Simon Potier, a scientific expert renowned for his work on avian vision, recently visited the Bearded Vulture Breeding Unit in Vallcalent to advance his groundbreaking research on bird collisions with human-made structures. This unit, located within the Recovery Centre of Vallcalent under the Generalitat de Catalunya, is managed by VCF through a collaboration agreement between the two institutions.
By examining the visual capabilities of the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Simon aims to find the best methods for marking power lines, windmills, and ski lifts—critical measures to prevent the high number of collisions these magnificent birds face.
Simon’s research, which spans over 40 bird species, focuses on understanding the contrast and field of vision unique to each. During his visit to Vallcalent, Simon worked closely with two resident Bearded Vultures, BG973 and BG1010. These birds, a brother-sister pair unable to fly due to a genetic defect in their feathers, are housed in the education area of the centre, away from the breeding pairs. Their condition makes them ideal candidates for controlled studies without disturbing Vallcalent’s active breeding season.
Insightful and non-Invasive experiments
Simon exposed the birds to a series of visual stimuli displayed on screens while meticulously observing and recording their reactions. He also performed detailed examinations of their eyes, gathering valuable data to inform the development of more effective collision mitigation measures. Importantly, these experiments were non-invasive and did not harm the birds, causing no more stress than routine veterinary check-ups. Ensuring the birds’ welfare remains a top priority in all aspects of the research.
Optimizing the lighting at Vallcalent
Beyond his experiments, Simon also contributed to improving the conditions at the Vallcalent centre. He gave an insightful talk to the staff, sharing expertise on optimizing artificial lighting conditions. His advice will enhance environments where chicks are hand-reared and areas where artificial light plays a role, such as the infirmary. These adjustments will further support the welfare of the birds in Vallcalent’s care.
Building towards safer skies
The preliminary data gathered during Simon’s visit is a promising step forward in understanding how Bearded Vultures perceive their environment. This knowledge will help create better visual markers for structures that pose collision risks, contributing to safer habitats for the birds.
If you are interested to read more about Simon’s previous work about visual acuity of raptors, you can find it here: https://simonpotier.fr/index.php/recherche-scientifique/.
This test was made possible at Vallcalent through the collaboration agreement between the Generalitat de Catalunya and VCF.
Vallcalent Breeding Unit
The Centre de Fauna de Vallcalent is property of the Generalitat de Catalunya located in Lleida, Spain. Thanks to an agreement the VCF made with Generalitat de Catalunya, the VCF is managing the Bearded Vulture Specialised Breeding Unit within the centre. Following bird distribution strategy between specialized breeding centres, this Unit plays a crucial role inside the EEP, because it specialises on artificial incubation, receiving those pairs which are reproducing very badly or not at all in other entities and are requiring technical support.
