The bearded vulture population in Corsica is one of only two island populations in Europe (the other one being in Crete), and is severely threatened with extinction, as it currently only includes 3-4 pairs, which have had a very poor breeding productivity over the last decade and a half. The VCF is now working with the Parc Naturel Regional de Corse, and other partners, to prevent its extinction.
Once functionally connected to Sardinia, this population is now isolated, as the species has disappeared in the 1970s from Sardinia. A new paper, published in the French ornithological magazine Alauda, now details all recent movements of this species between Corsica and Sardinia – a total of 12 birds were recorded between 1980 and 2014 in Sardinia. Age of birds, observation dates and changing status of the species in Europe show that these birds belong to the Corsican population.
In Sardinia there is still widespread poisoning, so these movements may actually reduce the survival of individuals and endanger the Corsican population. The VCF is also engaged in a new LIFE project that has started recently in Sardinia (LIFE Under Griffon Wings) and that will deal with the poisoning threat – we will publish more news about this soon.
If you want to receive the paper in Alauda, please email f.loercher@4vultures.org – we are unable to put it in our website due to copyright rules.
Photo Bruno Berthémy/VCF
