{"id":14919,"date":"2020-12-15T12:47:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T10:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=14919"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:47:06","slug":"meet-the-bearded-vultures-that-flew-above-seas-and-travelled-vast-distances-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/meet-the-bearded-vultures-that-flew-above-seas-and-travelled-vast-distances-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Bearded Vultures that flew above seas and travelled vast distances in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The different partners within the International Bearded Vulture Monitoring Network<\/a> (IBM), coordinated by the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), currently follow the movements of over 50 Bearded Vultures<\/a>. The monitoring with GPS tags helps us identify if a bird is in trouble to react as quickly as possible and learn about their behaviour and movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The birds equipped with GPS tags are either captive-bred and released or wild-hatched from the Alps, Andalusia, Corsica, Maestragzo, the Massif Central or the Pre-Alps. On the other hand, the network also monitors individuals across the Alpine arc through observations, where most Bearded Vultures can be identified through their unique plumage characteristics or identification rings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, we learn more about this species through this Network, and 2020 was no different. For years, we’ve known that young Bearded Vultures often leave their mountainous habitats, travel vast distances, exploring unusual corners in Europe. Still, this year, we confirmed that birds from island populations could fly above seas and find their way home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Corsican birds that left their island<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This year, two Corsican birds surprised us as they left the island! First, it was Cintu, a captive-bred Bearded Vulture that was released in Corsica last year<\/a> as part of the restocking efforts of the Parc Naturel R\u00e9gional de Corse (PNRC)<\/a> and the VCF. In June, the young Bearded Vulture flew away from Corsica<\/a>, visited Capraia island about 40 km away, and even travelled halfway to Elba island, before going back to Capraia, spending the night, and returning to Corsica the next day. Then Orba who was released the same time as Cintu in 2019, followed in his footsteps and left Corsica in July. She also reached Capraia island, spent the night and returned to Corsica the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their movements provided significant input. In the past, there were observations in Greek islands of Bearded Vulture crossing the seas, but now we know for sure that Bearded Vultures can leave their islands and find their way back around since it was recorded with GPS data for the first time. Indeed, this news was quite impressive when considering the large size of these birds, the limited thermals above the sea and that there was nowhere to land and rest.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wandering Pierro<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n