In a spectacular journey covering more than 1,600 kilometers, Vinzenz, a one-year-old Bearded Vulture (Gypeatus Barbatus), left the familiar crags of the Bavarian Alps behind and embarked on an extraordinary cross-country flight. His route took him through Bavaria, across western Germany, and into the lowlands of the Netherlands, all the way to the North Sea coast.
From the Alps to the flatlands
Released into the wild in 2024 in Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, Vinzenz initially followed a predictable path, circling the mountain regions around Garmisch. But soon after, he took a dramatic westward turn near Munich, charting a course over Heilbronn, Mannheim, Mainz, and Dortmund, eventually crossing into Dutch airspace north of Nordhorn.
While long-distance flights are not unheard of in young bearded vultures, such northern wanderings are rare—and risky. In the past, some of the most renowned adventurers have included “Rei del Causse,” who traveled to Poland last year; “Eglazine,” who journeyed to the Netherlands in 2022; and perhaps the most famous of all, “Vigo,” who ventured to the UK in 2020 and made waves in the local birding community.
A star in the Netherlands
When Vinzenz touched down in the Netherlands, he quickly became a local celebrity. Sightings came pouring in on birding platforms like Waarneming.nl, and his appearance even made the national news. Dutch birders flocked to spots in Groningen, Kardinge, and Beijum, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare and majestic bird.
Residents in the city of Groningen were stunned when they discovered the vulture casually perched on the eaves of a home in a quiet neighborhood—an extraordinary and unexpected visitor.
The return and rescue
But as thrilling as his adventure was, the journey began to take a toll. After reaching the North Sea coast, Vinzenz turned back toward Germany, crossing the border near Emden. His energy dwindling, he landed on a roadside near Oldenburg.
Thanks to real-time GPS tracking and a vast network of national and international collaborators, volunteers from the “Bartgeier project” had been shadowing him for days. His precise location allowed for a carefully executed and stress-free capture by two experienced raptor handlers, who found him resting in a dense bush by the road.
Safe, stable, and on the mend
Vinzenz was taken to a sanctuary specializing in birds of prey, where initial examinations revealed no injuries but a significant weight loss—around ten percent of his body mass. He is now receiving veterinary care, including a blood test for lead poisoning, one of the most severe threats to vultures across Europe due to contaminated hunting remains.
Despite his ordeal, Vinzenz is stable and recovering well. Once his condition has improved and his weight is back to healthy levels, he will be returned to his alpine home in Berchtesgaden. The exact timing and location of his release will be coordinated with local and regional authorities to ensure a safe and successful return to the wild.
Bearded Vulture reintroduction in the Alps
The species was driven to extinction in the Alps during the 20th Century, and to bring them back, pioneers from all Alpine countries initiated the reintroduction project in the 1970s. The first birds were released in 1986 at Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria), and in 1997 the first breeding pair successfully raised a chick in the wild in France. This reintroduction project has sparked the imagination and gathered the support of many stakeholders across the Alpine chain and is considered one of the best wildlife comeback stories of all time! Now, with the releases of Bearded Vultures in the Bavarian Alps, Germany has become the fifth country to join this successful reintroduction project.
