Since 2010 a census of summering griffon vultures has been carried out, covering mainly the western Alps (France and Italy), through cooperation with national and natural parks, ornithological associations and some other partners. The census takes part in the second half of August, when summering griffons are more stabilized – before one can still observe some erratic spring dispersion, while in September the griffons start going back to their perennial ranges.
Like in previous years, the area to prospect this year covers the French Alps: from the Rhone in the west to the Italian border in the east and south to the Mediterranean, and to Lake Geneva in the north. Within this vast space, counts are done at the end of day in known roosting places, during the return of birds from their foraging trips.
This year the survey is being coordinated by Envergures Alpines, a new NGO recently established.
If you are available and interested in vultures, please contact Envergures Alpines envergures.alpines@gmail.com for details of local roosts and teams counting. Below you can find a document (in French) about this census.
Census of summering Griffons in the western Alps (in French) Protocole vautour fauves Alps.pdf Adobe Acrobat Document 266.8 KB Download
