June 7, 1997
Vultures over Europe
Another spring bonus
Birders in Europe are looking southward in spring and westward in autumn. Best prizes in autumn are definitely the few American warblers that survive an accidental Atlantic crossing. They are exceptionally rare on the continent but Britain usually gets a few every year.
In spring we hope for long-lasting southeasterly winds to put migrants off course, bringing perhaps a Red-rumped Swallow, a few Subalpine Warblers, more Red-footed Falcons then usual or even an Eleonora's Falcon. A best-bird-award in this time of year is not as easy. But my vote would go to rare raptors such as Booted Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, or Vultures.
Most European Vultures are very large and very rare. The smallest, Egyptian Vulture is the commonest, but declining. All live in the Mediterranean region and rarely stray northwards. With the drastic decline in populations this century the sight of a Vulture in northern Europe had become a major event.
However it appears as if things are changing. Possible reason: reintroduction schemes. In several regions from which vultures had more or less disappeared small populations are being reintroduced. This is happening for example in central France, and in the French and Swiss Alps. In other places populations of Vultures are closely guarded and protected, and also fed, to avoid problems with farmers that keep cattle.
A Griffon Vulture that showed up in Holland a few years was banded. This caused considerable upset, as twitchers were uncertain whether they could count the bird or not. The bird was tracked down. It had been raqised in captivity and introduced to an area in Croatia. Later it was shot, after it had returned to that area. Perhaps not a genuinely wild bird, but a genuine vagrant.
This spring saw a remarkable event, when two Lammergeyers, or Bearded Vulture were observed in the Netherlands. One was captured, and was shown to be part of a reintroduction program in the Alps. It was a juvenile bird. The other bird was also a juvenile. Lammergeyers have never been recorded in Holland, at least not in the last two centuries. Contrary to Griffon Vultures their populations do not show tendency to migrate.
Pretty good sightings. But it's not all. Because this spring Turkey Vultures were observed, two in Holland, one in Denmark.
Not reintroduced. Escapes?
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Birding on the web
Choosing a best page is of course somewhat dangerous, but happily there is only one candidate. The first site to appear is still going strong. Key quality: making information accessible to all.
Optics for birding.
Looking for equipment? Start here. Splendid job by Ed Matthews.
ABC OBC NBC
Home of the African, Oriental and Neotropical Birding Clubs. Illustrated articles from their magazines form the core of these sites. Also news on recent discoveries, and membership information of course.
Crossbills
Nice presentation of surprising research results.
Bird monitoring in North-America
Everything on bird monitoring programs in North-America.
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