Grab your binoculars and head outdoors to help monitor one of Europe’s rarest and most impressive birds of prey! This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Bearded Vulture International Observation Days (IOD) — the largest citizen science initiative dedicated to a single vulture species. Thousands of volunteers across Europe will once again unite to count Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) in the wild.
Why is the IOD important?
Your participation helps conservationists better understand and protect Bearded Vultures. The data collected during the IOD:
- Assesses the success of reintroduction projects
- Improves knowledge about the species’ distribution
- Provides crucial baseline data for survival rates and demographic modelling
Thanks to your efforts, scientists can continue building a brighter future for Bearded Vultures across Europe’s mountains.
IOD Report 2024
We are delighted to present the IOD Report 2024 – a result of our collective efforts and a cross-border project from last year.
The report underscores the importance of sharing knowledge and fostering motivation across the IBM network. A key takeaway is the encouraging news that the Bearded Vulture population continues to grow, confirming that the international collaboration is moving in the right direction. The reintroduction of such a wide-ranging species would simply not be possible without strong cross-border cooperation.
Some highlights from last year include:
- 1410 volunteers joined the IOD
- 858 sites were monitored across the Alps, Massif Central, French Pyrenees (Aude), parts of Spain, and Bulgaria
- 1162 Bearded Vulture observations were made during the IOD period (12–20 October 2024), with 1103 sightings on the focal day alone
- Population estimates: 414–547 in the Alps, 15–19 in the Massif Central, 5–6 in the Aude region of the French Pyrenees, 7 in Maestrazgo, 34–47 in Spain (outside Pyrenees), and 0 in Bulgaria
How to get involved in 2025
To join the International Observation Days 2025, simply contact the local organiser in your region to register:
Austria
- Nationalpark Hohe Tauern: matthias.lehnert@salzburg.gv.at
- Naturpärke Tirol: weninger@naturpark-oetztal.at
Italy
- Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio: dianasciandra95@gmail.com
- Sondrio province: enrico.bassi76@gmail.com
- Aosta: c.chioso@regione.vda.it
- Gran Paradiso NP: sonia.calderola@pngp.it
- Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime: fabiano.sartirana@parcoalpimarittime.it
Switzerland
- Stiftung Pro Bartgeier
- Central Switzerland: franziska.loercher@bartgeier.ch
- Eastern Switzerland (Graubünden): jenny.d@compunet.ch
- Southern Switzerland (Tessin): roberto.lardelli@gmail.com
- North-Western Switzerland (Bern): marco.orni@gmail.com
- South-Western Switzerland (Valais + Western Switzerland): celestin.luisier@gypaetebarbu.ch
- Central Switzerland: franziska.loercher@bartgeier.ch
Germany
- Eastern Bavaria: toni.wegscheider@lbv.de
- Western Bavaria: henning.werth@reg-schw.bayern.de
France
- Haute-Savoie Asters: etienne.marle@asters.asso.fr
- PN Mercantour Ubaye: francois.breton@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- PN Mercantour Verdon: verdon@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- PN Mercantour Haut Var: varcians@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- PN Mercantour Tinée: herve.brosius@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- PN Mercantour Vésubie: vesubie@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- PN Mercantour Roya Bevera: royabevera@mercantour-parcnational.fr
- Parc national de la Vanoise: jerome.cavailhes@vanoise-parcnational.fr
- Envergures Alpines: envergures.alpines@gmail.com; Dauphiné: christian.couloumy@gmail.com
- Parc naturel régional du Vercors: life.gypaete@pnr-vercors.fr
- Vautours en Baronnies: gypaete@vautoursenbaronnies.com
- Massif Central – Parc naturel régional des Grands Causses: noemie.ziletti@lpo.fr
Spain
- Junta de Andalusia (Andalusia and Castilla y León): enrique.avila@juntadeandalucia.es
- Maestrazgo: davizqace@hotmail.com
- Alto Tajo and Serranía de Cuenca: diego.rodriguez@rewilding-spain.com
Bulgaria
- Green Balkans: smarin@greenbalkans.org
About the IOD
The International Observation Days (IOD), coordinated by the International Bearded Vulture Monitoring Network (IBM) and the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), bring together volunteers each October to monitor Bearded Vultures across Europe. The synchronised observations provide essential data for conservation while raising awareness of this iconic species.
