High long‐term survival and asymmetric movements in a reintroduced metapopulation of Cinereous vultures

Rousteau, Typhaine; Duriez, Olivier; Pradel, Roger; Sarrazin, François; David, Thierry; Henriquet, Sylvain; Tessier, C.; Mihoub, Jean‐Baptiste

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3862

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Comparing the release methods – hacking and release from an aviary, the mean survival rate during acclimation was the same – 0.86, as was also reported by Rousteau et al (2022) . However, more considerable losses during the first migration and dispersal of individuals released by hacking were observed in EBM and, thus, a difference in the survival rate – 0.22 compared to 0.73 of the birds released by an aviary.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

“… Sarrazin and Legendre (2008) proposed releasing adult Griffon Vultures instead of juveniles to avoid emigration and related losses in re-introductions. However, Rousteau et al (2022) stated that there were no differences in the survival of the Cinereous Vultures from the two age groups. The local conditions in the Balkan Mountains at the chosen release sites may be encouraging the hacked juveniles to migrate soon after fledging.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relative survival was calculated as the number of survivors divided by the number of live individuals from the preceding period. The results were then compared to the post-release and natural mortality reported for other re-introduction projects and wild populations, such as those published by Rousteau et al (2022) for France.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Local re-introductions of the Cinereous Vulture have previously been conducted in Grand Causses, Verdon and Baronies in France ( Mihoub et al 2013b , Rousteau et al 2022 ), as well as in Catalonia and Burgos in Spain ( Andevski et al 2017 ). In these projects, data for whereabouts, adaptation and survival was, until recently, obtained by plastic ring recoveries, by direct sight or photographing the re-introduced individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First results from the releases of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) aiming at re-introducing the species in Bulgaria – the start of the establishment phase 2018–2022

Ivanov¹,

Stoynov²,

Stoyanov

et al. 2023

BDJ

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The current work presents the preliminary results of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) releases in the Balkan Mountains in 2018–2022, aiming at the species re-introduction in Bulgaria, where it was listed as locally extinct since 1985. The first imports and releases of Cinereous Vultures in Bulgaria started in 2018. Until mid-2022, 72 individuals were released in the Eastern Balkan Mountains (Kotlenska Planina SPA and Sinite Kamani Nature Park) and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park. Of them, 63 immatures imported from Spain were released from aviaries and nine juveniles captive-bred in European zoos were released by hacking (fledging from an artificial nest). We compared the success in survival and establishment between the different release sites and methods used to adjust the ongoing technics and tactics and to support knowledge improvement for future similar projects. From the nine Cinereous Vultures released by hacking, the results were as follows: 1.00 fledging success, but only 0.22 survival in the first six months – combined period of acclimation, first migration and the first winter. All survivors from that period reached maturity into the wild, but all emigrated from the release site and settled elsewhere. Of the 63 individuals released by aviaries, 32 individuals were released in the Eastern Balkan Mountains (18 individuals are still alive – 0.56 survival; 14 individuals settled in the area, which accounts for 0.44 of all released birds and 0.78 of the survivors). Thirty-one individuals were released in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park (23 individuals are still alive – 0.74 survival; 22 individuals settled in the area – 0.71 of all released birds and 0.96 of the survivors). Based only on aviary method comparison, the settling of the individuals in the release area was alike in the two sites. However, the Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park performed better in survival – both in acclimation and establishment periods. While comparing the release methods – hacking and release from the aviary – the following results were observed: the survival rate during acclimation was 0.86. Due to more considerable losses during the first migration and dispersal in the individuals released by hacking, the survival rate of 0.22 was significantly lower compared to 0.73 for the birds released from the aviary. Additionally, in both methods, a similar pattern in the first winter and spring migration dispersal was observed. Although the survival was equal in the released-by-hacking or aviary birds after the first year onwards, it is essential to note that the emigration of the hacked birds from the release site was 1.00. In comparison, the birds released from aviaries largely remained and settled in the release area (> 0.77 of the survivors). The cost of release and related acclimation, settling, dispersal and the first winter was the greatest: 0.12–0.17 per period, or cumulatively, it was about 0.27. Survival increased and stabilised to > 0.90 after the first year in the wild and reached nearly 1.00 after two years in the wild onwards. Two distinct nuclei of the Cinereous Vulture were established along the Balkan Mountains – the Eastern Balkan Mountains with 18–23 individuals and four formed pairs using a territory of about 642.74 km2 – 95% home range and 85.72 km2 – 50% core area with center being the town of Kotel; and Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park with present 23–29 individuals, of which 2–3 pairs formed so far, using a territory of about 1,143.66 km2 – 95% home range and 22.89 km2 – 50% core area with center being the village of Zgorigrad. The species readily accepted breeding in artificial nest platforms built by professional arborists on different tree species – oak, beech, sycamore and pine. The only naturally built nests were on the ground (n = 2) (unsuccessful) and in Scots Pine (n = 1) (successful). In 2021 and 2022, in each of the two sites, the first successful reproductions were recorded, which marked the return of the Cinereous Vulture as breeding species – 28 years after the last occasional record of a single breeding pair in the country and 36 years after it was officially listed as locally extinct in Bulgaria.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First results from the releases of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) aiming at re-introducing the species in Bulgaria – the start of the establishment phase 2018–2022

Ivanov¹,

Stoynov²,

Stoyanov

et al. 2023

BDJ

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“…Vultures have very particular life histories, including delayed maturity (Grande et al 2009; Margalida et al 2020), prolonged parental care (Margalida et al 2003), and extensive movements during the pre-adult dispersal period (Guido et al 2023; Margalida et al 2013; Morant et al 2023b). GPS-tracking technology has enabled researchers to identify key demographic parameters such as survival by age-class and causes of death, as well as movement behaviours (which can identify critical conservation areas such as communal roosts), migratory movements, flight paths, habitat use, and resource selection (Alarcón and Lambertucci 2018; Delgado et al 2022; García-Jiménez et al 2018; Margalida et al 2016; Reading et al 2020; Rousteau et al 2022). The study of movement ecology has therefore emerged as a crucial factor in the design and improvement of management and conservation measures for avian scavenger species (Alarcón and Lambertucci 2018; Arrondo et al 2021; Carrete and Donázar 2005; Cerecedo-Iglesias et al 2023; Fozzi et al 2023; Margalida et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement ecology of pre-adult Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus: insights from a reintroduced population

Tobajas,

Iglesias-Lebrija,

Delepoulle

et al. 2024

Bird Conservation International

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Summary Understanding the movement ecology of threatened species is fundamental to improving management and conservation actions for their protection, mainly during the pre-adult stage and particularly when a species is subject to population reinforcement or reintroduction projects. An example is the case of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus on the Iberian Peninsula, an endangered species that has been reintroduced in different regions during the last two decades. Here, we explore differences between the spatial ecology of reintroduced pre-adult Cinereous Vultures, according to age-class, sex, and season (breeding and non-breeding). We used GPS-tag data from 51 pre-adult individuals reintroduced into Catalonia (north-east Spain) to describe their use of space, i.e. home-range size, core area, and minimum convex polygon (MCP) and movement patterns, i.e. cumulative distance, maximum displacement, maximum daily dispersal, and maximum annual dispersal. Our study showed significant variation in the use of space and movement patterns among pre-adult birds and the influences of age, sex, and season. Age was the most influential factor, determining range areas and movement patterns. Similar to other vulture species, home range and core areas increase with age, with subadult vultures exhibiting larger ranges than young first year, juveniles, and immature birds, but the MCP measures were larger for juveniles. Movement patterns were also influenced by age-class, with juveniles making longer movements, followed by immatures and subadults (with similar values), and shorter movements for birds during their first year of life. Overall, males made shorter movements and explored smaller foraging areas than females. Season had an important effect on movement patterns, and the daily and dispersal movements were longer during the breeding period (February–August). Our findings fill a knowledge gap regarding the dispersal behaviours of Cinereous Vultures, information that will enable the improvement of management and conservation decisions.

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Rethinking the evaluation of animal translocations

Marino,

McDonald,

Crowley

et al. 2024

Biological Conservation

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High long‐term survival and asymmetric movements in a reintroduced metapopulation of Cinereous vultures

Abstract: long-term survival and asymmetric movements in a reintroduced metapopulation of Cinereous vultures. Ecosphere 13(2):e03862.

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

First results from the releases of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) aiming at re-introducing the species in Bulgaria – the start of the establishment phase 2018–2022

First results from the releases of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) aiming at re-introducing the species in Bulgaria – the start of the establishment phase 2018–2022

Movement ecology of pre-adult Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus: insights from a reintroduced population

Rethinking the evaluation of animal translocations

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