{"id":40994,"date":"2025-11-04T12:25:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=40994"},"modified":"2025-11-04T12:36:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:36:25","slug":"young-bearded-vultures-ubac-and-ushuaia-successfully-adapt-to-life-the-wild-in-grands-causses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/young-bearded-vultures-ubac-and-ushuaia-successfully-adapt-to-life-the-wild-in-grands-causses\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Bearded Vultures Ubac and Ushuaia successfully adapt to life in the wild in France"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus<\/em>)<\/a> reintroduction season in the Grands Causses, France, began with the release of three young birds: Ubac, Ushua\u00efa<\/a>, and Univers<\/a>. Now, months later, the two eldest have fully taken to the skies and established themselves as independent and confident young vultures. Their journeys have been anything but linear, marked by challenges, resilience, and steady progress toward independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bearded Vulture Ushuaia (c) LIFE GypAct<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Ubac\u2019s challenging beginnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ubac was the first to take off<\/a> on June 23, at 122 days old. His first flights around the release area were short but encouraging, allowing him to explore and familiarize himself with his surroundings. However, the following days brought scorching heat and repeated summer storms, creating difficult flying and foraging conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bearded Vulture \u201cUbac\u201d at the release site \u00a9 LIFE Gypact
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reduced food intake and dehydration soon weakened Ubac. On July 2, the monitoring team had to intervene after the bird landed in a densely wooded area from which he could not easily take off. Once safely recovered, Ubac returned to the ledge, where he could rest, preen, and feed in abundance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After three days of recovery, Ubac was ready to take to the air again. Renewed and stronger, he resumed exploring the surrounding gorges and cliffs. Benefiting from calmer weather, his confidence and endurance improved rapidly \u2014 with longer flight times and expanding flight ranges. Regular visits to the release site for food and water confirmed his good adaptation and steady development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ushua\u00efa follows with grace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just over a week later, on the morning of July 1, Ushua\u00efa \u2014 then 120 days old \u2014 took her first flight. She landed just below the ledge and remained there for several hours, carefully observing her new world before continuing her explorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bearded Vultures “Ushuaia” and “Ubac” at the release site \u00a9 Th\u00e9o Gaucerand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the following days, Ushua\u00efa displayed remarkable poise in flight and quickly learned where to find food and water around the release site. Like Ubac, she combined moments of exploration with periods of rest, gradually extending her flight range as her strength and confidence grew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companionship and challenges in the sky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even before their first flights, Ubac and Ushua\u00efa had built a close bond on the ledge \u2014 and this companionship continued once they started flying. The pair were often seen together, flying in tandem or resting side by side. They even shared meals, though Ushua\u00efa was sometimes less enthusiastic about sharing her portion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their cooperation proved valuable when facing the many challenges of their early weeks. Both birds were subjected to harassment from local avifauna \u2014 kestrels, crows, Griffon and Cinereous Vultures, and even Golden Eagles. On several occasions, the monitoring team\u2019s anxiety peaked during interactions with older Bearded Vultures, particularly a five-year-old male named Peyre<\/em>, who showed occasional aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite losing a few feathers in one such encounter, Ubac\u2019s flying ability was unaffected. The young vultures adapted quickly, learning to assert themselves when necessary and to remain discreet around older birds. Over time, they were even seen successfully defending feeding spots from other vultures and corvids \u2014 clear signs of growing confidence and social maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanding horizons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the weeks passed, Ubac and Ushua\u00efa ventured further from the release site in the Tr\u00e9vezel Gorges, exploring Mont Aigoual<\/em>, the Causse du Larzac<\/em>, the Jonte Gorges<\/em>, and Causse B\u00e9gon<\/em>. They began choosing roosting sites farther from the release area, returning periodically to feed and drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch below a recent video recorded by LPO of Ushuaia enjoying a bone snack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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