{"id":40477,"date":"2025-07-23T15:38:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T12:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=40477"},"modified":"2025-07-23T15:38:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T12:38:03","slug":"bearded-vultures-hades-hera-released-in-maestrazgo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/bearded-vultures-hades-hera-released-in-maestrazgo\/","title":{"rendered":"First flight for Hades and Hera: two young Bearded Vultures released in Maestrazgo this year\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025 marks the eighth year of consecutive \u00a0Bearded Vultures releases in Maestrazgo, Spain. This year the team welcomed a male and female named Hades and Hera, respectively. The two recently made their first flight. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project team at the release event in the Tinen\u00e7a de Benifass\u00e0 Natural Park \u00a9Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the eighth consecutive year, the Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project<\/strong> released young captive-bred Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus<\/em>)<\/a> in the Tinen\u00e7a de Benifass\u00e0 Natural Park (Spain)<\/strong>. Hera<\/strong>, the female, hatched in Jerez Zoo<\/a> a little over four months ago. The young male named Hades <\/strong>comes from Tierpark Berlin<\/a> but was reared at the Richard Faust Zentrum, in Vienna. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 12<\/strong>, the two young Bearded Vultures have been released in the hacking site. Last weekend, the two birds made their first flight <\/strong>under the caring eyes of the monitoring team that was following them from afar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a
The team transports Hera and Hades to the mountains \u00a9Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A new life for Hades and Hera <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On June 12, Hades and Hera were placed in an artificial nest in a cave near their natural habitat allowing them time to acclimatise to their future home environment. To ensure proper socialization and less food competition, the team choose two birds that hatched only four days apart.\u00a0While he was in the hacking cave, Hades needed to be treated for a parasite infection. Nevertheless, he demonstrated to be a fighter and often showed dominant behaviour towards Hera right away.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending a little over a month in the artificial nest<\/strong>, they both recently made their first flight. The first one to leave the nest was Hera, late in the afternoon of July 18. Hades followed her a day after, flying for the first time on July 19.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although they have both flown from the nest, they will not be left completely on their own. The first months in the wild can be challenging for young birds, therefore the team will provide additional food sources at the three supplementary feeding stations<\/strong> built in the area. In this way, they will support Hades and Hera until they have learnt how provide for themselves and encourage them to develop a bond with their new territory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"two
The team placing Hera and Hades in the artificial nests in the mountains of Tinen\u00e7a de Benifass\u00e0 Natural Park (Spain). \u00a9Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Young
Hera and Hades stretching exploring their artificial nest \u00a9Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A vital corridor for Bearded Vultures in Europe <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Maestrazgo Reintroduction Project is led by the\u00a0Generalitat of Valencia<\/a>, in collaboration with the Autonomous Communities from\u00a0Arag\u00f3n<\/a>\u00a0y\u00a0Catalonia<\/a>, the Spanish Ministry MITECO (Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge) and the Vulture Conservation Foundation<\/a>. It aims to connect two existing Bearded Vultures populations in Spain: the Pyrenean one in the north and the Andalusian one in the south. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, Bearded Vultures used to nest in the Maestrazgo area, creating a crucial corridor for the species<\/strong>. In fact, two connected populations are stronger and more genetically diverse than two isolated ones. For this reason, multiple conservation actions have been carried out in the area over the years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, 19 Bearded Vultures have been released within the project: <\/p>\n\n\n\n