The birds have already been accommodated in a special aviary in the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans – Stara Zagora. Here the birds will have time to recover after the long journey. Their accommodation is a very delicate issue as their neighbours – rare species of eagles and falcons are currently incubating their eggs and by no means should be disturbed.
A total of 20 of these vultures are wild birds, whose first flight was unsuccessful and were collected in altogether two rescue centres. The remaining 4 birds hatched in a total of 3 French zoos and have never been free.
After a quarantine period the 24 Griffons will be marked with special rings and yellow wing tags to help us identify them later. They will then be disseminated among the four adaptation aviaries – Vrachanski Balkan, Central Balkan, Sinite kamani and Kotel. High in the Balkan Mountains, the vultures will remain for a few months to adapt to our climate and conditions and accept the rocks of the mountain as their natal site. After that they will be released within the Vultures Return in Bulgaria LIFE08 NAT/BG/278 Project.
At present, these four aviaries hold a total of 32 birds of Spanish, Dutch, German and Czech origin. They all look forward to the arrival of the French, as for many of them this would mean freedom this spring. The reason hides in the social temper of Griffon Vultures. One of the things keeping them to the sites we have selected for them is the fact that some of their fellows have remained in captivity. Therefore, no matter how many vultures are already out or being released, some of them (usually the new-comers) always remain in the aviaries. At the same time since the start of the Vultures Return in Bulgaria LIFE08 NAT/BG/278 Project, a total of 62 birds have already been released from the four aviaries. Some 20 of them are constantly observed at the release sites.
Bon chance, fellows!
For more information, please contact:
Elena Kmetova – project coordinator, + 359885219557; e-mail: ekmetova@greenbalkans.org
