Neophron Percnopterus
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Neophron percnopterus -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ACCIPITRIFORMES -- ACCIPITRIDAE Common names: Egyptian Vulture; Egyptian Eagle; Vautour percnoptère European Red List Assessment European Red List Status EN -- Endangered, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Endangered (EN) EU27 regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU) Within Europe this vulture has undergone very rapid declines over three generations (53 years) and it is therefore classified as Endangered. In the EU27 declines have apparently stabilised but it qualifies as Vulnerable based on the rate of past declines. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; France; Georgia; Greece; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Turkey; Ukraine; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Austria; Belgium; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Hungary; Norway; Svalbard and Jan Mayen (to NO); Poland; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 3,000-4,700 pairs, which equates to 6,000-9,300 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 1,500-1,700 pairs, which equates to 3,000-3,300 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend Based on past population size estimates in Spain (Perea et al. 1990), Greece (Handrinos 1985) and in other countries where the species has become extinct since 1980 (Abuladze & Shergalin 1998, Kotro�an & Hatibovi? 2012), the population size in Europe is estimated to be decreasing by 50-79% in 53.4 years (three generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable currently, but, based on past population size estimates in Spain (Perea et al. 1990) and Greece (Handrinos 1985), it is estimated to have decreased by 30-49% during 1960-2014 (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species forages principally in arid open areas such as steppes, savannas and river banks (Tucker and Heath 1994). Nesting occurs in cliffs or crags, occasionally in trees and it sometimes occupies the old nest of another raptor. Birds usually form monogamous pairs but occasionally polyandrous trios too. Both sexes construct a nest of sticks with a deep central cup, which is usually heavily lined with a range of materials including wool, hair, rags and the remains of food, even excrement, although sometimes scarcely lined at all. Clutches vary from one to three eggs, although normally two (Orta et al. 2013). It has a broad diet including carrion, tortoises, organic waste, insects, young vertebrates, eggs and faeces. It is usually solitary, but will congregate at feeding sites, such as rubbish tips, or vulture restaurants (i.e. supplementary feeding stations). It also scavenges at human settlements, and forms roosts of non-breeding birds (Ceballos & Donázar 1990). This species is migratory and most European birds will winter in sub-Saharan Africa between 14° and 17°N although a few winter in Spain (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding Altitude max. 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats This species faces a number of threats across its range. Disturbance, lead poisoning (from gun shot), direct poisoning, electrocution (by powerlines), collisions with wind turbines, reduced food availability and habitat change are currently impacting upon European populations (Donázar et al. 2002, N. Petkov in litt. 2005, Kurtev et al. 2008, Zuberogoitia et al. 2008, Carrete et al. 2009, Dzhamirzoev and Bukreev 2009, Sara et al. 2009, Angelov et al. in prep. 2011). Illegal poisoning against carnivores seems to be the main threat operating on the breeding grounds in Spain (Hernandez and Margalida 2009) and the Balkans (I. Angelov in. litt. 2012). Within the European Union, regulations introduced in 2002, controlling the disposal of animal carcasses, greatly reduced food availability, notably through the closure of traditional muladares in Spain and Portugal (Donázar 2004, J. C. Atienza in litt. 2007, Lemus et al. 2008, Donázar et al. 2009, Cortás-Avizanda et al. 2010, Donázar et al. 2010a, Cortés-Avizanda 2011); however, recently-passed regulations will permit the operation of feeding stations for scavengers (A. Brunner in litt. 2010). Poisoning is a threat to the species, often through the use of poison baits targeted at terrestrial predators (Carrete et al. 2007, Carrete et al. 2009, Cortés-Avizanda et al. 2009), and through the consumption of inappropriately disposed of poisoned animals. Recent analyses from many countries such as Spain (Lemus et al. 2008) and Bulgaria (Angelov 2009) have highlighted high levels of contamination of the species leading to increased mortality. Antibiotic residues present in the carcasses of intensively-farmed livestock may increase the susceptibility of nestlings to disease (Lemus et al. 2008) (e.g. avian pox has been reported as a cause of mortality in Bulgaria (Kurtev et al. 2008)). It appears that Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often used for livestock, and which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses (BirdLife International 2007 news (www.birdlife.org/news)), is driving the recent rapid declines in India (Cuthbert et al. 2006, A. Rahmani in litt. 2012). NSAIDs are reportedly toxic to raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that vultures of other genera could be susceptible to its effects (BirdLife International 2007 news (www.birdlife.org/news)). It seems plausible that this species previously had less exposure to the toxin owing to competitive exclusion from carcasses by Gyps spp. vultures (Cuthbert et al. 2006). Mortality at power lines has been found to be particularly common on the Canary Islands (Donazar et al. 2002, Donazar et al. 2007a) and potentially risky in other regions of Spain (Donazar et al. 2007b, 2010b). Competition for suitable nest sites with Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) may reduce breeding success in the short-term (Kurtev et al. 2008). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown (intentional use - species is the target) Stresses Species mortality Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (persecution/ Declines control) Stresses Species mortality Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (unintentional Declines effects - species is not the target) Stresses Species mortality Energy production Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact & mining Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact Stresses Species mortality Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Species disturbance Invasive and other Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact species, genes & Declines diseases Stresses Competition; Reduced reproductive success Invasive and other Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact species, genes & Declines diseases Stresses Species mortality; Reduced reproductive success Natural system Other ecosystem Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications modifications Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Species mortality; Reduced reproductive success Pollution Agricultural & Timing Scope Severity Impact forestry effluents Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines High Impact (type unknown/ unrecorded) Stresses Species mortality; Reduced reproductive success Pollution Herbicides and Timing Scope Severity Impact pesticides Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Past Impact Return Stresses Species mortality; Reduced reproductive success Transportation & Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact service corridors Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Species mortality Transportation