{"id":41287,"date":"2026-01-13T11:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=41287"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T10:03:08","slug":"the-beginning-of-the-bearded-vulture-breeding-season-building-the-nest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/the-beginning-of-the-bearded-vulture-breeding-season-building-the-nest\/","title":{"rendered":"The beginning of the Bearded Vulture Breeding Season: Building the nest\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

As early as October, when temperatures begin to drop, the first signs of the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus<\/em>)<\/a> breeding season start to appear. Nest building is among the earliest and most important stages, laying the foundation for the entire breeding cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in the wild the birds take care of every step themselves, in captive breeding centres a little support from staff is necessary to help create the right conditions. In this article, we take a closer look at how this crucial phase unfolds in a specialised captive breeding centre in Vallcalent \u2014 one of the most important breeding centres within the Bearded Vulture EEP network. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bearded Vultures Sauc (Secundino) & Torla<\/a> building their nest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nest building as a breeding stimulus <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the start of the season, staff provide wool and sticks to all established breeding pairs, as well as to birds that are in the process of pairing. The availability of nesting material acts as a behavioural stimulus, encouraging cooperation and strengthening bonds between birds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When two birds are placed together in an aviary for the first time, a nest is prepared for them in advance. Based on several years of experience, this approach is recommended for all captive breeding centres, as it supports the expression of natural breeding behaviour from the very beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimising disturbance during a sensitive period <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the breeding season, nesting material is provided several times a week. Wool and sticks are placed on the ground of the aviaries through the same hatch used for feeding, allowing staff to avoid entering the aviaries during this particularly sensitive period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The birds then collect the materials themselves, carefully transporting each piece to the nest. They take time to decide where each element belongs, frequently rearranging the structure until it meets their preferences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the video, you\u2019ll get a closer look at nest-building behaviour at Vallcalent, showing how pairs such as Secundino & Torla<\/a><\/strong> and Urrobi & Greca prepare their nests for the breeding season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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