Remember Boyan, Ostrava and Riga, the first three cinereous vultures, released in Bulgaria within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project. Well, they are no longer the only birds from the species, released in our country. Last week they were joined by four more black vultures, released from the Kotel and Sliven aviaries.
The black vultures, released from Kotel (named Zlosten and Juan), along with the ones released from Sliven - named Kutelka and Balkan, have spent the last year in the aviaries, in order to get used to their new home. The birds were transferred to Bulgaria from the Extremadura region in Spain within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project activities for the species reintroduction in the country. After their arrival, and after spending a quarantine period at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center, they were transferred to the adaptation aviaries where they’ve been patiently waiting their release. Zlosten and Juan were released from the Kotel aviary on the 15th March and on the 21st were released Balkan and Kutelka from the Green Balkans’ aviary in the ‘Sinite kamani’ Nature Park, along with a griffon vulture, named Lars. Lars was donated to us by the German zoo Allwetterzoo Münster and was released after an adaptation period in the aviary. All birds were tagged with GPS transmitters so we will be able to follow their movements and make sure they are all right. They also had some of their feathers bleached, so we will be able to distinguish them from distance.
The birds spent the first couple of days after the release not moving much and still close to the aviaries, apparently getting used to the new place. But after that the braver Juan and Balkan, started exploring the region around the aviaries. Kutelka started moving about yesterday, but was quick to find food, we had left nearby in advance. 2 days ago, Juan spent quite some time at one of the places with food, we had prepared, so we are pretty sure he also fed. Yesterday, a wild cinereous vulture visited the Kotel site and fed there. Balkan and Zlosten are the only ones not getting some food yet, but we are not worried. We are feeling pretty optimistic for the vultures as they have plenty of food they can choose from at different sites around the aviaries.
We will continue to follow the young explorers and will make sure to keep you posted on their adventures!
The black vultures, released from Kotel (named Zlosten and Juan), along with the ones released from Sliven - named Kutelka and Balkan, have spent the last year in the aviaries, in order to get used to their new home. The birds were transferred to Bulgaria from the Extremadura region in Spain within the ‘Bright Future for the Black Vulture’ LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project activities for the species reintroduction in the country. After their arrival, and after spending a quarantine period at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center, they were transferred to the adaptation aviaries where they’ve been patiently waiting their release. Zlosten and Juan were released from the Kotel aviary on the 15th March and on the 21st were released Balkan and Kutelka from the Green Balkans’ aviary in the ‘Sinite kamani’ Nature Park, along with a griffon vulture, named Lars. Lars was donated to us by the German zoo Allwetterzoo Münster and was released after an adaptation period in the aviary. All birds were tagged with GPS transmitters so we will be able to follow their movements and make sure they are all right. They also had some of their feathers bleached, so we will be able to distinguish them from distance.
The birds spent the first couple of days after the release not moving much and still close to the aviaries, apparently getting used to the new place. But after that the braver Juan and Balkan, started exploring the region around the aviaries. Kutelka started moving about yesterday, but was quick to find food, we had left nearby in advance. 2 days ago, Juan spent quite some time at one of the places with food, we had prepared, so we are pretty sure he also fed. Yesterday, a wild cinereous vulture visited the Kotel site and fed there. Balkan and Zlosten are the only ones not getting some food yet, but we are not worried. We are feeling pretty optimistic for the vultures as they have plenty of food they can choose from at different sites around the aviaries.
We will continue to follow the young explorers and will make sure to keep you posted on their adventures!
Contacts:
Ivelin Ivanov, 'Bright future for the Black vulture' project LIFE14 NAT/BG/649, Project manager
mobile phone: 0887589995; e-mail: iivanov@greenbalkans.org
