La Bearded Vultures (Gypeatus Barbatus) of Corsica began their 2025 breeding season with promise: by mid-February, all four territorial pairs had laid eggs — a hopeful sign for a critically endangered population that hasn’t seen a successful fledging in recent years. However, a few months later, that hope had dimmed somewhat. Of the four observed clutches, only one has resulted in the birth of a chick.
Thanks to monitoring cameras installed at some of the nests as part of the GypRescue project, we have gained valuable insights into what went wrong — and what still might go right.
A population on the rise — But still on the brink
Corsica’s Bearded Vulture population has been teetering on the edge of extinction for decades. But in recent years, thanks to the LIFE GypRescue project, there are early signs of recovery. From a low of just two territorial pairs, numbers have increased to about four to six today. While still dangerously low, this modest rise marks a turning point — showing that the immediate risk of extinction may have been averted.
A closer look at the 2025 breeding season
This year’s breeding season began with optimism. All four known pairs laid eggs between late January and early February — a strong start. But only one chick hatched.
The reasons for hatching failure vary. In one nest, a young male failed to incubate the egg, which remained exposed to cold conditions for too long. Thermal shocks likely stopped the embryo from developing.
In another nest, both eggs failed to hatch, but the cause remains unknown. And in a third case, a female accidentally broke her egg just days before hatching — no chick had developed.
These insights were possible thanks to nest cameras, which allow researchers to study the sensitive incubation phase. In past seasons, other threats — such as egg predation by Great Ravens — have also played a role in nest failures.
A ray of hope
Despite the setbacks, one chick has hatched and is now being raised by its parents in the wild. Just over a month old, it is receiving vital support from the LIFE GypRescue team. Artificial feeding has been intensified to reduce the time adults need to spend searching for food — ensuring more consistent care for the chick.
From just 150 grams and 10 cm at hatching, the chick will rapidly grow to a wingspan of nearly 2.80 m and a weight of 5–6 kg in just four months. If all goes well, it will fledge around July — becoming the first Corsican Bearded Vulture in years to reach this milestone.
The single chick in the nest this year is a fragile but powerful symbol of what’s possible — and a reminder of how much remains to be done to secure the future of the genetically invaluable Corsican Bearded Vulture population.
The LIFE GypRescue project
Led by Parc naturel régional de Corse, in collaboration with Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Direction des systèmes énergétiques insulaires, Fédération des Chasseurs de la Corse du Sud and us at the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the LIFE GYPRESCUE project (LIFE20 NAT/FR/001553) came to life in 2021 to prevent the extinction of the Bearded Vulture in Corsica. The project team strives to increase the population through restocking actions, improve the natural reproduction and boost the island’s nesting capacity for the species, while preventing human-related disturbance and mitigating threats to reduce mortality.
