagle was not chased away and landed 10m above the in the meantime again sitting Bearded Vultures. In July, both birds were regularly observed in the core area. On the 7th, 27th and 28th of July, the pair spent the night at the highest roosts of Piz Tschüttas. On the 28th of July, an immature Golden Eagle even tried to land in immediate proximity to the pair, even though fiercely attacked by the Bearded Vulture. In addition, the immature Bearded Vulture Felice (BG 375, released in Engadine in 2001) stayed in the territory of PAIR SINESTRA. On the 27th of July, she soared twice above Griosch and in the evening in the area of the mountain station of the ski-lift Motta Naluns. Interactions between Felice and PAIR SINESTRA were not observed. Felice had already been observed near Vna and above Giosch in June (G. BROSI) and later close to Pfunds (16th of August, 14th and 25th of September; A. SCHWARZENBERGER). On the 16th of August, again only the male was observed, but on the 31st of August, both partners of the pair were seen together for the last time in They landed together at a cliff niche in the eastern part of Piz Ot. On this day, one of the birds flew far to the north, towards the Austrian boarder, where it chased an immature Golden Eagle at the Vesiljoch. On the 3rd of August, W. BAUMGART observed one of the birds in a fierce fight with an immature Golden Eagle north of the Stammerspitze of Samnaun. On the 22nd of September, again only the male flew in the core area of the territory. At Davo Mot, he attacked a raven in flight. On the 8th of October, the female (J) flew around in the core area and the rear part of Val Chöglias during the whole day. She chased an adult solitary Golden Eagle far to the north, north-west of Davo Sassè and returned without detour to the core area. On the 13th of October, only one unidentified bird was seen for a short period in the evening after a full day tour to the highest roosts. This bird flew from Val Tromas northwards. On the 23rd of November as well as on 1st and 8th of December, no Bearded Vultures were seen in the core area. Hereupon, an unsuccessful search was carried out in the adjacent valleys close to Samnaun, Nauders and south of Pfunds. In these regions respectively two and one adult Bearded Vultures had been observed by herdsmen of the Ochsenbergalm on 15th of August and 2nd of September respectively (A. SCHWARZENBERGER). The smaller of the birds was said to have a green ring, which may point to Tell (BG 283, released in Engadine in 1997). It was not until the 21st of December, that the author observed an adult Bearded Vulture roosting and grooming its plumage in a deep cave south of Crappé. On the 29th of December, one of the birds was seen soaring above Griosch and disappearing to the hindmost part of Val Sinestra. BALANCE: the rare presence of the pair towards the end of the year, and the lack of nesting and pair bond behaviour raised scepticism with respect to breeding in It is not clear if this situation was caused by territorial activities against Golden Eagles (which were higher than average), caused by prevention of inbreeding (the partners of the pair are possibly siblings) or caused by the insufficient

51 2002 Monitoring 49 suitability of the core area of the territory as nesting habitat. At some point, the pair roosted in different areas of Val Sinestra, outside the core area. It cannot be excluded that the pair shifted its territory to other valleys. Rings, seen on photos, caused some confusion. The combination of colours (right: silver and left gold) points to Gildo (BG 299, released in Engadine in 1998) but the bird itself seems to be older than 4 years. Feather analysis, done by BARBARA GAUTSCHI identified Sina (BG 285, released in Engadine in 1997) without any doubt. The analysis brought no result up to now with respect to the identity of the male. If no change of partner did take place since the first sign of a pair bond in 1999, then the male should with high probability be Tell (BG 283, released in Engadine in 1997), a brother of Sina. Other immature or subadult Bearded Vultures, observed in the core area in Felice (BG 375; rel. 2001) Martell (BG 395; rel. 2002) immature, unmarked 27th July; 4th August (Samnaun); 23rd August (Val Tasna) 25th October 23rd February Further observations of subadult/adult Bearded Vultures In 2002, birds were released in Martell Valley/Italy, which led to fewer observations of adult birds in Stabelchod, the Swiss release site. In any case, an adult bird was seen on the 5th of August and again on the 27th of October at Margunet. At the same place, Louis (BG 386, released in Engadine in 2000), who s coloured rings were seen, was observed on the 4th of July and on the 13th of September (CH.BUCHLI). In the area of Lavin-Guarda-Ardez-Scuol, one adult Bearded Vulture was regularly observed in spring (1st of April {R. MÜLLER}, 12th, 14th and 27th of April {R. CANTIENI}). This was possibly Marga (BG 261, released in Hohe Tauern NP in 1996), who usually spends the winter months in Greater Zernez since In the summer, observations of adult birds from middle Engadine were scarce. Some observations come from Val Trupchun (one subadult, a 3-years-old bird with moulting gaps on the 6th, 10th and 12th of June; A. À PORTA and one adult bird with moulting gap at the left wing on the 23rd, 30th and 31st of August; A. À PORTA). At Piz Fier (2700m altitude) the author discovered a cave with faeces on the cliff face below, which was being used by an immature bird (D. NEGRI). In September, the frequency of observations of adult and subadult Bearded Vultures in Greater Zernez increased considerably. One or two adult birds were regularly seen in Val Cluozza and at Murtiröl. Seven reports came in about adult birds, twice of these were double sightings. R. STRIMER (SNP) observed a juvenile vulture on the 5th of September (maybe Moische Livigno, BGW 11) and two adults at Murtiröl. On the 7th of September, the author observed an adult at Tantermozza, which did not belong to PAIR LIVIGNO, whereas two adults, reported from Väüglia (A. GILLI), probably were PAIR LIVIGNO. In October, two adults were observed south of Zernez (7th of October in Val Susauna and 27th of October in Val Pülschezza; R. MORF). On the 31st of October, the author even watched two adult Bearded Vultures above the Murtiröl and at the front end of Val Trantermozza. There, both birds landed in the steep wood. One departed with food in its talons, the other followed, softly attacking each other. Later on both adults disappeared in the adjacent Val Cluozza. As of November, one adult, sometimes even two, were regularly observed in the area Zernez Tantermozza Piz d Urezza. One of them may have been Marga, identified last winter. This bird spent her nights in Val Tantermozza, similar to the former PAIR ZERNEZ (now PAIR LIVIGNO) four years earlier. On the 6th of November, one adult bird flew together with the GOLDEN EAGLE PAIR CLUOZZA along both sides of the valley north of Brail for the whole afternoon. Again and again, the Bearded Vulture followed the eagles, even landing close to them, and taking off together without any sign of serious aggression. Obviously some sort of adhesion existed between the three birds. It seemed as if the Bearded Vulture wanted to establish its territory in the territory of the Golden Eagles. Also in

52 50 Monitoring 2002 December, a bird was regularly seen above Zernez (e. g. 23rd of December; H. LOZZA). On the 24th of December, this bird flew from Munt Baselgias southwards to Cinues-chel and farther within a few minutes. On the 16th of December, an immature, unmarked Bearded Vulture crossed the Inntal close to Prazet and landed at a roost on a cliff at the front end of Val Tantermozza. On the 29th of December, again two adult birds were seen at the same time above Zernez, one of them disappearing in the Val Cluozza. At least one adult bird lately used roosting sites close to Ova Spin. Obviously, the high number of observations of adult birds can be traced back to two birds, which do not share a close relationship, and therefore were seen together rather rarely. The regularity and continuity of observations of at least one adult bird may result into pair bonding. As a core area Val Tantermozza (as four years ago) or the region of Ova Spin seems suitable. On the 20th of November, R. MORF observed an adult bird near Sils Baselgias, which again and again approached an avalanche beneath Piz Lagrev. At the beginning of December, this adult bird stayed in Bergell, but disappeared later on (A. DEGONDA). Already in March (23rd), a subadult bird was seen near Sils, who flew to Val Fex (R. MÜLLER). A number of observations, also from adult birds, were reported from Puschlav in the middle of December (11th, 12th, 13th, 16th of December). In Avers, which proved to be a focal point of observations during the past years, reports from adult and subadult birds accumulated in 2002.Nine observations came from the area Wissberge-Juppa- Bergalga, of which four concerned adult birds. During an excursion on the 14th of September, the author observed two Bearded Vultures in the area of Wissberge, above Pürd and Juf. One being an approx. 3 years old bird, and one marked, immature (Christa, BG 373, released in the Hohe Tauern NP in 2001). Both birds attacked each other in flight (together with an adult Golden Eagle). Balance and Prospects Despite the loss of its offspring in 2001 (see Annual Report 2001, p ), PAIR LIVIGNO again used the unsuccessful nest of 2001, which, rather exposed, is situated above the gravel-pit on the left bank of Lake Livigno. This time, however, the pair was successful, bringing the total of fledged young to two. A team of employees of the Stelvio and the Swiss National Parks monitored the brooding as of the 9th of December intensively and nonstop. Therefore, interruptions and disturbances, e. g. by ice-fall climbers, were averted. Nesting activities of the pair indicate that this eyrie could be used again in It would therefore be useful to carry out monitoring of the nest site in the same way as in PAIR BORMIO raised its 4th young in 2002, being the 3rd in the EYRIE RADISCI. So far this pair changed its nest site on a yearly basis since 1998 (between EYRIE PALONE and RADISCI). The expansion of the nest site PALONE in the summer of 2002 point to a renewed change of eyries. The rather rapid pair bond of PAIR ZEBRU was surprising. A year ago no sign of an established pair was detected in Valle dello Zebru. The observed birds were, to some extent, not in total mature plumage. The activities at the nest site last December and the egg deposition at the beginning of February came unexpectedly. The relationship of PAIR ZEBRU to the resident Golden Eagle pair is rather mysterious, as the vultures occupied the eyrie of the eagles, but the eagles did not shift their territory (maybe one of the partners of the eagle pair disappeared). An additionally surprise was the use of a north exposed, not Bearded-Vulture-typical eyrie and the incredible intense presence of the Bearded Vulture pair at and in the nest during the whole brooding and raising period. This shows that Bearded Vultures are able to surprise which gives hope for other pairs or broodings, e. g. PAIR SINESTRA. The feather analysis by BARBARA GAUTSCHI brought additional astonishing results with respect to the identity of the partners of the pair. The female, presumably released in 1996, had also been verified in a feather sample from Bormio in The identity of the birds remains unclear. The younger male is the 6 years old Mauritio (BG 264, released in Engadine in 1996). Nothing changed in PAIR SINESTRA, which has been known since The birds are, with interruptions, still present. But since August, only one bird has been observed. The lack of nesting and

53 2002 Monitoring 51 courtship behaviour raises scepticism for a breeding in the ancestral core area of this pair in According to the feather analysis by BARBARA GAUTSCHI, the female is Sina (BG 285, released in Engadine in 1997). The identity of the male remains unclear up to now. This pair seems to be extremely exposed to migrating immature Golden Eagles, as in no other case such fierce interspecific territorial combats were observed so often. If and how these stress situations influence the breeding activities remains unknown. A total of 7 offspring was raised by the three reproducing pairs since 1998, which means a reproductive rate of 0.78 young/year/pair (BORMIO 0.80; LIVIGNO 0.50). This value is higher than the productivity in the Pyrenees (0.57 from 1986 to 1990, 231 checked pairs in R. HEREDIA, 1991: El Quebrantahuesos en los Pirineos, I. C. O. N. A., Madrid). Loss of offspring did not happen up to now, but thrice the pairs abandoned their clutches at a rather early stage of the nestling s development, and once an embryo died in the egg. In the entire Alpine range, five young fledged (in France two young from two pairs in the Les Vanoises NP), a total of 13 young Bearded Vultures hatched in the wild since 1997 (reproductive rate: 0.68), seven of which (54%) can be traced back to pairs of Engadine. From nine known pairs in the Alpine range, four descend from Engadine Bearded Vultures. Thus, the immense importance of this central-alpine release area has become clear again. The next years will prove if the great success of 2002 was only the exception or whether new pairs and further breeding successes will follow. But its already clear that the Engadine Bearded Vultures play a role of great importance in the success of the project for the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture into the Alps. Sightings of Bearded Vultures in the Piedmontese valleys (except Canavese and Gran Paradiso National Park) January to December 2002 by Laura Martinelli * Translation: James Beauchamp Number of sightings recorded The Alpi Marittime Nature Park is a data collection centre for both international sightings and those made by the Western Alps Watchers Network. In 2002, the park collected 302 recorded sightings; the early sightings of the two birds released in the park (Paolo Peila, BG 388 and Alpidoc, BG 394) are not included as these were monitored constantly for two months by a team of students and researchers led by the ornithologist R.TOFFOLI. (see page 33-34). Here, only sightings relative to the province of Turin (100) and Cuneo (186) will be considered as other sightings have been passed on to the relevant territorial co-ordinators. It is interesting to note, however, that an adult or sub-adult Bearded Vulture has been seen in Sardinia in the province of Nuoro, as they are rare visitors to this island. Number of birds observed The sightings recorded refer to at least 7 marked individuals: Sereno (BG 348), Georg (BG 355), Larche (BG 369), Roure (BG 370), Natura Mate (BG 380), Paolo Peila (BG 388), Alpidoc (BG 394). Two sightings concern an unmarked young bird. The birds forming the STURA VALLEY PAIR have been identified as: Firmin (BG 229), released in Mercantour National Park in 1995, and Valdieri (BG 268), released in Alpi Marittime Nature Park in The other sightings concern immature individuals that no longer carry marks or are adults-subadults. * Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime, Corso Dante Livio Bianco, I Valdieri, Italy. parcalma@tin.it

54 52 Monitoring 2002 The data of the continual monitoring of the pair in its reproductive period has not been included in this graph. 120 Bearded Vulture Sightings Figure 1: Bearded Vulture Sightings (identified or age group). no. of B earded V ulture S ightings Indet. Adult-Subadult Immature Juv Alpidoc Georg Larche Name or Age Roure Natura Mate Paolo Peila Sereno Interreg Hypotesis Identified or indet. Distribution of sightigs The province of Turin has registered a considerable increase in sightings, due both to the important monitoring work done by the local co-ordinators (Gran Bosco di Salbertrand N.P., Val Troncea N.P. and Orsiera-Rocciavrè N.P.) and to the continued presence of vultures, particularly in winter. An immature individual has been seen regularly between the Maudagna and Ellero valleys in the province of Cuneo. As the territories are so close, the adults sighted in Val Cenischia could be the pair based in Bonneval. Stura Valley couple The pair of Bearded Vultures in the Stura valley was regularly observed in the breeding season. It was possible to identify them by the coloured rings on their legs, the pair consists of Fimin (BG ), male, released in Mercantour N.P. in 1995, and Valdieri (BG ), female, released in the Alpi Marittime N.P. in In January they were observed mating on several occasions but it wasn t until the 3rd of February that PAOLO FASCE and FRANCO BERGESE saw one of the adults visit an old eagle s nest for a while. This same nest was frequented until the 15th of April. No eggs could have been laid as both animals were seen in flight together. It is interesting to note that the area occupied by the pair was also used by other Bearded Vultures: an immature 4 years old bird, another unmarked immature bird and Sereno (BG ). The pair s behaviour towards other Bearded Vultures and other raptors was at times conflictive and at other times apparently friendly.

55 2002 Monitoring 53 Table 1: Bearded Vulture sightings in individual or age group (for each valley). Valley Bearded Vulture or age V. Cenischia (TO) Adult V. Susa Indeterminate Adult Immature Georg (BG 355) Natura Mate (BG 380) V. Troncea (TO) Young without marks Immature V. Chisone (TO) Adult Immature Sereno (BG 348) V. Germanasca (TO) Roure (BG 370) V. Pellice (TO) Adult V. Varaita (CN) Adult Roure (BG 370) Alpidoc (BG 394) Interreg (BG 354) iph. V. Maira (CN) Indeterminate Immature Roure (BG 370) Natura Mate (BG 380) iph. Larche (BG 369) V. Stura (CN) Indeterminate Adult Immature Sereno (BG 348) Larche (BG 369) Paolo Peila (BG 388) V. Gesso (CN) Adult Immature Paolo Peila (BG 388) Alpidoc (BG 394) V. Vermenagna (CN) Indeterminate Adult Alpidoc (BG 394) V. Pesio (CN) Indeterminate Immature V. Ellero (CN) Immature V. Maudagna (CN) Indeterminate Immature V. Tanaro (CN) Indeterminate Adult Alpine Monitoring of Bearded Vultures: preliminary data on dispersal, pair settlement and survival by Richard Zink * ABSTRACT Scientists have been implementing a programme to reintroduce Bearded Vultures into the Alps during the last 25 years. This paper summarizes the results at the alpine scale. This effort has been facilitated through the implementation of the International Bearded Vulture Monitoring (IBM) Project of the National Park Hohe Tauern / EGS since A single database facilitates homogenous collection and collation of information over the entire * International Bearded Vulture Monitoring - Nationalpark Hohe Tauern/EGS Austria; c/o Richard Zink, Neuwiesgasse 17, A-1140 Wien, Austria. monitoring@aon.at

56 54 Monitoring 2002 study area. All alpine observations are analysed as soon as they reach the coordination office. After an evaluation process they are distributed to participants to give everybody access to the whole database. Data are transferred to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analyses. Dispersal, pair formation and other relevant factors for population development are examined. The monitoring intensity throughout the Alps is regularly checked. With help of external GIS tools, dispersal routes can be determined, resulting in a better understanding of the spatial distribution of the species by age and sex. INTRODUCTION The need for international monitoring of reintroduced Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Alps has been evident for a long time (NIEBUHR 1995). In 1986 when the first release took place in Austria, radio transmitters were used (OLEIRE-OLTMANNS et al. 1989) to follow the birds after fledging (FREY 1992). Technical problems and the unexpected high mobility of young Bearded Vultures forced us to look for alternative strategies. Since then, new marking systems have been used. It was the idea of COTON (e.g. 1994) to establish an observer network in order to collect observation data all over the Alps. However it took considerable effort to implement this approach. Today 15 collecting centres have been established, covering almost every part of the Alps (FIGURE 1). In the mid 1990s, a first attempt at implementing an international coordination centre failed; possibly because the time was not right. However, in 1999, all project partners decided to reinforce the international coordination. The National Park Hohe Tauern in Austria was willing to function as principal investigator. The main goals of the IBM-Project are: 1. Coordination of release, and distribution of marking patterns and colour rings. 2. Pointing out gaps of monitoring (see FIGURE 1) and trying to improve the monitoring system. 3. Evaluation and visualisation of bird dispersion using simulation tools in GIS. 4. Verifying habitat suitability by doing habitat analyses and determining the location of habitat hotspots in the Alps. This is important to get a better understanding of the species requirements. 5. Collecting information about threats and mortality risks in order to point out source and sink areas. 6. Control and coordination of protection of pairs. Verifying reproductive success and mortality of chicks born in the wild. Figure 1 How local monitoring centres cover the entire Alpine range. Blurred patched indicate the monitoring gaps

57 2002 Monitoring 55 METHODS RECORDING FIELD DATA Since the first bird was released, more than observations have been collected (ZINK 2002a). All data an MS-ACCESS database, with the programme being developed in Switzerland and tested in Austria. The new database guarantees quick data exchange and homogenous data collection all over the Alps. It was distributed to the different collecting centres and the participants have the opportunity to use it for free. An important component is the Import/Export Tool for data transfer. Quarterly the main office in Vienna receives data from each collecting centre. After evaluation, all data are summarized and sent to each collecting centre. Thus, all partners have access to the complete dataset. In the main office data are analysed using GIS-Software and spatial information is produced. A quarterly report on bird dispersal and breeding is sent to the partners who finance the system. To date the majority of collecting centres have implemented the new system. An international Convention (in three languages), signed by every participant, clarifies publication rights, data exchange and finances. Today the new database hosts observations (collected since 1986) about new records can be achieved each year. RELEASE OF BEARDED VULTURES An average of seven individuals are released in the Alps each year. The four to five different release sites have to be coordinated. Every bird is individually marked by bleaching some of its feathers with hydrogen-peroxyde to facilitate identification in the field. A precise system of pattern marking was developed in which each bird has an individual code (FREY 1992). Some people have reported sightings of marked birds. RESULTS DISPERSAL When Bearded Vultures were initially released, no one could predict whether they would remain in the same area or not. Four release sites were used with a distance in-between of no more than 200 km, to guarantee interaction between individuals (FREY 1992). Today we know that almost every bird explores huge parts of the alpine area during its first years of life. We have data to suggest that these birds settle in areas which they have previously explored (H. FREY pers. comm.). Thus, and because we have to gain information about mortality risk and habitat suitability, the monitoring of dispersal is one of the main aims of the IBM project. The identities of birds sighted are positively confirmed in fewer than 50% of cases. The collection predicts the identity of birds and enters these into the database using a different code, so that predicted sightings can be separated from confirmed sightings. During the analyses in Vienna, this information is extraordinarily important. On the homepage ( news where are the birds) observation points can be selected for each bird. A map with all observations for a selected time period illustrates how individuals can be tracked without radio transmitters throughout the entire Alps (~ km 2 ). Bearded Vultures (as shown for other large raptor species e.g. HIRALDO et al. 1979; MILBURN 1979; NEWTON 1979; MEARNS & NEWTON 1984; STEENHOF et al. 1984; GRUBAC 1987; RYMON 1987; González et al. 1992) show strong philopatric behaviour. That means birds usually return to their release site (nest) after some years of dispersal. Sites used for release since the beginning of the programme have a higher proportion of adult birds than do other sites today. However, in some cases, adults have left their release area and settled far away - an indication that also in other places habitat is suitable and enough food is available. Partners supporting the Project: A.S.T.E.R.S (F), NP Hohe Tauern (A), PN Alpi Maritime (I), PN Stelvio (I), PN Vanoise (F), Stiftung Pro Bartgeier (CH)

58 56 Monitoring 2002 In the future, we shall assess whether there are any differences in dispersal patterns between the sexes. At the moment it appears as if males tend to roam around over larger distances than females. Recently a study of habitat suitability was started at the University of Vienna (ZINK in prep.). Presently the study area covers western Austria, but could be enlarged to all parts of the Alps. All parameters which possibly might have an impact on habitat suitability (58 variables) for Bearded Vultures have been investigated. Statistical analyses generate suitability maps using eco-geographical variables and observation data. The advantage of this system is that a map is produced, showing areas where vultures are not observed. In the future monitoring efforts may be thus canalised and finances could be used more effectively. The first results have shown differences between areas and differences between adult and juvenile birds. Hotspot areas could be identified and will be monitored more intensively in the future. However, the method is costly and data will probably not be available for all parts of the Alps in the near future. This is why we initially identified hotspot areas for the Alps using existing knowledge and information gained from the monitoring. Information of major interest were food availability (LE NUZ 2000), relief (DONAZAR et al. 1993; BUSTAMANTE 1995), historical use (e.g. NIEDERWOLFSGRUBER 1968; GLUTZ VON BLOTZHEIM 1971; WÜST 1979) and, secondarily, recent use of habitats. The resultant maps show focal areas with different habitat quality. All breeding pairs are found within areas classified as high quality habitat. PAIR SETTLEMENT Since 1996, Bearded Vultures have started breeding again in the Alps. The first pair built its nest near its release site. In 1997, a second pair joined and, in 1999, three pairs bred successfully. In winter 2001/2002, six pairs were found to be incubating and five finally succeeded in raising offspring (FIGURE 2). Currently 13 pairs are known to have formed in the entire Alpine range and there is evidence that new pairs will start to breed next year. The recovery of the Alpine population is strongly dependent on breeding success. Once the average number of released birds (7) are being bred in the wild, we might expect the Alpine population to continue its positive population trend unaided by releases. If the increase of breeding pairs continues at the present rate, wild-bred birds could sustain the current trend in about five years. Figure 2. Distribution of BeardedVulture pairs. Asterisks mark successful pairs. Circles mark maybe successful pairs. See also page 59. SURVIVAL In total 114 birds have so far been released. Since 1986, 20 birds (min. mortality 17.5%) have been recaptured or found dead (see TABLE 1). Beside difficulties during the release period or soon after fledging (50% of loss cases) we thus expect shooting and collision with power lines to be the main threat in the Alps. In two cases birds were killed by an avalanche, obviously a natural mortality factor. Unfortunately in two cases we could not identify the cause of death, although poisoning is suspected. Following the comments of several scientists in Europe (e.g. R. ANTOR pers. comm.) poisoning is expected to be the most significant mortality factor. Poisoned birds are difficult to find and this mortality factor would therefore be underestimated. Since 1997 we were able to count 16 breeding attempts followed by hatching (six different pairs) out of which 13 (81%) resulted in fledged chicks. Theoretically the overall number of birds alive in

59 2002 Monitoring 57 Tabel 1. Mortality cases from 1986 to 2002 MORTALITY FACTOR NUMBER OF CASES Recaptured 2 Avalanche 2 Shooting 3 Collision with power line 3 Unknown (poison?) 2 Did not fledge 6 Recaptured/release again 2 TOTAL 20 the Alps could be 109 individuals. Recently we were able to identify 72 different Bearded Vultures (see FIGURE 3). As a result we know that the minimal survival rate should be not less than 56.7% and might be as high as 85.8%, if we expect all unknown cases to be still alive. This is a rather astonishing result since the overall estimation of birds alive theoretically includes 32 birds (25.2%) older than ten (!) years. Figure 3. Population structure and identified individuals of released Bearded Vultures. See also page 59. DISCUSSION A new attempt to build international co-operation for the monitoring of Bearded Vultures in the Alps was undertaken. The IBM project is an attempted long-term approach. We have therefore invested considerable time to build a solid foundation for this initiative, including solutions for finances and publication rights. In the year 2001 we finally started to work intensively. The transfer between databases works well and observation data are transformed and used in a Geographical Information System (GIS). The next step will be to provide technical support to those partners that have not yet established databases in their offices. Unfortunately, this is the case of the French partners who cover important areas for the reinforcement of the population. Today more than one third of observations come from these regions.

60 58 Monitoring 2002 Working on Bearded Vultures automatically means that the study area is large. The GIS approach means that spatial information such as digital elevation, land cover data or maps of food distribution and availability, are required. In the years to come, we will work together to share our knowledge and information. Although we already use the same database with the same data structure, there is still interpretation differences concerning what type of data to collect and store. There is however no doubt that the system has proved itself. Since all participating partners have different experiences with release, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns, we will continue to integrate this knowledge and profit from each others experiences. The Alps has to be treated as a single habitat. The Bearded Vulture is a unique species with an enormous range. It is no exaggeration to say that each individual explores major parts of the mountain range. To work on such a species within a single country is senseless (TEWES ET AL. 2002). We are happy that the European Community has agreed to a Life Project in the Alps. This gives us the opportunity to work more efficiently in the future. ACKNOLEDGEMNTS Partners supporting the project are: A.S.T.E.R.S (F), NP Hohe Tauern (A), PN Alpi Marittime (I), PN Ecrins (F), PN Mercantour (F), PN Stelvio (I), PN Vanoise (F), Stiftung Pro Bartgeier (CH) REFERENCES BUSTAMANTE, J Statistical Model of Nest-Site selection for the Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Pyrenees and Evaluation of the Habitat Available with a Geographical Information System, Muntaner, J. y Mayol J. (Eds.), Biologia y Conservacion de las Rapaces Mediterraneas, 1994, Monografias No 4 SE, Madrid. COTON, C Monitoring in the Bearded Vulture project in the Alps. GBB 15, DONAZAR. J.A., HIRALDO, F. & BUSTAMANTE, J Factors influencing nest site selection, breeding density and breeding success in the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Journal od Applied Ecology 30, FREY, H Die Wiederansiedlung des Bartgeiers (Gypaetus barbatus) in den Alpen. Egretta 35, GLUTZ VON BLOTZHEIM, U.N., BAUER, K. & BEZZEL, E Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas, 2. Aufl., Aula-Verlag Wiesbaden. GONZÁLEZ, L.M., BUSTAMANTE, J. & HIRALDO, F Nesting habitat selection by the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti. Biol. Conserv. 59, GRUBAC, R.B The biology of the Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus aureus) in Macedonia (engl. Manuscript for the book "bradan Gypaetus barbatus L. Sarajevo: Svejtlost) 125 Pp. HIRALDO, F.M., DELIBES, M., CALDERON, J El quebrantahuesos Gypaetus barbatus (L.). Publicaciones del Ministerio de Agricultura, Madrid 183 Pp. LE NUZ, E Contribution a l Étude des Exigences Trophiques et des Disponibilités Alimentaires du Gypaète Barbu (Gypaetus barbatus) en Haute-Savoie, Life Nature -Conservation du Gypaète barbu dans les Alpes Francaise, ASTERS. MEARNS, R. & NEWTON, I Turnover and dispersal in a Peregrine, Falco peregrinus, population. Ibis 126, MILBURN, E An evaluation of the hacking technique for establishing Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). M.S. Thesis, Cornell Univ. 184 Pp. NEWTON, I Population ecology of raptors. T. u. A.D. Poyser, Hertfordshire, 399 Pp. NIEBUHR, K Minutes on the meeting of monitoring coordinators Monitoring programme in the Alps, Bearded Vulture Reintroduction into the Alps, Annual Report 1995, Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture, Vienna. NIEDERWOLFSGRUBER, F Ornithologische Beobachtungen aus Nordtirol, Monticola, Bd.1, Nr. 18, Innsbruck. OLEIRE-OLTMANNS, W., MÄCK, U. & BÖGEL, R Radiotracking of Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus and Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in the Alps. in: B.U. Meyburg & R.D. Chancellor (eds.) Raptors in the Modern World. WWGBP. RYMON, L.M The restoration of Osprey Pandion haliaeetus to breeding status in Pennsylvania by hacking ( ). Pp in: B.U. Meyburg & R.D. Chancellor (eds.) Raptors in the Modern World. WWGBP. STEENHOF, K., KOCHERT, M. N. & MORITSCH, M.Q Dispersal and migration of southwestern Idaho raptors. J. Field Ornithol. 55, TEWES, E., TERRASSE, M., FREY, H., SÁNCHEZ, J.J., FREMUTH, W Action Plan for the Recovery and Conservation of Vultures on the Balkan Peninsula, Draft for the Workshop in Sofia, October WÜST, W Gypaëtus barbatus (L., 1758) Bartgeier, in: Avifauna bavariae-die Vogelwelt Bayerns im Wandel der Zeit, im Auftrag der Ornithologischen Gesellschaft in Bayern mit Unterstützung der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Stiftung zur Förderung der Wissenschaften in Bayern, Bd. 1, S ZINK, R. 2002a. Der Bartgeier in den Alpen, Jahrbuch des Vereins zum Schutz der Bergwelt, 67. Jahrgang (2002).

61 2002 Monitoring 59 Alpine Monitoring of Bearded Vultures: pair formation - new pairs - pairs & reproduction by Richard Zink * PAIR FORMATION / NEW PAIRS A young pair did establish itself in WESTERN SWITZERLAND. According to information from BERTRAND POSSE the territory is situated in central Valais. A second young pair may come into existence in the area of HAUTE SAVOIE. Referring to ASTERS at least two and possibly three pairs now exist in the region. In ALPI MARITIME a first reproduction is expected next year. Firmin (BG 229) and Valdieri (BG 268) did form a pair and already adopted a nest. As both birds reached sexual maturity, breeding seems to be likely in the winter of 2002/2003. In AUSTRIA, another pair formed itself. This is pair formation number 7!!! Once again young birds (El Dorado, BG 272 in its first year and Jackpot 3, BG 296 four year old) joined each other in OSTTIROL. Since the fledging of El Dorado they are seen, almost exclusively, flying together. In ENGADIN (CH) a new pair is already showing flight display. Both birds are sexually mature (minimum five years) but nest occupation has not been observed so far. In addition, several solitary adults are known to have a territory: In VANOISE (F) 2 In QUYERAS (F) 1 In ENGADIN (CH) 1 In MERCANTOUR (F) 1? PAIRS & REPRODUCTION In winter , six pairs started with incubation (see FIGURE 2., p. 56), of which five succeeded in raising offspring. Today 13 pairs cover the Alps, and there is evidence that new pairs will start to breed soon. The recovery of the alpine population is strongly dependent on breeding success. PAIR 1, HAUTE SAVOIE: 1997 BGW01 (Phenix Alp Action), 1998 BGW03 (Dominique), 1999 BGW05 (RhonAlp), 2000 BGW06 (Reposoir). This year, the pair incubated successfully and raised offspring. At the age of 75 days BGW15 (Clarins) tumbled down the nesting cliffs and died in the middle of June. PAIR 2, STELVIO 1: 1998 BGW02 (Stelvio), 2000 BGW07 (Diana-Stelvio), 2001 BGW09 (Stelvio1), 2002 BGW13 (Beverin-Stelvio). First flight of the latter took place on the 7th of July PAIR 3, STELVIO 2: 2000 BGW08 (Livigno), 2002 BGW011 (Moische-Livigno). The latter undertook its first flight on the 15th of July PAIR 4, VANOISE 1: 2002 BGW16 (Free-Ride). Its first first flight took place o the 4th of July PAIR 5, STELVIO 3: 2002 BGW12 (Zebru). First flight on the 9th of July 2002 PAIR 6, VANOISE 2: 2002 BGW14 (Arpont). First flight on the 22nd of July Finally, I want to thank my friends and partners who always tried to support the IBM-Project. Together new perspectives were opened to the reintroduction project being monitoring on a large scale and and a well-founded estimation of the population size (see Annual Report of the IBM project 2002). * International Bearded Vulture Monitoring - Nationalpark Hohe Tauern/EGS Austria; c/o Richard Zink, Neuwiesgasse 17, A-1140 Wien, Austria. monitoring@aon.at

62 60 Monitoring 2002 A new pair in Austria: Gastein, National Park Hohe Tauern by Michael Knollseisen * & Andreas Schwarzenberger * Shortly after the disruption of the former Austrian breeding pair, which most probably consisted of Nicola (BG 138, released in Rauris 1991) and Joey (BG 110, released in Rauris 1989), when building their nest in August 2001 (see Annual Report 2001, p ), two adult Bearded Vultures appeared in the upper Gastein valley. Until October 2001, these areas were thought to be part of the Krumltal-Heiligenblut territory of Nicola and Joey. Because of simultaneous observations in Rauris, Gastein and Heiligenblut the presence of minimum three adult Bearded Vultures could be confirmed. The new pair showed strict territorial behaviour, Golden Eagles and Ravens being chased away from the core area situated at Sportgastein (south-western end of the valley). Although its partner had disappeared Nicola was still using the core area of the former pair. In January and February neither copulation nor nest building behaviour could be observed. In mid- February during a period of ten days only one single adult bird was observed in the Gastein area. All known Golden Eagle nests were regularly checked and surrounding valleys surveyed for additional ones. The observation of two birds on the 26th of February showed that either a possible breeding attempt had failed or that no breeding took place at all in the area. In April, the first roost was spotted, and one of the birds, probably the male, identified and shown to be six six years old (release in 1996, GREEN RING on the right leg). The roost is situated in the highest cliff in the Gastein valley (the 500 m high Himmelswand, Kötschachtal), about 6 km from Sportgastein. In the summer of 2002 both adults appeared regularly at the release site in the Anlauftal (situated between Sportgastein and Kötschachtal), where they did not show any aggressive behaviour against the released birds. Due to the rings (VIOLET/GREEN) visible on a picture taken on 24th of August 2002, the female could almost certainly be identified as Andreas Hofer (BG 260). This bird was born on the 26th of February 1996 in the Alpenzoo Innsbruck and released in Rauris on the 27th of May In the following years this bird could be seen regularly in the area between Gastein and the Katschberg (20 km east of Gastein), and on several occasions together with a second unidentified Bearded Vulture. After the appearance of the new pair in the upper Gastein valley observations of adult Bearded Vultures became extremely rare in the Katschberg region. It is thought that the young pair shifted its territory to the west after the disruption of the Krumltal-Heiligenblut pair (Nicola and Joey) which occupied the upper Gastein valley before. In the area of Sportgastein the behaviour of the pair became more aggressive against Ravens, Golden Eagles and Griffon Vultures in August The birds were present in this area almost daily. On the 26th of August both birds could be seen carrying nest material for the first time. Sheep wool was deposited at different sites, one time on an alpine pasture, then on a rocky crest, while the third place was identified as being a roosting site. In the following weeks the birds were often seen carrying wool, but never branches. The roost is situated in a north-eastern exposed ravine at an altitude of m. Both birds could be observed moving to and from the roosting site several times a day bringing in pieces of wool and spending most of their nights there. After heavy snowfall (70 cm) on the 24th of September the roost was not used anymore. On the 10th of October both birds were seen collecting wool in the ravine below the roosting site and bringing it to a nearby crest. More wool and some branches could be spotted in the ravine below the roosting site. On the 21st of October two National Park game wardens observed for the last time wool being carried by both birds about 3 km away from the former roosting site. Intensive observations in this area in the following days gave no evidence of a new nest. On the 23rd of October the roosting site was checked from a nearby crest (about 100 m distance). * EGS Österreich, Untere Hauptstraße 34, 2286 Haringsee, Austria, Bartgeier@gmx.at or A.Schwarzenberger@gmx.at

63 2002 Monitoring 61 While the birds were absent some feathers and a little wool indicated the use of the site in the months before, but there was no evidence of nest building. In November and December, there was still no nest building. Especially in December observations became restricted due to very bad weather conditions. A new roost (3 km from the site occupied in August/September) was identified in the beginning of December. Although a recently used nest site could not be found as yet, it is expected that an other breeding attempt could take place in Austria in Photo: MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN, Austria One of the birds of PAIR GASTEIN Austrian Bearded Vulture Monitoring 2002 by Andreas Schwarzenberger * Of recent years, 2002 was among the most successful. 704 observations were made by the monitoring team and the network of observers. By the end of 2002 this network consists of 1550 people living in Austria and about 100 additional persons visiting Austria once or more times a year. Table 1. Observations in Austria in 2002, shown per district VORARLBERG TYROL CARINTHIA SALZBURG STYRIA TOTAL JUVENILE BIRDS Apart from the two birds released in Gastein in 2002, Franz (BG 387) and Ambo (BG 392), Martell (BG 395, released on 1st of June in Martell, I) there was only one juvenile Bearded Vulture visiting the Austrian Alps. In August it came through the Ötztaler Alpen crossing the Inn Valley, where it was seen in the Mieminger Kette/ Northern Tyrol on 23rd of August. On 12th of September it was back in the Central Alps (Pitztal). After possibly having visited Vorarlberg it returned to its release area in Southern Tyrol/I. Franz left its release area (Gastein) on the 28th of July. At the end of August it appeared in the Paznaun/Northern Tyrol, but went back to the National Park Hohe Tauern right after a short visit in Southern Tyrol (Pfitsch). In September it was seen several times in the Krumtal/Rauris and the neighbouring Fuschertal. Its female nest companion Ambo stayed in the Anlauftal till the end of August and visited the Krumltal immediately afterwards. In Oktober and November it circled around the area of Gastein and Rauris before moving more to the east. In the Katschberg region it spent its first winter. IMMATURE BIRDS Observations of Christa (BG 373, released in Matrei/Eastern Tyrol in 2001) are rather scarce in The bird stayed till January in the western part of the Defereggental/Eastern Tyrol, where it shared the same area with an unidentified adult Bearded Vulture. Observations of late winter and spring are lacking. On the 20th of May Christa appeared in Vorarlberg (western part of Austria), and left Austria for Switzerland and later also Italy at the very end of May. By the beginning of October EGS Österreich; Helfentalweg 8, A-6020 Innsbruck, A.Schwarzenberger@gmx.at

64 62 Monitoring 2002 the female came back to the Defereggental (Eastern Tyrol), where it has been seen several times up to the end of the year. Released at the same time as Christa, El Dorado (BG 372) showed a very different dispersion behaviour. Since the release the young female stayed close to its release site in Eastern Tyrol where it roamed about in the small Tyrolean part of the National Park Hohe Tauern. The 27th of March is the only date on which El Dorado was observed outside its very restricted territory (Bad Gastein, Salzburg). Throughout the year it flew together with a 4 year old male (Jackpot III, BG 296, Rauris 1998), with whom it seemed to form a pair. Only 14 times out of 65 El Dorado was seen flying alone. 48 observations showed this female being with Jackpot III, while on three occasions it appeared to be together with the unidentified adult from the Defereggental (south-west of the territory). In December, the young pair could be seen almost daily in Innergschlöß (the release site) certainly because of the good food conditions in this valley (avalanches!). Another bird of the year 2001 that visited the Austrian Alps was Felice (BG 375, Val Stabelchod, Engadin). This fearless female wandered about the area of Innsbruck in the first weeks of January. When visiting a feeding place for foxes it flew just at the bottom of the Inn Valley right above the houses of Zirl (west of Innsbruck). Later it went to the Lechtaler Alpen, more to the west. Here it flew sometimes together with Averell (BG 140, Haute Savoie 1991), the adult Bearded Vulture in the upper Lechtal (Tyrol; see also p ). In the second half of the year moving to the Central Alps (Samnaun, Ötztaler Alpen), it again appeared in the Inn Valley at very low elevation. At the end of the year it was back in the Madautal (Lechtaler Alpen). Bingo (BG 350) had been released in Mallnitz/Carinthia in the year 2000 together with Georg (BG 355). Whereas trace of Georg was lost somewhere in the Western Alps, Bingo remained in the area of the Hohe Tauern. Up to June it was identified several times in the area of Rennweg and Malta after which this female probably lost the remainder of its markings. From July on we can only speculate about its whereabouts. An unmarked, immature Bearded Vulture appeared in Heiligenblut and Flattach (Carinthia) in July, and later on in the Krumltal/Rauris and Bad Gastein (Salzburg). In December, possibly the same bird appeared again in the area of Rennweg, at times together with Ambo. Christelle (BG 363, Val Stabelchod 2000) visited the Lechtaler Alpen at the end of Till June 2002 it appeared several times in the Madautal, the core area of Averell, an adult male, which had been resident there for several years. Observations of an immature Bearded Vulture in the Lechtaler Alpen provided an indication that Christelle might be staying in the area. An unmarked, immature bird was observed in the Ötztaler Alpen/Northern Tyrol (Vent, Sellrain, Obernberg) from September till the end of the year. Another immature Bearded Vulture apeared in Eastern Tyrol in Oktober and November. A simultaneous observation on the 26th of June showed the presence of yet another immature bird in the area of Bad Gastein. SUBADULT BIRDS In its 5th year Jackpot III stayed together with El Dorado in the area of the National Park Hohe Tauern in Eastern Tyrol. Most of the observations concerned the young pair (see above). The core area of this pair was situated in the Venedigergruppe (valleys of Virgen and Innergschlöß). Excursions to the south (Defereggen, Villgraten) took place in autumn and winter. On the 3rd of February a young ski mountaineer took a photograph of Sina (BG 285, Engadin 1997) near Kappl (Verwall). The golden ring on the left leg was visible and the bird could be easily described as 5 to 6 years old. Another observation of an almost mature bird was made in the skiing area of Serfaus (Samnaungruppe) on 1st of April, which could have been Sina or Tell (BG 283, Engadin 1997). In spring and summer none of them was seen across the Tyrolean border. Photo: M.GUNDOLF, Austria Sina, BG 285

65 2002 Monitoring 63 On the 15th of August two adult/subadult birds appeared near Pfunds close to the border of Austria, Switzerland and Italy. A green ring could be seen, which makes it likely that one of the birds was Tell. This was the last time that the pair Sinestra was seen together. Later observations concern only a single adult bird in the area of Pfunds-Nauders (A), Reschen-Graun (I), Samnaun (CH). ADULT BIRDS Vorarlberg In the summer a few observations of one or two adult Bearded Vultures were made in Brand (Rätikon). The presence of these birds could not be verified, and observations are lacking from November on. It is possible that these birds shifted their territory. Northern Tyrol In the summer a single adult Bearded Vulture was present in the Stubaier Alpen (south of the Inn Valley) being regularly observed in the lower Ötztal and Sellraintal. In autumn this bird moved to the Ötztaler Alpen and disappeared in September possibly to Southern Tyrol. A single observation of an adult/subadult bird in the Kitzbühler Alpen suggests that Daniel (BG 291, Rauris 1998) could still have been alive at that time. Eastern Tyrol An unidentified adult, having its territory in the Defereggental, was seen several times from March to December. Sometimes this bird flew together with immature birds (Christa, El Dorado like on the 2nd of September and the 30th of November) and even with adults (16th of August, 4th of September). But no durable pair formation could be established. Salzburg RAURIS: An adult Bearded Vulture visited the Krumltal regularly from May to October. As this area had been a part of the territory of the first Austrian breeding pair this individual is thought to be Nicola (BG 138, Rauris 1991). The 11 year old female showed aggressive behaviour against Griffon vultures, but no aggression against young Bearded Vultures that appeared in the area ( seen together three times with an unidentified immature Bearded Vulture, and four times together with Ambo). The neighbouring Fuscher valley was also used by Nicola. GASTEIN: In autumn 2001 a new pair had been formed in the upper Gastein valley. The two adult birds were seen regularly in the area around Bad Gastein throughout the year (see also "A new pair in Austria", p ). More than 95 % of the observations were made in the two valleys of Sportgastein and Anlauftal (southern end of Gastein valley). A few times the pair visited the neighbouring Kötschach valley, and on five occasions the birds were probably seen in Carinthia. Half of these observations are of both adults flying together. Pair bonding seems to be strong in this young pair. Carinthia HEILIGENBLUT: After the disruption of the breeding pair only one adult bird (possibly Nicola) was still occupying the eyrie and defending it against Ravens, Golden Eagles and other Bearded Vultures. 47 observations out of total of 70 were of this Bearded Vulture sitting in the nest. Even nest building occured in September and October. OTHER ADULT BIRDS: On the 15th of August two adult Bearded Vultures appeared in the Kreuzeckgruppe, where on the next day they were seen flying together with a group of Griffon vultures over the Weißensee in a southern direction. As there are no observations of the pair in the Gastein valley in this period, it is supposed that the pair made an excursion to the south and came back to the core area of its territory a few days later. Observations of adult Bearded Vultures in other regions of Austria suggest the presence of additional adults: 10 th of July Neuburg/Mürz - Schneealpe (STYRIA) 08th of September Raggasaal/Maria Saal (CARINTHIA) 15th of September Admont/Gesäuse (STYRIA) 10th to 15th of December Radenthein (CARINTHIA)

66 64 Monitoring 2002 CONCLUSION In the year 2002 a total of at least 21 (maximum 25) different Bearded Vultures has been observed in Austria of which 12 birds could be identified. BIRD DISTRICT NO OF OBSERVATIONS Ambo (BG 392) Salzburg, Carinthia 12 Franz (B6 387) Salzburg, Tyrol 8 Felice (BG 375) Tyrol 24 Christa (BG 373) Tyrol, Vorarlberg 10 El Dorado (BG 372) Tyrol, Salzburg 66 Christelle (BG 363) Tyrol 6 Bingo (BG 350) Carinthia, Salzburg 11 Jackpot III (BG 296) Tyrol 65 Tell (BG 283) Tyrol 1 Sina (BG 281) Tyrol 1 Averell (BG 140) Tyrol 12 Nicola (BG 138) Carinthia, Salzburg 97 immature Vorarlberg 2 immature Tyrol (northern Tyrol) 16 immature Tyrol (eastern Tyrol) 6 immature Salzburg 16 immature Carinthia 2 adult Vorarlberg 15 adult Tyrol (northern Tyrol) 16 adult Tyrol eastern Tyrol) 18 adult Salzburg (Gastein) 114 adult Salzburg (Gastein) 59 adult Carinthia, Styria 6 unidentified Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria 121 TOTAL 704 A farewell to Averell (BG ) the Bearded Vulture from the Lechtal in Austria by Hans Frey* Already the start of his life was fateful: laid on the 28th of December 1990, the egg rolled out of the nest on New Year s eve. In the morning of the 1st of January 1991, the totally cold egg was rescued and put into an artificial incubator. A young male hatched on the 23rd of February 1991, being healthy and awake. After seven days of hand-rearing it was transferred, first to foster parents, and then seven days later back to its own parents who raised it without any problems. The great adventure started on the 7th of June 1991, when Averell, then 104 days old, and accompanied by a young female from Dortmund Zoo (BG , Republic), travelled to the release site in Haute Savoie where the door to the big, wide Alps was set open. At first, Averell started living free rather faint-heartedly and stayed in the surroundings of the release site for months on end. In the autumn, he visited the Vanoise National Park. But already one year later, he crossed the Alps, back to Austria, and appeared for the first time in the Lechtal in the summer of His traces were numerous, but with high probability Averell stayed in the Greater Lechtal as an adult Bearded Vul- * Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medicine University Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. Hans.Frey@vu-wien.ac.at

67 2002 Monitoring 65 Averell, BG 140 in 1999 ture was observed in this area on a regular basis with a total of 120 observations between 1998 and Sometimes he was accompanied by another Bearded Vulture. Again, in the winter of 2001 and the spring of 2002, Averell was observed 13 times, sporadically being accompanied by a young female. He gained high profile in his "adopted country and it was planned to make him the logo for the future NATIONAL PARK LECHTALER ALPS. No matter who was asked, be it hunters, engineers of anti-avalanche-installations, wardens of ski-lifts or owners of mountain refuges, the inhabitants of the Lechtal always were please to watch Averell. This is also confirmed by the numerous reports on this bird. Photo: RICHARD ZINK, Austria However, in the middle of June 2002, his life ended much too early. Workers of anti-avalanche-installations discovered the remains of the dead bird in the Grießltal, a side valley of the Madautal, at an altitude of 1500m above sea level. Feathers, lying scattered on a forest road, drew their attention. Obviously a fox had dragged the dead bird across the road during the night. Because of the address of the ALPENZOO in INNSBRUCK, which is engraved on any ring, the sad finding was quickly reported. High temperatures in that period made it only possible to collect some half-decomposed remains of Averell. The exact reason of death has not been determined up to now. The remains showed no sign of shooting or distinguishable injuries. A fresh pellet of animal hair (bagger, fox, wild boar) was found in the stomach and pointed to ingestion of food one day prior to death and could be an indication that Averell met a very sudden death. Photo: ANDREAS SCHWARZENBERGER, Austria The examinations with regard to poison Averell, BG 140 on the 15th of June 2002 proved to be very difficult, as the softer parts of the body had already been digested by maggots and the analysis of these maggots did not bring any results. The wonderful landscape of the Lechtal in the Tyrol will again harbour Bearded Vultures for us remains the memory of this fabulous bird. Its remains are now stored in the scientific collection of the MUSEUM FERDINANDEUM in INNSBRUCK, Austria. Photo: M. BRANDMAYER, Austria The new bird of Lechtal on the 25th October 2002

68 66 Monitoring 2002 BG , Paolo Peila s Health Problems by Laura Martinelli * Translation: James Beauchamp Nothing unusual had been noted about the bird s behaviour up to the 30th of May. But the following day, however, it remained in the cave without moving, feeding or drinking. Occasionally it tried to regurgitate, but without success and, in general, it seemed rather subdued. HANS FREY suggested to recapture the bird and to take it to the veterinary surgeon for a check-up. This was done the same evening. At first, the bird appeared to be dehydrated with a slightly taught skin but on palpating the abdomen there was no evidence of anything being wrong. Its temperature was taken (38.2 C) and it was weighed (4.4kg). The veterinarian surgeon DR. GAINPIERO LOCA- TELLI, then proceeded to rehydrate the bird with a subcutaneous drip and orally with added B group vitamins. Next it was x-rayed (done by Dr. LOCATELLI) which disclosed the cause of the problem as "an intrathoraxic foreign body". From the x-ray photograph a radio-opaque mass of considerable size was clearly visible in the thorax, probably a portion of vertebral column of some larger mammal. The Bearded Vulture was left to rest during the night at the vet s clinic and the following morning further x-ray photographs were taken in order to judge how the situation had evolved and to decide what measures should be taken. To our surprise and relief the mass was more transparent than before and less well defined as a result of; the bones being digested. After further rehydration and having been kept under observation for the rest of the day it was taken back to the nest in the afternoon of the 1st of June. The next day it behaved almost normally. Spinal column of the Bearded Vulture At least two large spinal vertebrae of a herbivore in the Bearded Vulture s stomach. Breast bone of the Bearded Vulture. The same bird after one day of digestion. * Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime, Corso Dante Livio Bianco, I Valdieri, Italy. parcalma@tin.it

69 2002 Monitoring 67 Observations on a Bearded Vulture in the Netherlands in 2002 by Jan Louwman * Bearded Vulture, immature, soaring above De Cocksdorp, Texel, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands on 3rd of June 2002 Photo: MARTEN VAN DIJL, THE NETHERLANDS Once again, an immature Bearded Vulture has been sighted in The Netherlands. This bird did not have bleached feathers nor did it have a ring. Clearly it was not a reintroduced vulture (... but maybe its parents were?). This bird seemed healthy and some good photographs clearly show this. Many members of the bird spotter organisations DUTCH BIRDING followed the whereabouts of this bird day by day. Recent years have quite often shown vultures (Griffon, Black, Bearded and Egyptian), that drifted off to the Netherlands to stay there only for a few days. These wanderings always took place in springtime, during periods of rather hot weather, which Probably creates favourable conditions for such far flights. This also could explain the arrival of a group of 18 Griffon Vultures that arrived in the Netherlands in the same week as the Bearded Vulture. 2ND JUNE 2002 The young Bearded Vulture was first spotted at 09:45 a. m. flying above the LEPELAARSPLASSEN (Nature reserve) in the Flevepolder, in the centre of the Netherlands. At 12:00 p. m. it was seen above the town CASTRICUM near the North Sea coast. At 1:00 p. m. it arrived at the SLURFTER, a nature reserve on the west coast of the island TEXEL where it remained for the rest of the day. 3RD JUNE 2002 At 07:45 a. m. the Bearded Vulture was found back again, sitting on top of a dune (sand-hill) at the SLURFTER. At 09:30 a. m., flying in a northern 2nd 3rd 4th 2nd 5th 7th direction, it arrived at the lighthouse in the very north of the island TEXEL. An hour later it flew in a large circle at a height of only a few metres above the heads of a gathered group of bird spotters! It was a sensational experience for these enthusiastic bird spotters. During the rest of the day the Bearded Vulture remained near the lighthouse. At 07:00, the weather changed and heavy rainfall prevented to see the bird. Bearded Vulture, immature, at the island TEXEL on 3rd of June 2002 Photo: LEO BOON, THE NETHERLANDS * Wassenaar Wildlife Breeding Centre, Raaphorstlaan 28, 2245 bj Wassenaar, The Netherlands. wwbc@planet.nl Map can be found at:

70 68 Monitoring/Autochthonous Populations TH JUNE 2002 In the early morning the Bearded Vulture was discovered again near the light house. At 11:30 a. m. the bird flew away in a straight line in a south western direction and left the island. 5TH JUNE 2002 At 09:40 a. m. the vulture was reported seen flying in a southern direction high over the town HAAR- LEM (Province of North Holland). 6TH JUNE 2002 No sightings were reported on this day. 7TH JUNE 2002 This day DUTCH BIRDING reported a new sighting of the Bearded Vulture. In the early morning it was seen in the VEENZIJSDE polder, a rather remote area in WASSENAAR (!). It was seen flying only a few metres high, followed by a group of crows. No pictures were taken here. Although many bird spotters arrived here right after the first sighting, the Bearded Vulture was not seen again. 8TH JUNE 2002 New observations were not reported anymore. Bearded Vultures in the French Pyrenees Results of monitoring in 2002 by Martine Razin * On the north side of the Pyrenees, monitoring is being carried out by a network of partners (GOs et NGOs.) in the context of a Ministry Restoration Plan. This network, called "RÉSEAU CASSEUR D'OS, is coordinated by the LPO (mission FIR). Another network of partners is in charge of all the actions in the filed of education and communication. The administrative coordination of the programme has been assumed by the Ministry of Environment. Results of departments HAUTE- HAUTE- PYRENEES- ARIÉGE TOTAL Established pairs Breeding pairs Controlled pairs (breeding or not) ATLANTIQUES PYRENEES 9 (1 trio) 8 8 ORIENTALES Laying Chicks observed YOUNG FLEDGED PRODUCTIVITY: 0.48 (10/21) BREEDING SUCCESS: 0.59 (10/17) * Coordinator casseur dos, route Croix, F Ahetze, France. gypaete.martine.razin@wanadoo.fr

71 2002 Autochthonous Populations IS THE YEAR OF PARADOXES WITH VERY GOOD RESULTS: - 10 young fledged - productivity was close to three breeding pairs were located and productive in the département of Ariège (first breeding in 1998 in this département) - two new pairs, one of which is breeding 50 km away from the Mediterranean Sea - a distribution area which nearly covers the totality of the northern Pyrenees after only 10 years of feeding operations. BUT THE YEAR 2002 BROUGHT ALSO VERY BAD RESULTS - a breeding failure linked to disturbance for the second consecutive year in a site of the Hautes-Pyrénées - three territorial adults disappeared (as a result there were three pairs less) - a constant increase of human presence near the western nesting sites - loss of the breeding pair in the most western territory - a distribution area weakened on the Atlantic side. ALL THIS INDICATING THE DEFICIENCY OF PROTECTION MEASURES. RÉSEAU CASSEUR D'OS : - Parc National des Pyrénées - Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage - Office National des Forêts - Associations Saiak, Organbidexka Col Libre, Nature Midi-Pyrénées, Cerca Nature - Association des Naturalistes de l'ariège - Groupe Ornithologique du Roussillon - Nature Comminges, AROMP - Réserves Naturelles Catalanes - Fédérations de chasse de l'ariège, de la Haute- Garonne et des Pyrénées-Orientales - Association des Pâtres de Haute Montagne - Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) Population in the Spanish Pyrenees in 2002 Parameters and reproductive results by Rafael Heredia * METHODS Population density was determined in the same way as in other large cliff breeding raptor species. Nest sites of breeding pairs were checked in the period of courtship and nest building, as well as during the development of juveniles up to their first flight. If data obtained proved to be insufficient, the pair was taken down as not checked. * Coordinator of the Bearded Vulture Spanish Conservation Project, Camino del Tunél (Somio), Gijon, Asturias, Spain. r.heredia@wanadoo.es

72 70 Autochthonous Populations 2002 PARAMETERS OF REPRODUCTION Parameters of production (CHEYLAN 1981) were determined as follows: PARAMETERS OF POPULATION Number of known pairs (territories): Number of reproducing pairs: Number of controlled pairs: Number of nesting pairs: Number of reproductive pairs: Number of fledged juveniles. number of territories regardless whether the occupying pair was reproducing or not. number of breeding pairs regardless whether breeding was successful or not. number of pairs of which the breeding performance wsa checked thereby yielding on rperoduction.. number of pairs that laid eggs or gave strong indications of having done so. those pairs having successfully reared a young bird. PARAMETERS OF THE PAIRS Productivity: Breeding success: Percentage of reproductive pairs: Percentage of nesting pairs: number of fledged young/number of controlled pairs. number of fledged young/number of nesting pairs. number of successful pairs/number of nesting pairs. number of nest building pairs/ number of controlled pairs. Table 1. Parameters and reproductive results in the Spanish Pyrenees in SPANISH PYRENEES 2002 Number of occupied territories 93 (ARAGON: 56; CATALONIA: 29; NAVARRA: 8) Number of reproducing units 80 (64 PAIRS and 16 TRIOS) Number of controlled pairs 75 (94%) Number of fledglings 30 Productivity 30/75; 0.40 young/contolled pair/year Table 2. Parameters and reproductive results in the Pyrenees (Spain and France) in PYRENEES (Spain + France) 2002 Number of occupied territories 117 ( ) Number of breeding pairs 101 ( ) Number of controlled pairs 97 ( ) Number of fledglings 40 ( ) Productivity 40/97; 0.41 young/contolled pair/year MORTALITY AND ACCIDENTS Details are known about a total of 34 accidents in which Bearded Vultures were involved in the last 25 years in the Spanish Pyrenees. On 27 of such occasions, the individuals concerned died; five other birds were successfully recovered and released in the wild, two unable to recovered were donated to the BREEDING CENTRE GUADALENTIN (CCG). By age classes, 20 (59 %) were adults (more than 7 years old), 6 (18 %) were subadults (4-6 years old); 6 (18 %) were juveniles (1 year) and 2 were nestlings.

73 2002 Autochthonous Populations 71 Table 3. Summary of mortality in the Spanish Pyrenees. PERIOD: POISON SHOT POWER LINE PREDATION UNKNOWN OTHERS TOTAL: % 21 % 26 % 3 % 12 % Mortality of Bearded Vultures in the Spanish Pyrenees Predation 3% Shot 21% Others 12% Poison 38% Poison Power line Shot Predation Others Power line 26% THREATS Presently, the main threats that affect the Pyrenean population are the following: The annual number of chicks is unexpectedly small, compared to the number of breeding pairs: an annual production of 25 chicks and a productivity of 0.5 chicks/pair/year (range = ) should be attributed to a high breeding failure. The serious impact of poisoned baits on the species. The mortality of adults caused by unnatural factors seams to be increasing leading to the presence of inexperienced pairs with low breeding success. Density-dependent effects could influence breeding success. Human disturbance in nesting areas. Reduction of food resources and food quality due to policy and sanitary legislation. DISCUSSION As it is generally the case with poison, it is difficult to estimate the mortality rate caused by it. The recovery of the Bearded Vulture carcasses, victims of gunshots or collision on wires, usually occurs in easily accessible areas, with very frequent human presence. Since 1987, radio tagging and tracking permitted the recovery of carcasses, which according to the autopsy died from poisoned baits. The sites in which these corpses were located were usually inaccessible (rock outcrops at m altitude, avalanches, forested areas or impenetrable maquis). Therefore, the impact of poisons has been underestimated in comparison to other mortality factors. Today, it is known that poisons although their use is prohibited are the principal cause of mortality for the Spanish Bearded Vultures. Their use has not been proven, since the culprits have never been seized on the spot. In conclusion, the population in the Pyrenees withstands the adult and sub-adult mortality, because of the high survival rate of pre-adults, which permits the swift replacement of the losses. As a result, however, many breeding pairs consist of inexperience adults which in turn brings about a decline of breeding success. This survival rate could facilitate the natural expansion towards other

74 72 Autochthonous Populations/Miscellanous 2002 mountain chains of Spain, something that is not happening because of the use of poison. If the consequences from poison were to have similar effects as those of the 1980s, the population would most probably suffer a severe decline, as it happened in the Balkans. Table 4. Estimation of the number of individuals present in the Pyrenees in SPAIN adults 202 immatures FRANCE 43 PYRENEES TOTAL 405 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SPAIN (Compiler: R. HEREDIA) Aragón: Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos (FCQ) - Diputación General de Aragón (DGA) LIFE 2001 Cataluña: Generalidad de Cataluña (Departamento de Medio Ambiente) Grupo de Estudio y Protección del Quebrantahuesos (GEPT) Navarra: Departamento de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Navarra. País Vasco: Diputación Foral de Alva y Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa (Departamentos de Agricultura y Espacios Natu rales) Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido FRANCE (Compiler: M. RAZIN) Programme Gypaete Barbu-Pyrenees Nord Coordination Casseur D Os LPO/FIR Bearded Vulture Reintroduction Project in Andalucia by Alejandro Llopis *, Miguel Ángel Simón**, Alfonso Godino, Fernando Bautista, Manuel del Barco, Mariló Romero, Francisco J. Hernández, Antonio Lucio Carrasco y Miguel Ángel Hortelano. GUADALENTÍN BREEDING CENTRE (CCG) The first Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) chick bred in captivity by a naturally incubating single progenitor INTRODUCTION At the end of October 1998, the first reproductive pair (the male, BG 124 "Joseph and the female, BG 041 "Zumeta ) arrived at the CCG. The female is a partially imprinted bird with certain behavioural problems, which result in her being aggressive with her keepers, her mate and her chicks. She also incorrectly handles her eggs resulting in their breakage. This pair was sent to the CCG to allow us study the ways in which the imprinted female could be used to breed, given that over the last 4 years in the International Breeding Programme at the Vienna Breeding Unit (VBU, Austria), she had broken all of her eggs. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE IT WAS NECESSARY TO: 1. Investigate the behavioural patterns that the female manifests just before egg laying. This is important information if we are to be able to act and immediately remove the eggs, saving them from the inadequate handling of the female. Fundación Gypaetus, Plaza de Santa María s/n, Apartado de Correos 15, Cazorla (Jaén). * alexllopis@gypaetus.org, ** msimon@gypaetus.org. WEB PAGE:

75 2002 Miscellaneous Find out if the process of egg fertilisation (copulation) was carried out correctly and determine the fertility of both progenitors. 3. Determine if the acquired atypical behaviour of the female was reversible and also if it was caused by an external stimulus. 4. Find the most successful method of incubation once the eggs had been withdrawn from the female and (in the case of the female`s atypical behaviour being irreversible) to prepare a male who could adequately undertake the reproductive process (incubation and chick rearing). To answer these questions over the last three years, as well as observing the aforementioned pair of birds, we also carried out a series of comparative studies between the pair of males, BG 232 and BG 286 and the reproductive male, BG 124 (see reports from 1999, 2000 and 2001). Preliminary results suggested that a solitary bird was capable of incubating an egg, if and when we could guarantee that it wouldn`t be disturbed and providing that the feeding phase was reduced to an absolute minimum. The fact that access to the centre during the breeding season is totally restricted to staff means that it is easier to ensure that the bird is not disturbed. The reduction in the time dedicated to obtaining food is achieved by offering the bird food, which is well chopped up and placed next to the nest every 3 days. An infrared camera with a microphone was also installed in the nest of the reproductive pair to allow us to follow and observe the process at all times. MATERIALS AND METHOD 1. ORIGINS AND BREEDING OF THE BIRDS STUDIED In total four adult birds were used, the reproductive pair and two males. These two males, founders of two new genetic lines, come from the Pyrenees and cannot be re-released. One of them, BG 232 Pineta, donated by the ARAGONESE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT and the other BG 286 Cabús, donated by the CATALUNIAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, formed a stable pair between the 1998/99 reproductive cycle and the year During this study they proved themselves to be very good incubators, especially Pineta. The history of the reproductive pair, BG 041 Zumeta and BG 124 Joseph, is already well known (see 1999 report, page 69). BG NO DATEOFBIRTH SEX FATHER/MOTHER GEN. NO. OF EGGS feb 1980 f 034/035 F mar 1990 m 131/132 F adult adult m m F 0 F 0 HATCHING 1ST/2ND EGG 2 1 ORIGIN La Garenne (CH) Dresden Zoo (GE) Pireneo (ES) Pireneo (ES) BG NO. = studbook number SEX (M=male, F= female) FATHER/MOTHER = studbook number of the father/studbook number of the mother GEN. = generation HATCHING 1ST/2ND EGG = Hatching of the 1st or 2nd egg when 2 eggs were laid. We now know that the atypical behaviour of Zumeta (which manifested itself over time gradually increasing with each successive reproductive cycle) is caused by her long artificial rearing. 2. OBSERVATIONS, DATA RECORDING AND PROCESSING Observation was carried out using 10x binoculars and a 20-60x telescope from an observation tower situated some 35-50m from the various cages. It went on from sunrise to sunset with some rest periods. All the Bearded Vultures` activities were recorded in a notebook showing the exact time they occurred. The data was later fed into a computer to be analysed. During the 00/01 and 01/02 reproductive cycles incubation was monitored by a security camera allowing us to obtain much more detailed information. The first point, pre-egg laying behaviour and the third, the handling of the eggs, was analysed by recording descriptions of all the behavioural patterns observed over this period, to later compare the results with the experience gained by the technical staff of the CCG in the VBU.

76 74 Miscellanous 2002 Fertility was determined by analysing copulatory behaviour, copulations being divided into 3 GROUPS: a. Successful copulations: copulations with cloacal contact. b. Unsuccessful copulations: copulations without cloacal contact. c. Unclassified copulations: all those copulations, which, due to blocked vision, couldn`t be classified as either of the first 2 groups. We were also able to determine the percentage of fertilised eggs by inspecting them with an oviscope or by opening them after the incubation period. As is already known with Bearded Vultures as well as other large raptors (Black Vulture, Golden Eagle...), eggs which are artificially incubated from the day they are laid have a hatching rate of practically zero. For this reason it was necessary to try to find a way of incubating the eggs which were removed from the female, which was as natural as possible. In the VBU, these eggs were incubated by other pairs of birds resident in the centre. This was not possible in the CCG since there were no other reproductive pairs. The incubation could only be artificial and/or natural by using a pair of males. In this species it is known that two males in captivity can form a pair and satisfactorily carry out all reproductive tasks in a way similar to that of a heterosexual pair (Frey et al., 1995). To do so it is essential that the pair of males enter their incubation stage by offering them pre-warmed dummy eggs. Once these are accepted they can later be exchanged for those of the female. During the first two years the first two eggs of the 1998/99 cycle and the first three of the 1999/00 cycle were lost because the pair of males entered their incubation stage too late to adopt the eggs laid by Zumeta. We solved the problem by postponing the egg laying of the female so that the eggs arrived when the males were already ready to incubate them. This resulted in a delay to egg laying of approximately 30 days. To achieve this, in the 2000/01 reproductive cycle, the female was kept apart from her mate until the 15th of November, thus resulting in a delayed start to copulation during this cycle. The following year it was necessary to separate the pair of males since there were juvenile females available in the centre. We therefore needed to find an alternative solution. This meant that the male progenitor was used to incubate the eggs for the whole period. To do this it had been necessary to work with him in previous years to decide if it would be possible. As soon as the female had finished laying, the eggs were removed from the cage and the male was given dummy eggs. All the interruptions to incubation and the handling of the eggs were recorded and compared with the results from the pair of males. We tried to reduce to a minimum the duration of interruptions to the incubation process by offering, every three days (so we didn`t have to enter the cage too often), chopped food in portions of approximately 5cm. That way the male could eat without having to prepare to food himself and could return to his incubation. At the same time, during the first two breeding cycles in the CCG the male was compensated by giving him a Bearded Vulture chick to adopt, which had hatched in different European zoos. BG 337 Borosa and BG 360 Salvia were successfully reared by Joseph. The amount of time dedicated to each part of the study is shown in TABLE 1 (p. 75). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. PRE-EGG LAYING BEHAVIOUR AND EGG HANDLING As has already been published in numerous magazines and papers, the majority of Bearded Vultures show various changes in their behaviour prior to egg laying. For this reason it was necessary to carry out a detailed observation to allow us to recognise these changes. Zumeta showed that, in the afternoon of the day prior to egg laying, she did not copulate and retired to the nest, lying down in it and continuously breaking sticks, as though the process already hurt her. A single inspection at midnight with a torch from outside the cage confirmed that she was still lying down. Also, the fact that she broke sticks with her beak throughout the night revealed her nervous state. All these conclusions have been corroborated during this last breeding cycle thanks to the monitoring of the pair with an infrared camera, allowing us to observe how she broke sticks for most of the night.

77 2002 Miscellaneous 75 Table 1. Observation time dedicated to each part of the study. Copulation study 98/99 Copulation study 99/00 Copulation study 00/01 Copulation study 00/02 Incubation study 98/99, pair of males Incubation study 99/00, pair of males Incubation study 00/01, pair of males Incubation study 98/99, Joseph Incubation study 99/00, Joseph Incubation study 01/02, Joseph Chick rearing study, 99/00, pair of males Chick rearing study, 98/99, Joseph Chick rearing study, 99/00, Joseph Chick rearing study, 01/02, Joseph min min min min min min min min min min min min min min. During the night of the 27th and 28th of December 1998 the first egg was laid at the CCG. An extract from the breeding record exactly describes the incorrect handling of the egg by the female: "At 17.09, Joseph left the nest. Zumeta immediately entered it, picked up the egg a couple of times with her beak and allowed it to fall (from a height of 40cm)... At 17.34, after an absence of 25 minutes, Joseph returned to the nest and lay down on the edge to incubate with Zumeta. At 17.26, Joseph left the nest and went to perch 1. At the observation ended with Joseph incubating and Zumeta keeping watch from the platform. Although the incubation itself was carried out correctly, the next day the female repeated the same incorrect handling of the egg, which led to it having to be removed on the morning of the 29th. The 2nd egg was also left for five days with the pair and the female showed behavioural patterns similar to those described above. This behaviour was spontaneous, it wasn`t caused by external stimulus. It was acquired and irreversible, due to her artificial rearing. With these observations we reached the conclusion that the female is not suitable for incubating eggs and that it is necessary to remove these immediately after they have been laid if we wish this pair to reproduce successfully. 2. FECUNDITY (COPULATORY BEHAVIOUR AND FERTILITY OF THE PROGENITORS) Copulatory Behaviour 73 % of all the copulations observed were successful (n=1489) varying between 5 and 6 recorded copulations per day and reproductive cycle (n=2038 recorded copulations: see table2). The lower number of copulations recorded during the 00/01 cycle was due to the fact that the female was kept away from her mate until the 15th of November. In the 01/02 cycle it was because the female was removed after laying her 3rd egg. This reduced the number of potential days for copulation in both cycles. During the 00/01 cycle the greater number of recorded copulations, which were not observed was due to the monitoring of the pair with a camera, which reduced the number of daily hours of directly observation of the birds. Although the period of copulations during the 01/02 cycle was shorter than that of the first 2 cycles, the % of recorded copulations over the 3 cycles (98/99, 99/00 and 01/02), where there was no handling at the beginning or the period, were very similar. Analysing the daily frequency of the observed copulations from the start of the period to the date of egg laying over these 3 cycles shows that, if we look at the maximum values over the 20 days prior to egg laying (from 0.5 to 1.1 copulations/hour), the number of successful copulations gradually rose. Whereas, at the same time the number of unsuccessful copulations fell, varying over the last 20 days from 0.0 to 0.2 copulations/hour (see FIGURE 1).

78 76 Miscellanous 2002 Table 2. Observations on the mating behaviour of a Bearded Vulture pair over a period of four seasons. Copulation period BREEDING SEASON 1998/99 3/11/98-26/02/ / /10/99-9/02/ / /11/00-13/02/01 No. of days with copulations 116 days 102 days 78 days 69 days Percentage of daylight observation 86.2% 78.5% 89.7% 88.8% Start of copulation-day before egg laying 55 days 50 days 42 days 53 days 2001/ /10/99-6/01/00 Successful copulations 469 (77.3 %) 507 (81.9 %) 218 (47.4 %) 295 (83.8 %) Unsuccessful copulations 96 (15.8 %) 61 (9.9 %) 40 (8.7 %) 44 (12.5 %) Unclassified copulations 42 (6.9 %) 51 (8.2 %) 202 (43.9 %) 13 (3.7 %) Total no. Recorded copulations No. Copulations/day No copulations/hour Min-max ,4 1,2 R 2 = 0,7044 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0, DAY successful copulations unsuccessful copulations Tendency of successful copulations Figure 1. Number of observed copulations per hour during the period from the first copulation to the day prior to egg laying (cycles 98/99, 99/00 and 01/02) (n=781). Day 0=day first egg was laid. As has already been mentioned in the 1999 and 2000 reports, in those cycles in which the birds were handled neither at the beginning nor at the end of the season and in which eggs were immediately removed after laying, the arrival of the first egg coincided with the peak number of daily copulations. The daily distribution of copulations conforms to a Gauss curve. The daily copulative activity in the 01/02 cycle (see FIGURE 2), was similar to the 98/99 and 99/00 cycles, beginning at dawn and reaching a peak of greater activity 2 hours later. At midday the activity stabilises at a lower level and later gradually increases to reach a point of maximum activity before dropping to zero just before nightfall. 14 copulations of Number :15-8:29 8:30-8:44 8:45-8:59 9 :00-9:59 10:00-10:59 successful copulations 11: 00-11:59 12: 00-12:59 13: 00-13:59 14:00-14:59 15:00-15:59 16: 00-16:59 17: 00-17: 59 18: 00-18:14 unsuccessful copulations Figure 2. Temporal distribution of copulations in days with 100% daylight observation (n=14). 01/02 cycle.

79 2002 Miscellaneous 77 Fertility of the Progenitors During the 4 reproductive cycles 14 eggs were laid. Of these, 8 showed embryonic development, but only 3 of them hatched. Of these, only 1 chick survived. No eggs were lost and the only one that was broken was damaged when the pair of males was incubating it (see 2001 report). CONCLUSIONS We were able to confirm in advance that the pair had achieved cloacal contact, essential if the egg was to be fertilised. The daily distribution of copulative frequency confirms completely to the results obtained by BERTRÁN and MARGALIDA (1999) with 6 wild pairs. The same authors showed that 67.9% of the observed copulations were successful (n=184), varying between 56.1% and 100% depending on the pair. Our pair, with 73 %, is within the normal range for the species, according to the aforementioned study. What`s more, the date when the first attempts at copulation were registered is also within the range observed in the wild (50-90 days before egg laying) and that observed in captivity (LLOPIS AND FREY, 1995 and FREY et al., 1995). The progressive increase in the sexual activity of the pair and the daily copulatory activity can also be confirmed by wild pairs. The maximum activity over the 14 days prior to egg laying coincides with that observed in other captive pairs. The fact that there were 8 eggs showing embryonic development (57.1%) shows that the copulatory behaviour of the pair is adequate and that the progenitors are fertile. 3. COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE INCUBATION OF THE PAIR OF MALES BG 232 AND BG 286 AND THAT OF THE REPRODUCTIVE MALE JOSEPH (BG 124) DURING THE 98/99, 99/00, 00/01 AND 01/02 CYCLES The results obtained during the 98/99, 99/00 and 01/01 cycles have already been presented in detail in their respective reports. The conclusion was reached that it is possible to get a solitary male to successfully incubate the egg of his mate, providing that it is possible to keep external disturbances to a minimum. Reproductive male, 2001/2002 cycle During this cycle, the male incubated alone for 50 of the 55 days. Over the last 10 days he incubated a dummy egg while the egg of his mate was artificially incubated. The chick hatched after 53 days of incubation and was returned to his father when it was 4 days old. Tabel 3. Details of recorded interruptions of the incubation process INCUBATION PERIOD Egg and dummy egg Egg No. of observation days Total no. of interruptions No. of interruptions per hour Average duration of the interruption 2.8 minutes 2.2 minutes Average maximum interruption time 12.5 minutes 8.9 minutes Average minimum interruption time 0.3 minutes 0.3 minutes % time of non-incubation % time of incubation Variation of interruptions Dummy Egg minutes 26.9 minutes 0.3 minutes Until the 46th day of incubation (when the egg was replaced by a dummy egg), the number of interruptions per hour, the % time spent not incubating and the average duration of the interruptions were very stable and similar to the results obtained from the pair of males (see 2001 report, page 70). As with the males, Joseph showed isolated peaks of maximum interruptions, which were significantly higher than the average duration time of maximum interruptions (see FIGURE 3). We can conclude that Joseph showed very similar incubation patterns to those of the pair of males when he was incubating the 3rd egg of his female. Only the number of interruptions per hour was

80 78 Miscellanous T ime in min u tes R 2 = 0, Breeding day Figure 3. Maximum, minimum and average duration of interruptions per day. doubled, but not the % time of non-incubation. With Joseph, the duration of these interruptions was very short, just enough time to be able to change position. It is known that there are pairs of this species in captivity, which reject dummy eggs which replace their own eggs, as though they noticed the change (FREY and LLOPIS, personal comment). We know that, in the last stages of growth, the embryo due to its movement, emits vibrations outside of the egg. Joseph, over the last days of incubating his mate`s egg, showed patterns of excitement (he softly whistled to the egg whilst holding it with his beak) as if he was making social contact with the embryo. It is therefore not strange that, once the egg has been replaced by a dummy egg, the bird`s interest in it should decrease, as though it thought that the embryo had died because no movement from within the egg could be detected. The lack of interest in the dummy egg is reflected by a significant rise in the % time of non-incubation as well as in the maximum duration of interruptions and in the variation (see FIGURES 3 and 4). 50,00 45,00 % 40,00 35,00 30,00 R 2 = 0,5825 in Time 25,00 20,00 15,00 10,00 5,00 0, Breeding day Figure 4. Percentage of non-incubation time per day. The percentages of non-incubation in 2 wild pairs were 5.2% and 4.9% respectively (MARGALIDA ET AL., 1997). Similar results were obtained in this study, showing that the incubation patterns are like those of wild birds. In the first pair observed in the wild in 1995, the female showed atypical behaviour after day 40 of incubation. As a result, the % of non-incubation rose to 23.8%. The eggs, which had to be removed from the nest after spending a night uncovered, began to hatch after 50 days of incubation and one chick survived (MARGALIDA ET AL., 1997). Prolonged interruptions, which BOUDOINT (1978) attributes to the effects of embryonic thermoregulation, might be necessary, since, with the pair of males and Joseph, peaks of above normal maximum interruptions (up to 65 minutes) were observed. These peaks must not have a negative effect on the development of the embryo, since an interruption of 145 minutes has been observed in the wild with no undue consequences (MARGALIDA ET AL., 1997).

81 2002 Miscellaneous COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE CHICK REARING OF THE PAIR OF MALES BG 232 AND BG 286 AND THE REPRODUCTIVE MALE BG 124 DURING THE 98/99, 99/00 AND 01/02 CYCLES In the 2000 report, the results of the comparative study between the pair of males and the reproductive male for the 98/99 and 99/00 cycles were published. These showed that it was possible for an experienced, solitary Bearded Vulture to successfully rear a chick. During this period Joseph again successfully reared his first descendant, BG 391 Andalucía, with a frequency of 0.44 feeds/hour over the first 21 days. It was only necessary to give the chick 9 supplementary feeds over the first 7 days to ensure its survival. CONCLUSIONS After 4 years of attempting to rear a descendant of the reproductive pair, Joseph and Zumeta, for the first time in the international programme of captive breeding a solitary bird was used to incubate an egg from which a chick successfully hatched. Thanks to preliminary studies the acquired and irreversible atypical behaviour of the female had been confirmed as well as the possibility of using a solitary bird to incubate an egg. It has been observed in captivity that offering a chick after a long period of incubation has a positive effect on the progenitors. Joseph, after having successfully reared 2 chicks, was left to incubate an egg until it hatched so as he could rear the chick. This decision was reached based on the aforementioned studies. Although the results were satisfactory we must not overlook the human effort that went into obtaining them. It was also necessary to completely isolate the centre to ensure that the reproductive male wasn`t disturbed, especially since he demonstrated a heightened state of excitement over the other captive birds during the incubation period. BIBLIOGRAPHIE MARGALIDA, A., J. BERTRÁN, D. GARCIA & R. HEREDIA (1997): Observaciones sobre el periodo de incubación del quebrantahuesos (Gypaetus barbatus) en los Pirineos. Ecologia 11: BOUDOINT Y. (1978): Incubation du Gypaete barbu Gypaetus barbatus dans les Pyrenees. Alauda, 46: FREY, H., O. KOTZINGER & A. LLOPIS (1995): The breeding network - an anlysis of the period 1978 to FCBV, Annual Report 1995, LLOPIS, A. & H. FREY (1995): Problemas de la cría en cautividad del Quebrantahuesos. Quercus 108, TRANSFERS-INCREASES-DEATHS Over the year three new birds have arrived at the centre: BG 391 Andalucía. The first bird reared in captivity in Spain. This male of 100% Asiatic descent hatched form the 3rd egg of the reproductive pair BG 124 X BG 041 after 53 days of incubation. BG 153 Corba. A female adult born around 1974 with 10 years of breeding experience ( , 15 eggs, 9 hatched, 7 survived). She is of 100% Asiatic descent and came from the Tierpark Berlin Friedrichsfelde on the 23rd of May With her arrival it was possible to carry out a series of changes necessary in some pairs. BG 371 Tejo. A young male born in the VBU on the 17th of February He is of 50% Greek descent on his mother`s side and arrived at the centre on the 24th of October THEREFORE, ON THE 31ST OF DECEMBER 2002, THE CCG HOUSED 21 BEARDED VULTURES OF DIFFERENT AGES, REPRESENTING 30 OF THE 43 GENETIC LINES EXISTING IN THE EEP. RESULTS FROM THE NEWLY ESTABLISHING PAIRS DURING THE 01/02 REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE With the arrival of the female Dama, BG 103, we were able to make some changes to the pairs. In total there are 7 newly establishing pairs: 1. Pineta (BG 232), a male from Aragon, was given the female Keno (BG 329), born in During the first days, Pineta, although he is cross-eyed and disabled, ferociously attacked Keno if she

82 80 Miscellanous 2002 approached the nest. Keno, due to her dominant yet non-aggressive character, put up with the attacks without retaliating and constantly tried to get closer to Pineta. Thanks to this behaviour, on the 24th of October, we observed the 2 together on the platform and showing no signs of aggression. From this point onwards the relationship between the 2 grew closer and they formed a pair. On the 16th of November, Keno was observed eating on one of the steps when Pineta passed by. Neither bird showed signs of aggression. A month later (16/12/01) the 1. first mutual preening was observed. From the 13th of January onwards, Pineta tried to copulate daily with Keno and was not rejected by her. At the end of January (29/01/02) both were observed rebuilding the nest. For adoption reasons, on the 5th of February, a pre-warmed dummy egg was offered and was immediately accepted by Pineta, but was rejected by the female. The female had to be removed from the cage so Pineta could incubate without interruptions and be prepared to adopt a possible future chick. Since Pineta was not eventually required to be an adoptive parent, Keno was returned to him on the 29th of April. At first the male was somewhat aggressive, but he quickly calmed down and accepted the female. We have great hopes for the reproductive future of these birds because they formed a pair so quickly. 2. Dama (BG 103) a female adult born in She is of 50% Cretian descent and, since she had already been unsuccessfully paired with 3 males, we decided to pair her with Cabús (BG 286) a Pyrenaen bird from Andorra. From the start Cabús has constantly tried to get closer to Dama, but has always been rejected or even attacked by her. Even so, on the 31st of December the male attempted to begin copulating with the female, but was viciously rejected by her. This behaviour was observed daily until the end of January when the male, out of frustration, gave up trying to start copulating. We know from experience that there is little hope for pair formation if the adult birds show no signs of pairing during the first cycle. For this reason we decided to try to pair Cabús with the female Corba (BG153). It will be necessary to wait until the next reproductive cycle to be able to evaluate the development of these birds. 3. Teyo (BG 172) was given the female Sabina (BG 290) who was born in 1998 and came from Prague Zoo. At first she constantly threatened the male, but never attacked him. From the 4th of November 2001 onwards the pair have always slept less than 2m apart, thus showing signs of pair formation. The next reproductive cycle will reveal if the pairing has indeed been successful. 4. We have been trying to pair Tíscar (BG 278), a female of 50% Cretian descent born in 1987 with Tus (BG 223), a male 2 years older than her, since The female has always been aggressive and it has sometimes been necessary to separate her from the male to avoid possible injuries during the attacks. During this reproductive cycle the male has constantly tried to get closer to the female, but has always been rejected by her. For the first time we observed them sleeping 2m apart. With the arrival of the new female, Tíscar was separated from Tus and paired with Lázaro, a 2 year old juvenile male. From the start Lázaro has been the dominant bird something which has been good for the female. It has obliged her to sleep in the corner of the cage, out of sight of the male. Since the 5th of June Lázaro has allowed her to sleep a few metres away from him. 5. After separating Tus (BG 223) and Tíscar a new pair has been formed, Tus and Dama. From the start, Dama has been the dominant bird. We will have to wait until the next reproductive cycle to be able to evaluate the development of both birds. 6. Borosa (BG 237) and Toba (BG 317) a pair who were both born in 1999, have shown signs of nest building for the first time, bringing materials and placing them in the nest. We have great hopes for this pair. 7. Elías (BG 313) and Viola (BG 330) are another newly establishing pair who were both born in At the start of the reproductive cycle they weren`t as close as Borosa and Toba, but at the end of the breeding season they had shown the first signs of forming a pair, sleeping together daily in the same place.

83 2002 Miscellaneous 81 EDUCATION AND INFORMATION Educational and informative activities continue to be carried out through the GYPAETUS FOUNDATION in collaboration with the ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT of the Andalucian local government. The objective is to prepare the way to ensure the success of future releases and follow-up studies. We have worked with primary and secondary school children, students of vocational courses, teachers, university students, hunting and ecology associations and with local people. Furthermore, we have also given talks in all the natural parks, which might one day home Bearded Vultures. We`ve also worked especially with judges, public prosecutors, SEPRONA environmental agents and hunt rangers about the negative effects of poisoning. VIABILITY STUDY In 2002 we began the first viability study. A mathematical model was designed in an attempt to survey Andalucian territory and to determine the areas, which show greater potential for homing Bearded Vultures. Once a map showing the probability of nesting of the species throughout Andalucía had been drawn up, we carried out the first differentiation study of all the areas based on the level of protection that they offer. In this way we highlighted: - Priority areas for reintroduction: Areas in which there exists a high probability that the species will nest and which offer guaranteed long-term protection (suitable for nest building and especially hacking). - Important areas for the species: Areas where there is a high probability that the species will nest, which are situated in places with little or no legal protection (not suitable for hacking), LIC zones, ZEPA etc. At the end of 2002 we began the second part of the study which involves surveying delimited zones around an area with a high density of nesting precipices (radius=1km) limiting this to precipices with p 0.8 and with a gradient of 50%. Annual Report of the Breeding Center Naturund Tierpark Goldau by Martin Wehrle * BG x BG One egg was laid on the 9th of January 2002, which proved to be infertile. BG x BG The 1st egg was laid on the 14th of January This was brooded on by the parents and hatched on the 7th of March 2002 after 53 days. The young bird BG 395, Martell, was released in the Martelltal on the 31st of May 2002 (see page 32-33). The 2nd egg which had been placed in an incubator on the 21st of January 2002, died on day 54 without having hatched. BG x BG One egg was laid on 9th of January 2002, which was infertile. This was the first egg of this female. TELEMETRIE-RESEARCH BG arrived on the 24th of June 2002 followed by BG on the 5th of July 2002 to evaluate a sender-system applicable to young birds which do not yet fly (see p ). These two birds were transferred to MONTICELLO BREEDING AND CONSERVATION CENTER on 10th of December 2002 (see p. 9). * Natur- und Tierpark Goldau am Rigi, Postfach 161, CH-6410 Goldau, Switzerland, martin.wehrle@tierpark.ch

84 82 Miscellanous 2002 Mounting devices for satellite tracking of Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) - preliminary results by Daniel Hegglin*, Adrian Aebischer** and Martin Wehrle*** A main issue of the reintroduction project of the Bearded Vulture is the monitoring of the released birds. A good surveillance is a precondition for the control of the success of the project. Therefore an international surveillance system based on the observation and registration of Bearded Vultures with individual sight-marks in an international data-base has been established. A further step in the international monitoring would be the marking of single birds with satellite tags. Satellite telemetry allows the continuous location of the tagged birds. The technology has already been used in many projects on migrating birds, including different raptor species, to investigate spatial behaviour, habitat use and population dynamics. These data can provide valuable information for the conservation of the studied species. Furthermore the continuous information about single individuals is attractive for the public and can be used as a vehicle of public information. Before this technique can be used in the reintroduction project of Bearded Vultures, it has to be shown that the transmitters do not harm the birds or change their behaviour. Therefore the Stiftung Pro Bartgeier started to evaluate different mounting systems on captive birds in the Tierpark Goldau. Satellite tags can be mounted on tail-feathers, on legs, on wings, with a harness on the body of the bird or as an implant. Each methods has its advantages and disadvantages. The most experiences has been made with tail-mounts (transmitter mounted on a central tail-feather) and with bag-packs (transmitter mounted with a harness on the birds-body). Tail-mounts are easy to mount and drop off just when the tail-feather is moulted. Therefore and because these transmitters have to be light, only tags with a short live-span can be mounted. Bag-packs allow to mount heavier transmitters and as a consequence the continuous location of the marked birds can be done for several years. These bag-packs can only be used if they have a secure and reliable drop-off system so that a bird can not be harmed or even killed by a harness hanging down from the birds body. Furthermore bagpacks have to cope with the growth of the birds if they are used for juvenile and immature birds. In 2002, we evaluated bag-packs and tail-mounts on captive birds of the TIERPARK GOLDAU. On two adult birds dummy-transmitters were mounted with contact glue and textile tape on the central tail feathers. On two adult birds and two juvenile birds bag-backs were mounted. The harness consisted of a stable Teflon band in which an elastic silicon string was inserted (FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2). The drop-off system was built with a squeezed rubber ring so that the harness solves simultaneously on both sides of the birds shoulder and can thereafter slide over the tail from the birds body. The behaviour of all animals was observed before and after mounting the dummy-transmitters. At 18 days, each Bearded Vulture was observed every 5 minutes for 20 seconds during 8 hours a day. The actual behaviour and the kind and intensity of any manipulation at the mounting-device was noted. We observed only few reactions of the marked birds. Our preliminary results show no significant change in the behaviour of the birds between the observation period before and after mounting the tags. Only during the first three days after mounting the tags, the birds showed a trend towards Figure 1. Schematic visualisation of the bag-pack. more frequent comfort behaviour. Direct manipulations at the mounting-devices were rare and mainly observed during the first three days after mounting the tags (TABLE 1). All observed Bearded Vultures were supervised by the veterinarian of the Tierpark Goldau (DR. MARTIN WEHRLE). So far, no injuries were observed. Nevertheless we removed 3 bagpacks. The harnesses of the two juvenile birds were not flexible enough to cope with the growth of the animals. In addition, a bare patch developed beyond a dummy-transmitter of an adult bird and we wanted to exclude the risk of a skin lesion. * SWILD Work Group Urban Ecology & Wildlife Research, Wuhrstr. 12, CH-8003 Zürich, Switzerland. dhegglin@access.ch ** Conservation Biology, Universität Bern, Erlachstrasse 9a, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. adaebischer@dplanet.ch *** Tierpark Goldau, Postfach 161, CH-6410 Goldau, Switzerland. martin.wehrle@tierpark.ch

85 2002 Miscellaneous 83 Table 1. Frequency of manipulations by the marked birds at the bag-packs and the tail-mounts during the first three days and between 30 and 80 days after mounting the tags. 1-3 DAYS AFTER MOUNTING DAYS AFTER MOUNTING STUD BOOK NO. AGE MOUNTING DEVICE N OBSERVATION INTERVALS N MANIPULATIONS % INTERVALS WITH MANIPULATIONS N OBSERVATION INTERVALS N MANIPULATIONS % INTERVALS WITH MANIPULATIONS 349 J bag-pack J bag-pack A bag-pack A bag-pack A tail-mount A tail-mount The preliminary results showed, that the Bearded Vulture accepted the tested mounting devices and that the tags provoked no significant changes of the behaviour. For the use of harnesses some improvements have to be done: 1) The elasticity and flexibility of the bag-packs has to be increased, what can be done by using a finer silicon string and better tuning between the elastic silicon string and stable Teflon band; 2) the underside of the transmitter has to be designed more anatomically to avoid points of pressure on the skin. Improved harnesses will be tested in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many thanks to FELIX WEBER, MARTIN MEISTER, ERNST ANDERMATT, RALF BÖGEL, THERESE HOTZ, KATHI MÄRKI, CLAUDIA KISTLER, HANS FREY and CHASPER BUCHLi. The work has been supported by the ZÜRCHER TIERSCHUTZ, the BUWAL, the TIERPARK GOLDAU, the CONSERVATION BIOLOGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BERNE and the STIF- TUNG PRO BARTGEIER. Figure 2. Bearded Vulture 394 (behind) und Bearded Vulture 397 (in front) with bag-packs. The antenna is the only visible part of the dummy-transmitters (black circle). On the former distribution of the Bearded Vulture in Italy by Jean-François Terrasse* All recent publications on the Bearded Vulture show identical distribution maps of the Bearded Vulture in Southern Europe in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. At that time the species inhabited all mountain ranges in the Mediterranean basin as well as the Alps with one marked exception on all maps: the Italian mountain chain of the Apennines and the Abruzzi. This totally illogic absence is not based on anything concrete. In most regions of Europe and the Mediterranean the disappearance of the species has been relatively well documented (hunting accounts, clutches and specimens in collections) as it happened fairly recently. It is conceivable that in continental Italy, densely populated by highly developed societies, the species may have disappeared much earlier, as from the 16th or 17th century, and that accounts of its presence have been lost or failed to be noticed. In my book "Le gypaète barbu (DELACHAUX & NIESTLÉ 2001) an anonymous painting on vellum from Naples dated 1490 was reproduced. It was discovered by Maurice Dupuis in the Library of Bonn. * 60, rue Sartoris, F La Garenne-Colombes, France. vibrion@club-internet.fr

86 84 Miscellanous 2002 I thought this to be the oldest painting of a Bearded Vulture. Since then, however, CHRISTIAN BOUCH- ARDY kindly brought to my attention the discovery of a painting of 1459 in the PALACE OF THE MEDICi in Florence by BENOZZO GOZZOLI. The adult bird is perfectly depicted standing at the edge of a pond surrounded by plants and flowers, together with a duck and five passerines, at the bottom of a large panel representing angels in a garden (Paradise?). This representation could well have served as a model for the much resembling one of Naples. It would be interesting to research treatises on hunting and the chronicles of those days to find additional evidence. Although not being proofs in themselves, these two most accurate representations seem to indicate the presence of the Bearded Vulture in continental Italy in the 15th and 16th century. Moreover, the Louvre Museum in Paris owns two most accurate drawings of the Bearded Vulture. One (CATALOGUE NO 2470), a quill and ink drawing by an illuminator from Northern Italy of the first half of the 15th century with the caption "grachalo". The other (CATALOGUE NO 2481) is a charcoal of a study depicting five raptors by the great artist Pisanello ( ). These drawings have been reproduced in the treatise on Pisanello (Meeting of the National Museums, 1996) under nos 157 and 299. The Bearded Vulture is a scavenging bird of prey. As we know it doesn t kill prey to feed. However, in the very special context of interspecific relationships, an extraordinary observation was made by J. J. Garcet Lacoste and G. Erome on the Pyrenees in August The eyrie of the Bearded Vultures concerned finds itself at about 200 metres above that of a pair of Kestels, and the Bearded Vultures when leaving their nest are regularyl attacked by these falcons. One could also assume that an extraordinary aggressivity may have existed on the moment when the young Bearded Vulture undertook its first flight. But I leave it to you to read this unique testimony... MARTINE RAZIN, Coordination Casseur d Os Predation of a Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) on a young Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (Field note) by Jean-Jacques Garcet Lacoste* Because of the regular checking on the reproduction of the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the valley of the Aspe, I am present at the site on the 1st of August GEORGE EROME, an experienced naturalist, is accompanying me. An adult (probably the male because of its being more orange coloured than the female, a detail that was observed when the pair copulated) and the yong bird are inside the cave where the nest is. The adult, with a leg of an ungulate in its beak, seemingly tries to feed the young which whistles frequently. After about ten minutes, abandoning its noisy offspring for the time being, it takes the air makes a turn close to the eyrie and unexpectedly puts itself against the rock face while flapping its wings. It returns immediately in the cave. A few minutes later its young flies off (for the first time?) to land on a grassy terrace about 30 metres below. The adult feeds on scraps of food in the nest before taking off at about 11:30. Again it goes straight towards the cliff (the same spot as before), cling to the rock for a few seconds and leaves with something in its talons. After a short flight it lands on a terrace close to the one where the young Bearded Vulture is sitting. We then hear uninterruptedly the cries of a young kestrel. Some minutes pass during which time our attention was foremost focused on the juvenile Bearded Vulture. * ACCOUS, France.

87 2002 Miscellaneous 85 We look oncemore at the adult. The something moves between the raptor s talons! A wing and the cries of the young Kestrel as background sound. For about ten minutes the young falcon squirms without being touched by the vulture. The second adult arrives with a bone in its talons, circles for a brief moment and lands beside the predator. It seems intrigued, lowers its head to see what is happening between the talons of its partner and flies off with its bone to land beside its young. The kestrel is still crying out desperately. But then, and only then, the kill takes place by repeated pecks. Feathers are flying about and the cries stop. Next the Bearded Vulture seems to devour its prey with a few pecks and flies off to join its partner and young. Around 11:50 the two adults leave the site at a five minutes interval and disappear behind the mountain-ridge. We also leave our hide having witnessed the predation on a Kestrel by a Bearded Vulture. (annotation: see also Annual Report 2000, page 5, Remarks on pair BG 031 x BG 003 ) A short note: how many subspecies has Gypaetus barbatus? by Hans Frey* As there still seems to be some confusion about the number of subspecies or races of the Bearded Vulture I want to refer to HIRALDO et al. (1979), who showed that only two subscpecies of Gypaetus barbatus are existing: Gypaetus barbatus barbatus (Europe to Asia and north Africa) and Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis (south and east Africa). All Bearded Vultures, which are kept within the Bearded Vulture EEP belong to the subspecies G. b. barbatus. One can find a rather good explanation of the development of the Bearded Vultures systematics on page 204 of The Vultures of Africa (MUNDY et al., 1992). REFERENCES HIRALDO, F.; DELIBES, M. & CALDERÓN J. (1979): El Quebrantahuesos Gypaetus barbatus (L.) Sistemática, Taxonomía, Biología, Distribucíon y Protección. Publicaciones Inst. Nac. Conserv. Natur. Monografías 22, 183 pp. MUNDY, P.; BUTCHART, D.; LEDGER, J. & PIPER, S: (1992): The Vultures of Africa. Academic Press. 460 pp. Minutes of the Annual Meeting Rhêmes Notre Dame 20th October by Paolo & Laura Fasce** The President MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND commemorated before opening the Meeting the figure of Dr. RICHARD FAUST, Introduced himself as the new President, declaring that he will continue on the way Dr. FAUST had undertaken. He introduced also the actual Vice President, MICHEL TERRASSE, the Secretary PAOLO FASCE and the new member of the Board, Dr. PIERRE GOELDLIN DE TIEFENAU. He then called upon to the Director of the National Park Gran Paradiso. Dr. MICHELE OTTINO welcomed the participants in the place where the last Bearded Vulture had been killed in 1913 and where it was seen again since * Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medicine University Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. Hans.Frey@vu-wien.ac.at ** Via G. d Annunzio 2/112, I Genova, ITALIA, altore@fastwebnet.it

88 86 Miscellanous 2002 MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND asked then EMMANUELLE BRANCAZ to summarize the Meeting of Réseau Espaces Alpins Protégés, held during the previous two days. EMMANUELLE BRANCAZ expressed her satisfaction for having the Meeting of the Réseau and the Annual Information Meeting of FCBV hold in the same place and at the same time and thanked for this result PAOLO FASCE and ANTOINE ROUILLON. As for the contents of the Meeting, EMMANUELLE BRANCAZ reported that it had been decided to insert all old monitoring data into the IBM database, after preparing by National Park Vanoise. She also reported the discussion about Projects Interreg III A and B: they have to be complementary, because the cooperation will be a favourable element for the European Committee. The Foundation will be the point of reference for ASTERS and National Park Hohe Tauern. The President invited then HANS FREY to present his information about the Breeding Network. HANS FREY reported that out of the 37 pairs, which could reproduce, 24 laid more than 33 eggs. The young born were 13, but one young, very weak, died in its second day of life in Wuppertal. The other fledged regularly. Two of them were kept in the Breeding network and 8 were released; one was given for a flight presentation to a falconry station, as agreed long ago between Nuremberg and the station itself. One, in Almaty, was hand-raised and was kept in the breeding network, but has been deeply imprinted. As for genetics, out of the 64 founders, 36 died, but 16 of them were able to reproduce; out of the 28 founders still alive, 22 reproduce. There is therefore no genetic problem. Moreover a female coming from the Balcans has already produced young and so did a male also coming from Balcans. In Cazorla live 17 Bearded Vultures, representing almost all genetic lines. Answering the President, who had asked about the possibility to take the birds of Almaty, HANS FREY said that they are property of the Zoo and it would be too expensive to buy them. Therefore it would be better to ask to return the young to the parents soon after artificial incubation. Then, DANIEL HEGGLIN reported on release in Engadine, where Felice and Roseg fledged without any roblem. Unfortunately Roseg, a male apparently in good conditions and with a normal behaviour, disappeared on the 29th of June and it has to be considered dead. MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN was then invited to report on release in Tyrol, where this year the release site had been situated, to allow also to this region of National Park Hohe Tauern to take part directly in the program. Eldorado and Christa were released with a large public attendance over the observation period (6000 people). M. KNOLLSEISEN remarked that there is a possibility to confuse Christa with Bingo, as parts of the marking of Christa are not clearly visible. Jackpot 3, released in Rauris in 1998, has come back to its release site and is staying there, flying with Eldorado, whilst Christa has moved away. ANTOINE ROUILLON, reported on release in Haute Savoie after a short mention of a study about the amount of food used by Bearded Vultures. One of the juveniles died suddenly, without giving any sign of disease or problems during the previous days. An autopsy revealed that it had been killed by an infection caused by a peritonitis. He suggested therefore, in case of death of a juvenile, to keep the remains of food, until the autopsy is completed, to check whether the food had been poisoned, although this is not the case of the young, which died in Haute Savoie. BÉNOÎT LEQUETTE reported on release of Roure and Larche in National Park of Mercantour: they fledged without problems and the only noticeable event was that Larche spent more time than others in flying activity (more than 700 minutes a day). DAVID JENNY reported about the reproduction in nature in Switzerland and Italy: The LIVIGNO PAIR laid eggs in February and a young was born the 2nd of April. On the 8th of the same month the parents had abandoned the nest for unknown reasons. 1 Due to a misunderstanding the minutes of the Annual Meeting in 2001 were not published in the Annual Report 2001.

89 2002 Miscellaneous 87 The BORMIO PAIR succeeded in reproduction in the nest of A third pair seemed to have been formed by Tell and Sina, released in 1997 in Engadin: they established their territory in Silvretta (Switzerland). JULIEN HEURET reported on the attempt of the PAIR OF HAUTE SAVOIE: the adult enlarged the nest in February and brooded regularly. Weather conditions were very bad in March and on the 26th of April the adult were observed far from the nest. Unfortunately the reasons of this failure remain unknown. JEAN PIERRE MARTINOT reported on the third attempt of reproduction by the trio of VANOISE (2 males and 1 female) in a very disturbed region. It is likely that two clutches were produced, as in January one change at the nest had been observed, showing that the birds had laid eggs. On the 11th of February all 3 adult had been observed flying together, indiating that the brood had been abandoned. Afterwards mating was observed in February and again a change at the nest was observed on the 2nd of April. Unfortunately also this likely second brood failed. To ascertain the reasons of these repeated failures, the National Park of Vanoise would like to settle a video camera in the nest, but the municipality has refused the permit. RICHARD ZINK reported then on the attempt in Austria, where 3 cases of pair forming had been registered in 1989, 1992 and The pair of 2001 is formed by Nicola, a female released in Rauris in 1991 and probably by Joey, released in Rauris as well in They used an old nest of Golden Eagles at 1950 mt sea level, in a region disturbed by helicopters and near to the nesting site of a pair of Golden Eagles. Furthermore, many Ravens frequented the zone, because many sheep had died under an avalanche. They were very aggressive and attacked the Bearded Vultures even in the nest. The first egg had been laid in mid February, but in April, when the young had to be born, one adult was observed bringing branches to the nest but never feeding the young and showing a very "nervous behaviour. After a few days, feeding behaviour was maybe observed, but afterwards the adults abandoned the nest. It is possible therefore that a young had been born, but died after some days. In August a third adult moved into the territory. Later one adult disappeared and it is unknown up to now whether they all have moved away or are still together. LAURA MARTINELLI reported that in Valle Stura (Cuneo-Italy) two birds have been observed since winter , which are now 6 and 7 years old. They seem to have occupied a territory and formed a pair, although only allopreening but no copulations had been observed. PAOLO FASCE added that the birds had different plumage two years ago, but are now very similar and remarked the fact as very strange that they had never been observed building at a nest or mating. MAURIZIO AZZOLINI reported that in the Stelvio National Park some individualshave been observed, beside those of the established pairs. It is likely that in Val Zebrù a new pair is being formed by an immature 3 years old and a subadult 5 years old. He reported then on the attempt of the LIVIGNO PAIR, whose breeding failure had been caused by unknown reasons, but surely not by human disturbance. The BORMIO PAIR raised a young again, which fledged on the 17th of July. In the region, the young birds born in the year 2000 have been regularly observed, as well those released in the past year. The presence of other birds released in the Engadin show that the region of the Stelvio National Park is very attractive for Bearded Vultures. PAOLO FASCE remarked that few observations have been done on pairs living in non protected areas. Therefore funding had been requested by the mean of Interreg III projects. Meanwhile an effort is requested to the Natural and National Park, especially those where releases take place, in order to improve the monitoring of the pairs more exposed to disturbances. MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND supported this demand and pointed out the need to understand the reasons of failures, such as the one of National Park de la Vanoise.

90 88 Miscellanous 2002 JEAN PIERRE MARTINOT thanked and asked for a letter to be written to the municipality, asking for the consent for the installation of a video camera in the nest. MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND invited RICHARD ZINK to present the IBM Monitoring programme. RICHARD ZINK listed the funding partners: National Park Hohe Tauern, Stiftung pro Bartgeier, National Park Alpi Marittime, Stelvio National Park, ASTERS and National Park de la Vanoise. As nobody had to be excluded, among the many people and organisation who already so much had done for the Project of Reintroduction, some other partners had been accepted as non-paying members: National Park Gran Paradiso, Natural Park Mont Avic, National Park of Mercantour, National Park of Ecrins, FULVIO GENERO. Others are expected to join the Programme: Museo Tridentino of Natural Science, National Park of Queyras, Narodni Park Triglav. A steering Committee will be appointed as soon as possible. The database for the Programme had been created by Swiss specialist and funded by Stiftung pro Bartgeier. For some regions information is still lacking: Queyras (France), Lanzo-Como-Bergamo (Italy), central Switzerland, Dolomiti (Italy) and Triglav (Slovenia). R. ZINK reported then about the situation of released and born-in-the-wild birds: out of 106 released birds, about 30% disappeared and 11 had been found dead. 18 attempts of reproduction took place since 1997, eight of them successful. The survival rate of released and born-in-the-wild birds may be the same, but this has still to be proved. In 2001, 58 different individuals had been observed. MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND expressed his great appreciation for what had been already obtained by the IBM Programme and invited those interested to join it as soon as possible. PIERRE GOELDLIN DE TIEFENAU asked about the situation in the Balcans. RICHARD ZINK reported to have known about the presence of one pair in Bulgaria, one in Macedonia, and maybe some other in the Balcans. The population is there in big danger of extinction, due to large poisoning and human persecution. Only in Albania, the population of Bearded Vulture might be larger, but research is impossible at this point of time, due to the political situation of the country. JULIEN HEURET reported about the observations of 16 different individuals in Haute Savoie and an attempt to improve the technique to recognize the age of birds. He proposed to use Internet to exchange photos helping to determine the age. PAOLO FASCE read then a report of JEAN FRANÇOIS SEGUIN on the Corsican situation: out of the 10 pairs present on the island, 6 had laid eggs, 2 chicks were born, but only one fledged successfully. MICHEL TERRASSE reported on Crete, where in 2001 two young birds fledged and it is possible that a new pair had been formed. In continental Greece the Bearded Vulture has likely disappeared. Also on behalf of MARTINE RAZIN, MICHEL TERRASSE reported on the French Pyrenees, where some new territories had been occupied during the last few years, moreover in the eastern part of the Pyrenees. In the western part reproduction is hampered by poisoning and hunting. Out of 20 pairs, 15 laid eggs, 9 offspring hatched and 5 young fledged. PAOLO FASCE read a summary of the situation in the Spanish Pyrenees sent by RAPHAEL HEREDIA: 67 pairs were monitored; 30 young birds fledged successfully, giving a productivity of 30/69=0.44 young/controlled pair/year. In the period , 29 Bearded Vultures were found dead: 9 had been poisoned, 7 shot, 9 had been electrocuted, 1 predated and 3 died for unknown reasons.

91 2002 Miscellaneous 89 MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND announced that the Annual Meeting will be held in 2002 in Zernez, organized and hosted by Stiftung pro Bartgeier. He thanked warmly the National Park Gran Paradiso for its excellent organisation and those present for having come. He also expressed the wish to hear soon that in Gran Paradiso Bearded Vultures have finally come back. Minutes of the Annual Meeting Zernez, 26 October 2002 by Paolo & Laura Fasce* The President MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND opened the Meeting at the Information Centre of the Swiss National Park. CHASPER BUCHLI welcomed everybody on behalf of Stiftung pro Bartgeier and wished those present a fruitful and pleasant stay in Zernez. He then introduced HEINRICH HALLER, Director of the Swiss National Park, who briefly described the Park, recalling that it had been established in 1906 and has very restrictive rules to protect its environment, as for example the complete exclusion of any kind of human interference. HANS FREY reported on captive breeding in 2002: 24 pairs laid 44 eggs; 19 young were born of which 15 survived. There is a new pair in Liberec Zoo, and in Almaty a young bird was reared by its parents for the first time. Unfortunately, 4 birds were lost (2 in Vienna, 1 in Cazorla and 1 in Berlin). Three pairs did not produce any young (Berlin, Dresden, Cazorla). Eight pairs, although fully adult, did not lay eggs. Five reproductive pairs were lost this year: in Dortmund Zoo the male, 21 years old, died from aspergillosis and its female, for unknown reasons, as well; in Haute Savoie 1 male and 1 female died from lead poisoning; in Berlin Zoo a bird was lost because of trauma and in Walsrode a bird died from pulmonary abscess. ALEXANDER LLOPIS-DELL thanked the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vultureon behalf of his Government, for the help given to realize the Project in Andalusia. Between 1900 and 1940 the bird was very common there, but decreased because of shooting by collectors. A breeding centre "Guadalentin has been created in Cazorla, near the place where the last individual disappeared in At present, 21 Bearded Vultures and 4 Imperial Eagles are kept in this centre. MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN reported on the release in Austria (Salzburg). The pulli fought for most of the time in the nest, but nevertheless fledged normally. They both remained in the region. ANTOINE ROUILLON reported on the release in Haute Savoie: the release took place late in the season as the site is at 2000 mt. alt. and the young fledged consequently in mid-august. The monitoring after fledging proved to be very difficult. ROBERTO TOFFOLI reported on the release in Argentera. One of the pulli was recaptured and analyzed, because it did not eat neither move in the nest: a big bone almost choked it, but after this was digested, the bird was released again and fledged without problems. Both young are still in the region. MAURIZIO AZZOLINI reported on the release in Stelvio: both young fledged as usual and were observed in the region till September, when the birds began to visit a larger part of the region. LUCIA MORICONI resumed the history of the monitoring and the breeding in Stelvio National Park. She also provided important information on the amount of food at disposal of the Bearded Vulture. ALBERTO RICCI added some data about the reproduction of the past years. He mentioned a problem with climbers, who often trained on an ice fall near the nest: the problem had been solved with the help of the Alpine Italian Club. DAVID JENNY reported on the monitoring in Engadine, where disturbance is posing a severe threat to some nesting sites. One of the nests used has been more and more enlarged with branches, so that possibly in the near future the nest itself cannot be used by the Bearded Vultures, unless part of the material has been cleared away. It might be possible to recognize the adult birds by the means of feathers collected on the nest. There is also an identification problem because of a copper ring, * Via G. d Annunzio 2/112, I Genova, ITALIA, altore@fastwebnet.it

92 90 Miscellanous 2002 which may have changed its colour. The survival rate of the released birds seems to be around 70%, much higher than expected. MAURIZIO AZZOLINI reported on the reproduction in Stelvio, where fledging was successful: the birds are still observed in the region of Stelvio. ANTOINE ROUILLON reported on the death of the young born in Haute Savoie which fell from its nest when 73 days old. The reasons remain unknown, but it simply may have been an accident as disturbance is excluded while the toxicological analysis were negative. JEAN FRANÇOIS DALIX and RÉMY BARRAUX reported on the reproduction in Vanoise, where a young fledged normally. MICHAEL KNOLLSEISEN reported on Austria, where once more no reproduction took place. The adults frequent a not disturbed Golden Eagle nest at a very high altitude. A new pair appeared in the region of Salzburg, the partners of which are at least 6 years old, and according to the observations of the rings, one of them may be Republic 9 or Andreas Hofer. ANDREAS SCHWARZENBERGER reported on the death of Averell, the observation of some adult birds together with immature and subadult and the possible formation of 2 new pairs in the proximity of the Swiss border. LAURA MARTINELLI reported on the observations in Piemonte, where different birds, both adult, subadult and immature have been observed. The identity of the two birds in Valle Stura has been established, thanks to the observation of their rings: they are Firmin, released in 1995, and Valdieri, released in Both of them have been staying in the region since MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND read out the reports for other regions: - In Corsica only one young bird fledged this year - In Crete the last 2 pairs of the island produced 2 young, but the species is now in immediate danger of extinction in Greece. - In Macedonia one only bird is still alive. - In the French Pyrenees 20 checked pairs produced 10 young. - In the Spanish Pyrenees 75 checked pairs produced 30 young. RICHARD ZINK and THOMAS PACHLATKO presented the Internet site of IBM regarding Switzerland: the search can be made by name and gives information about sex, origin, observations of the bird. There is a part which can be visited only by specialist and some information is for the public BARBARA GAUTSCHI resumed the reasons why there should be a genetic monitoring: the risk is to loose too much genetic variability with the loss of captive birds. In the analysis of released birds no track of inbreeding has luckily yet been found, but the risk is high, especially with regard to reproduction in the wild. She recommended therefore that, in addition to the sampling of blood of captive and released birds, feathers should be collected in the nature, as well as material from the nests, to enlarge our knowledge. Samples must be send to Zurich in October and result will be available in January. RICHARD ZINK reported on the IBM: still around data are missing, but the database includes now more than data. DANIEL HEGGLIN reported on a Project of Stiftung pro Bartgeier in Goldau, about the possible disturbance caused when telemetry is used with released birds. A new type of backpack has been tested: the result was good with regard to the longevity of transmitters, but problems occurred in the past with the breaking mechanism and adjustment to the growing bird. A special plastic ring had been used to remedy to this. The result after 3 months of use were given: no significant change in behaviour was observed; the development of the young was normal; no wounds or skin inflammation was noted. The braking mechanism functioned well with the new ring. The elasticity of the backpack band should be improved. The backpack was thought to be suitable for young birds, while tailmounts are good for adult and subadult birds.

93 2002 Miscellaneous 91 In the closing address MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND pointed out the excellence of the reports; he thanked CHASPER BUCHLI for the perfect organisation of the Meeting and HEINRICH HALLER for the hospitality offered by the Swiss National Park. He announced then that the next Annual Meeting will be held in Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria on Saturday, the 18th October 2003, and closed the Meeting. Note on the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (FCBV), its ORIGIN and GOALS. by Maarten Bijleveld van Lexmond, President FCBV * In October 1978 an historical meeting was held in Morges, Switzerland. Organized by the International Union for the Conservation of nature (IUCN) and supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), it resulted in the present project for the Reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture into the Alps, by now the longest and most renowned of reintroduction projects in European history. As from the start of the project the private breeding centre of Dr. HANS FREY of the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna (VMU) at Haringsee, Austria, received continous financial support from the Frankfurt Zoological Society, and at the time from WWF-Austria as well. Not only did the Frankfurt Zoological Society contribute to its daily running but it also started acquiring Bearded Vultures wherever possible. This effort proved to be so successful that in a few years time the Frankfurt Zoological Society had become the legal owner of over 90% of the captive Bearded Vultures in Europe. It was at this point in time that the FZS expressed the wish that a specific foundation be established to take over the ownership of and repsonsibility of Europe s stock of captive Bearded Vultures. The new foundation came into being in May 1992 under the name of Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture - FCBV. Dr. RICHARD FAUST, President of FZS, became its first President while the Board was made up from those who had taken the initiative of the 1978 conference. In managing its captive breeding stock of bearded Vulturs the Foundation had to assume the additional task of deciding on and coordinating the ongoing release of young birds born from its stock. To this was added the charge of regularly informing all participating partners in at least ten different countries by publishing its Annual Bulletin, and holding Information Meetings each year in a different country of the Alpine arch. The foundation regards itself in this respect as a coordinating body between the many and varied partners in this what has now become the best-documented reintroduction project in Europe. In more recent times FCBV also plays a role in the survival of the species in non-alpine European countries and it is devising a long-term strategy for the survival of the species on the European continent after the reintroduction into the Alps has been completed. Board members of the FCBV/Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture MAARTEN BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND President mbvl@club-internet.fr MICHEL TERRASSE Vice-President terrassem@club-internet.fr PAOLO FASCE Secretary/Treasurer altore@fastwebnet.it HANS FREY Coordinator Hans.Frey@vu-wien.ac.at PIERRE GOELDLIN DE TIEFENAU Member pierre.goeldlin@bluewin.ch JAN W. W. LOUWMAN Member wwbc@planet.nl CHRISTOF SCHENK Member schenck@zgf.de WINFRIED WALTER Member winfried.walter@utanet.at **46, Pertuis - du - Sault, CH-2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland. contact@papiliorama.ch

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95 Dr. JAN LOUWMAN, Wassenaar Wildlife Breeding Centre, with a puppet used for hand rearing more than 20 years ago. Approx. 20 years ago, this puppet was used a few days after hatching but proved not to be necessary or useful and thus it was set aside. BG 078 was reared with it for a number of weeks but imprinting on man could not be prevented. This female was rather aggressive and died in Amsterdam Zoo on 31st of January 1993 with an age of 8 years. Photo: MARTIN DEJONGE, The Netherlands Bearded Vulture Annual Report 2002 Publisher: Editors: Layout: Print: Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (F.C.B.V) Wassenaar, The Netherlands H. FREY*, G. SCHADEN* & M. BIJLEVELD VAN LEXMOND** * Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medical University of Vienna, Veterinäeplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. ** FCBV, 46, Pertuis - du - Sault, CH-2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland G. SCHADEN GUGLER print & media Pielach 101, A-3390 Melk, Austria Copies available from Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Veterinary Medical University of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria) Copyright by Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture