Shnitnikov, V.N. 1949. BROWN (CINEREOUS) VULTURE
In: [Birds of Semirech'ye]. Moscow - Leningrad, Publ. house of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1949. Pp. 236-237. In Russian.
The Black Vulture is a common bird everywhere in mountains of Semirech'ye and during nesting period it inhabit zone of upper fir and archa, because in contrast to the other Vultures, it locate own nests not on the rocks, but in trees, more often - in archa. At the same time, according to observations of Spangenberg, it nests colonially. There are the following data regarding its nesting time: 14/III 1905, on the Syrtdzhas syrts one nest with one egg (91,8 x 71,6) was discovered; in 1936 seven nests of the BV were discovered on the Alexandrovskiy mountain ridge: 30/IV 1936 - one strongly incubated egg; 2/V 1936 - one incubated egg; 19/V- one addled egg; end of May - 4 nests, consisted of large chicks.
In 1934, at the same place, at the middle of June, all nests were left already by young birds.
In Tyshkan 5/VII 1899 one chick of BV was shot with almost developed small feathers and a half-developed primaries and rectrices. Given data is an evidence of quite great fluctuations in dates of egg-laying. Brown Vulture more willingly than other species, visits in searching of food the plain part of territory; it can be sighted there in summer too. I observed it repeatedly, for example, in the Alakul'skaya plain.
In spite of Menzbier's evidence ("Ornith. du Turk."), this Vulture is occurring in our area in winter too and even quite often.
Map 36. Distribution of Brown Vulture.
Existing data on the nesting of the Brown Vulture in saxaul groves or on the "turanga"s in Aidarly-Kum hardly correspondents to reality.
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Bogdanov, A.N.1952. CINEREOUS VULTURE.
In: Birds of the Zerafshan River basin // Proceedings of the Institute of Zoology and Parasithology. Vol. 5. Zoological collections. Publ. House of Academy of Science of the Uzbek SSR. 1952. Pp.107-164. In Russian.
The Black Vulture - Aegypius monachus L. P.147.
Material: 12 December 1932, Iskander-Kul' Lake; 21 May 1936, environs of the Samarkand; 28 November 1937, Agalyk.
Resident bird of region of the Iskander-Kul' lake. We observed repeatedly in September in the Turkestan mouantain ridge at the length (within) Mindon-Zakhmatabad kishlak, in Pasrud-Sai and in region of the Kshtut in the Zerafshanskiy mountain ridge.
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Korshunova, Ye.N., Korshunov, Ye.N. 1979. Cinereous Vulture at the Nuratinsky [Nuratau] Nature Reserve.
In: Uzbek Biological Journal. Tashkent. No 4. Pp.78-79. In Russian.
There are some data (1) on feeding, nesting and distribution of the Cinereous (Black) Vulture (Aegypius monachus L.), inhabiting the Nuratau mountain ridge. However, many sides of its biology - density of nesting pairs, dates of egg-laying and incubation were leaving unknown. Only discovery of fledged and ready to leave nest young chicks in 20's dates of July 1967 was recorded.
In 1978 we have discovered and checked 15 living nests of the Cinereous Vulture on area of 5864 ha, i.e. 2,6 nesting pairs per 1000 ha. Among it 8 living nests were discovered in the Khayat sai (local name of place) on area of 2250 ha (Maximum density 3,6 nesting pairs per 1000 ha). Nests of the Cinereous Vulture were situated at the distance of 300-400 m each from other. In the Karry sai on area of 1802 ha there were 5 nests (2,8 nesting pairs per 1000 ha). Minimal density - 1,05 nesting pairs per 1000 ha was in Tykcha sai, where totally 2 nests took place.
All nests, discovered by us, located in the "tau" belt and upper "adyr" at the altitudes 1350-1700 m above sea level, and main part of nests - on the southern, south-eastern and south-western slopes. Nests were built on the Bukhara almond-trees (Amygdalus bucharica) at the height from 1,5 up to 2,5 m.
The CV's nest is huge and durable construction of thick twigs, freely sustaining weight of two men. The outer diameter of nest reaches 2,8 m, but usually 1,40-2 m. Height of nest is up to 1,3 m, usually 0,5-0,8 m. Maximal depth of tray 13 cm, usually 8-11; maximal diameter up to 115 cm, usually 60-90. Cup is lining with thin twiglets and dry grass.
12 and 13 March 1978 we observed CV near nest. Birds were already sitting on several nests. 20 March in all 6 living nests of the Khayat sai, CV incubated eggs. In one of nests an egg was discovered 25 March. In inspection of one nest more in the Khayat sai, 7 eggs were discovered *. Probably they were laid at I-II decades of March. There were in one egg in all clutches. Eggs are white, with brown spots, sometimes (egg from nest No1) clear white. Sizes of egg, cleared up as an addled egg (nest No 11), were 68,9 x 88,9 mm. Weight of egg, weighed 17 April (nest N1), was equal 249 g, and egg, weighed 6 May (nest No 4), - 260 g.
In the Khasyat sai in inspection of five living nests 5-6 May in three nests chicks at the age of 1 - 2 days were discovered, in one nest - one inside pecked egg with peeping chick and only in one - safe egg. Further observations on other nests allowed us to do conclusion, that in all nests chicks appear in the 1st decade of May practically simultaneously.
During current inspection of two nests 22 August young CV flew out from the nests. In the same day young vulture was sighted outside the nest. Thus, the nesting period in CV on the Nuratau mountain ridge lasts more 5-5,45 months, since the I-II decade of March till the middle - end of August. Incubation goes more 47 days, young vultures leave nest at the age of 108-110 days.
In the Khayat sai from 7 nests with laid eggs, chicks were hatched successfully in four nests, i.e. loss has formed about 42,9 %.
Among all 15 controlled living nests the chicks were reared in 11, and in 4 nests during inspection in July chicks were not discovered. In the Karry sai (nest No 11) 2 July birds incubated addled egg, in nest N 2 chick has hatched successfully, but later, obviously, perished. Reasons of death of chicks in nests N4 and 15 are unknown.
LITERATURE
1. Salikhbaev, Kh.S., Kashkarov, D.Yu., Sharipov, A. 1970. In collection of papers "Ecology of vertebrate animals of the Nuratau mountain ridge". Tashkent*
* - so it was in original text.
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Korshunova, Ye.N., Korshunov, Ye.N. 1983. CINEREOUS VULTURE IN NURATINSKIY NATURE RESERVE.
In: Ecology of birds of prey. Moscow, 1983. Pp.66-70. In Russian.
(Nuratau Nature Reserve)
Investigations were conducted in the Nuratinskiy (Nuratau) Nature Reserve and on adjoining territory in 1978-1982. Census of nesting pairs by means of mapping of living nests was carried out annually on the plot No1 with area of 5860 ha, and in 1980 and 1982 - in all territory of Nature Reserve. The most convenient time of census - period of nest building - end of February - beginning of March. In the later census in March-April the some part of nesting pairs is not counted. Investigation of all territory in July-August (1979, 1981) gives not nesting pair numbers, but result of their breeding, because itБ─≥s possible to count only those part in this time, which in chicks have hatched and reared up.
For season the nests were investigated twice: in period of incubation, after hatching of chicks and before flying out (fledging). Success and dates of breeding, peculiarities of behaviour and other features of biology were cleared up by the stationary observations with 20x telescope, and also during regular (1 time in 6-7 days) visits of nest. Description of clutches and chicks were conducted. Volume of egg (V) was determined as V=0,51 ..b../Hoyt Donald E., 1979/, where ... - egg's length, b - the largest diameter. The young Vultures were ringed, in 1980-1982 they were marked by wing-marks from two-layers celluloid from upper and lower sides of wing. For period of investigations 150 cases of nesting in 70 nests were registered, 100 clutches (101 eggs) were described and measured. Nesting success was cleared up in 122 pairs. among 88 fledglings 83 were ringed and 50 young birds were marked by wing-marks. All discovered nests were situated in the belt "tau".... and the upper "adyr"...., at the altitudes 900-1900 m above sea level on the southern, south-eastern and south-western stony slopes. They are set up, as a rule, in trees of the Bukhara almond-tree at the 1,5-5 m above ground in dependence of tree's height. Vultures build new nests seldom, they additionally build (rebuild, repair) the old ones. Owing to annual additional buildings the nests are becoming so large, that they are falling in... owing to own great weight. Vultures begin to nest at the I-II decades of February. Copulation takes place in nest 1-3 times per day and is continuing 1222 seconds. During nest-building and in the first time after egg-laying, birds actively protect nest and nesting plot (area) from other birds. Once struggle of Vultures was observed even on the ground: usually their attacks carry only the demonstrative character, and Vultures breed (nest) sometimes at the distance of 100-150 m each from other. In February-March in nesting sites group of soaring birds of 2-3 and more pairs were recorded and at the same time the "other" birds are driving away from the nesting plot for the several km. Dates of clutch - since the third decade of February till the I decade of April: the earliest date is recorded 24.04.81, but the main part of birds lay eggs at the I-II decades of March, in solitary cases - at the beginning of April. After egg-laying the male continues to build a nest for a long time. Building was observed even one month later after egg-laying, but it had the clear ritual character: male with twig in the bill flew to the nest to change female. After egg-laying in the nest only 1 bird is roosting, and other one is setting up no far on the shrubs or on the rock. Nest building and copulation is completing by clutch not always. In 1979 on the area of 15 sq. km from 11 pairs, which began to build a nest, only 10 have completed and only 9 laid eggs. One pair, among those, which begin to build new nests by the first, did not egg, though copulation of these birds was registered since 11 February till 10 April; other pair did not complete nest-building. 2 seasons are necessary for building of the normal nest. So, from 6 pairs, began to build a new nest (1979-1981), 5 pairs per year did not have clutches, and in 1 pair clutch was lost, because nest was so little, and tray - so shallow. On the second year 4 pairs successfully reared up chicks successfully in these nests. It is difficult to count percentage of "childless pairs" on the great areas, because without stationary observations it is difficult to distinguish the early loss of clutch from the complete absence of clutches. Clutch consists of a single egg of white colour with brown spots of different size, shape and colour intensity. The clear white eggs form 9,8 % of all eggs. Sizes of egg are the following usually: 99,6-81,9 x 73,6-63,5; four times we have met eggs considerably lesser: 69,2 x 51,4 mm; 78,1 x 68,1; 89,6 x 57,8; 98,0 x 55,4 mm, 3 among which were addled eggs, reason of loss in the 4th egg is unknown. There were 2 eggs in 1 clutch of 100, but we don't know, did the both eggs belong to hosts of nest or not. There is possibility of laying of the second egg by other bird, that is confirmed by case took place in 1980, when egg was laid in the old, non-renewed nest, near of which birds were not sighted either before egg-laying or after that. Chick is hatching in 54-56 days. Till chick is poor fledged, adult bird protect (covers) it by own shadow from the sun. By 2 months age, body of young bird completely are covering by growing feathers and chick longer and longer stay alone in the nest. The young birds with weight 7,2-8,8 kg at the age of 104-120 days leave a nest, after finishing of primaries and rectrices forming, but they are not able still to take off the horizontal surface. Probably, therefore Vultures avoid to breed on gently sloping (less than 15-20 degrees) slopes. The earliest take off is recorded 26.07.82, the latest one - in period of 02.09-07.09.79. The main part of fledglings leaves nests at the middle-end of August. Adult birds feed chick by belching, in the first month before flying out 1, rare - 2 times per day. Judging on remainders in the nests, carcasses of domestic animals (meat, fell, bones), more seldom - wild animals - Severtsov's goat, wild boar, tortoises etc. form the base for their feeding. Rearing of young birds is continuing after their flying out also. Even at the beginning of October adult birds rear them on the nests, though the young Vultures flew away from their nests at tens kilometers. By the end of October a part of Vultures nomads away. So, the young bird is discovered 07.11.79 at 250 km southward nesting site (in previous publications we mistakenly pointed 1000 km). Number of nesting pair in nature reserve reaches 40-45 pairs and don't differ in different years. So, pair density on the plot No1 in 1979-1980 formed 3,2 pairs per 10 sq. km, in 1981 was the minimum - 3,1 pairs, and in 1982 - maximum - 3,6 pairs per 10 sq. km (in 1981 number of clutches was almost on the third part lower, than in 1982, owing to bad weather conditions in February-March). Breeding success in Nature Reserve was the lowest in 1979 - 0,50 fledglings per clutch or 0,44 - per pair, the highest one - in 1982 - 0,70 fledglings per clutch or 0,62 - per pair. In average 0,57 fledglings (on the base of 109 clutches) have been per clutch, per pair - 0,50 (on the base of 115 pairs). The nesting result, summarizing from nesting pair density and breeding efficiency, it is possible as a number of fledglings per 10 sq. km. On the plot No1 it was minimal in 1979 and 1981 - 1,6 fledglings per 10 sq. km, in 1978 and 1980 has formed 1,9 and the highest one was in 1982 - 2,6; analogically on all territory of nature reserve in 1979 and 1981 - 0,7 fledglings; in 1980 - 0,8 and in 1982 - 1,2 fledglings per 1000 ha. It is possible to record the following reasons of loss of eggs and nestlings in nesting period: among 26 cases, when the reason of loss was known, 73% belonged to the loss of eggs, including 46 -"addled eggs"; 12- the loss of embryo, 22 - the loss of nestlings, and 19% - the loss at the first days after hatching; 2) the highest mortality is recorded among eggs with the least volume: from 100% mortality among eggs with volume less than 180 cubic cm and 61 % - among eggs with volume 180-200 cubic cm, up to 14 % among eggs with volume more 240 cubic cm; 3) perishing of nests by man was registered three times. The Black Vulture nesting density in nature reserve as 1,7-2,0 pairs per 10 sq. km can be considered as the optimal one. Interrelations of Vulture with man in the present time is becoming more and more close, because domestic cattle have suppland wild ungulates in the desert and low-mountain regions of Middle Asia, and feeding base of Vulture is depending on cattle-farming completely. In contrast to many rare bird species, the moderate activity of the disturbance factor doesn't adversely affect breeding success of this necrophag, and in the future Vulture can be as numerous species again. However, existing cases of the direct persecution by men of eggs and nestlings in nests, and also adult birds in feeding sites, doesn't allow consider question about species conservation as a solved one. Cutting down of the Bukhara almond-tree on slopes outside the limits of Nature Reserve is adversely affects nesting conditions for the Black Vulture.
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Meklenburtsev, R.N.1958. Black Vulture and Bearded Vulture
In: Materials on terrestrial vertebrates of the Kashka-daria River basin // [Proc. of Middle-Asian State University. New series]. Issue No 130. Biological sciences. Book 30. Tashkent, 1958. 141pp. In Russian. Pp.50.
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus L.
Black Vulture in the Kashka-daria River basin is inferior in numbers to previous species (Neophron percnopterus percnopterus L., Gyps fulvus fulvus Habl.). In 1938 it was observed only once near Chim. One observation was made in 1954 on the Chiyal'daria, where a pair of the Black Vultures has come to the horse's carcass, above which a lot of Egyptian and Griffon Vultures were soared. Finally, above Avazchil 13 June 1956 about ten of these birds were recorded, flying on the great height together with a flock of Griffon Vultures.
Gypaetus barbatus aureus Habl.
Bearded Vulture, as everywhere in the Middle Asia, in the Kashka-daria river basin, it is sighting only in mountains and for the most part near large rock massifs. If the latter are presented, so this bird is settling very low. Bearded Vulture was observed in 1935 on the Guzar-daria, where this river had outlet from mountains. It was recorded on the Ayakcha-daria River, where this river is breaking through the last range of rocks of the Zerafshan mountain ridge and further is going on the valley. From here the Bearded Vulture sometimes flew out on the plains also. So, it was recorded two times above hillocks near Ak-chuva.
From other side, this species is raising very high and was observed in upper parts of Katta-Uru-daria and in mountains on the Tankhas.
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Meklenburtsev, R.N.1982. CINEREOUS VULTURE
In: Birds of prey of Uzbekistan. Tashkent, "Uzbekistan", 1982. 64 pp. In Russian. Pp.26-27.
Sizes are similar to Griffon Vulture's ones. Wing - 70-82 cm. Tail - 35-40 cm. Colouring is dark-brown. It looks from the great distance as especially dark, even black completely. Head is covered by down. There is the peculiar "collar" from feathers on the neck.
Inhabits all Uzbekistan, however it is occurring on the plains seldom and absent in oases. Inhabits different vertical structures of relief - mountains, precipices, rocks. From this place it makes quite far feeding flights and can be sighted even in deserts.
Nest is locating on the tree and reaches 1 m of height and up to 2 m in diameter. It is setting up sometimes on the small height, even on the massive shrub (for example, saxaul or ephedra). Nest is lining with small twigs, grass, wool etc. Clutch consist of one egg of the dirty-white colour with reddish-brown spots. Egg's length - 84-97 mm, width - 64-72 mm. Incubation is longing 55 days. The downy chick is the yellowish-grey.
Feeds carcasses of different animals, mainly the large ones. Sometimes small animals can be as a food also - sousliks, lizards, tortoises, which are catching by Vulture as the living ones.
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Mitropolskiy, O.V., Fotteler, E.R., Tret'yakov, G.P. 1987. [Cinereous [Black] Vulture]. // [Birds of the Uzbekistan]. Vol. I. Tashkent, "Fan", 1987. Pp.204-209. In Russian.
Falconiformes order on pp.123-246.
Nesting, relatively numerous bird of mountain system of Uzbekistan. In nesting BV is connected with low-mountain and middle-mountain regions. In nomadic movements, during out-nesting time both adult birds, and immature birds visit practically all plain and mountain regions, avoiding only zones of agricultural oases.
One of the largest birds. Colouring is monotonous black-brown. Tail is sharply round, noticeably longer, than in the Griffon Vulture. It is well distinguished in the field. In sitting bird, especially on the nest, the whitish down on the head is well noticed. The nude plots of skin are greyish-blue. The young birds are lighter from below a little bit.
From afar it can be mixed with young White-tailed Eagles, but on closer examination it is distinguished easily by general look. It soars well, but during taking off from the nest or "prisada" (resting sitting place - perch) it uses active flight with slow heavy wing flaps.
Range covers extreme north of Africa, southern Europe, Front-, Middle- and Central Asia. BV does not form subspecies.
Data on the BV on the "chinks" of the Karakalpakian Ustyurt (Kostin, 1956), were not confirmed by finds of nests, are not quite reliable. The northernmost breeding of BV in Uzbekistan is recorded in central Kyzyl-Kumy. Small colony annually exists in gorges of northern slopes of the Bukantau mountain ridge. Several pairs are being sighted constantly on the Aktau mountain in the Tamdytau mountain ridge. Besides that, cases of the irregular nesting of the separate pairs among ripe saxaul groves in the far regions of sands in the north-east of central Kyzyl-Kumy, where the huge unliving nests of this species were observed, and in May 1969 in Sharga "urochishche (site)" a nest with fledged chick was studied (Mitropolskiy, 1980; Fotteler, Mitropolskiy, 1984). There is a pointing on discovering of nests in the sand massifs for the Kazakhstan part of Kyzyl-Kumy also (Spangenberg, Feigin, 1936).
BVs breed in all large peripheral mountain ridges of western Tien Shan and Pamiro-Alai, but in present time they are rare in majority of regions. In western Tien Shan within limits of republic, species is recorded in nesting time on the Pskemskiy, Kuraminskiy and Ugamskiy mountain ridges (Korelov, 1956; our data), and nest sightings are known on the Chatkalskiy mountain ridge (Zheleznyakov, Kolesnikov, 1958; our data). It regularly occurs on the forest northern slopes of the Turkestan ridge (Abdusalyamov, 1971; Filatov, 1981; our data), but nests are known for sure only from territory of the Zaaminskiy Nature Reserve (O.N.Sudarev, oral communication), but at the beginning of our century breeding of one pair is registered near Vorota Tamerlana (Tamerlan's Gates) on the Sanzar River (Loudon, 1910). In western part of Zarafshanskiy mountain ridge, if breeds, but very seldom (Bogdanov, 1956; our data). For whole this region at the present time, Vultures are numerous as nesting birds only on the Nuratau ridge, especially on territory of Nuratinskiy [Nuratau] Nature Reserve. This is not excluded, that in the last ten-year periods the considerable redistribution of Vultures on nesting in Syr Daria and Amu Daria Rivers basins took place. In particular, in connection with cutting of tall-trunk forests, increased disturbance factors, catastrophic decline of wild ungulate numbers and everywhere agricultural development of the foothill regions, numbers of Vultures were declined sharply on the large mountain ridges, bordering with the middle part of Syr Daria River, Golodnaya steppe, Kashka Daria and Surkhan Daria Rivers basins. At the same time, BV stopped to nest in the insular hills mountains of Kyzyl Kumys, where in the past (Bogdanov, 1882; Zarudnyi, 1915) they were not observed, and also on the Nuratau ridge, deeply put into the desert regions. BV, nesting in low-trunk shrubs and rocks, widely develop the feeding resources of the desert pastures.
In mountains, surrounding Kashka Daria and Surkhan Daria Rivers basins, Vultures are rare relatively, though their nesting was recorded in upper parts of the Aksu River, on the Babatag River and Kugitang ridges (Salikhbaev, Ostapenko, 1964; Abdusalyamov, 1971; our data). Adult birds during out-nesting period, and immature and unmarried birds all year round occur practically on all territory of republic. They are numerous, especially in the cold time of year, in Ustyurt, in central and southern Kyzyl Kumy, they are common in valleys of plain rivers, and, probably, avoid only large agricultural oases. They occur often on the outskirts of cattle-breeding settlements and on garbage dumps. In summer time vultures in a number occur above all alpine pastures of the subalpine and alpine zones, but after moving of cattle, they leave these regions.
Vertical diapason of vulture distribution on nesting in Uzbekistan is great - from 400 up to 2300 m above sea level, non-breeding birds settle all altitude belts, without exclusions. There are not seasonal expressed migrations in this species, besides the general movements, above described, however they are able to find sites of considerable ungulate loss and to concentrate near it. Probably the major part of poor-developed regions of republic is constantly situated under observation of vultures.
The Black Vulture numbers as a whole is not high, but in connection with group settlement of nesting pairs, it reaches high indices in some places. So, in Nuratau in territory of nature reserve 40-45 nesting pairs are counted, and their number does not change in different years. Density forms 3,1-3,6 pairs per 10 sq. km (Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983). During series of years we registered 5-6 nesting pairs on the Bukantau ridge, besides which nesting of 2-3 pairs is possible too. Data on numbers of BV on the rest territory are absent, supposedly it breeds by solitary pairs.
On territory of Uzbekistan the breeding of two types is known - in the trees and on the rocks, described for other parts of Black Vulture breeding range too (Geptner, 1956; Potapov, 1959; Korelov, 1962; Kozlova, 1975). In mountain massifs, where there is a tree-shrub vegetation, BV locates own constructions only in trees (dominantly archa (Juniperus) and almond-tree), and breeding on the rocks can be considered as a rare exclusion. So, among 150 nesting cases in Nuratau 70 nests were located in the Bukhara almond-tree, in spite of presence of massive rocky outlets (Korshunov, Korshunova, 1983). Nests, known from the Zaaminskiy Nature Reserve, upper parts of the Zerafshan River (Iskander-Kul Lake), were set up on the tops of archa (Bogdanov, 1956; O.N.Sudarev, oral communication). Nesting on rocks and precipices in republic is known for the joint of the Nuratinskiy mountain ridge with Turkestanskiy (Vorota Tamerlana - Gates of Tamerlan), was recorded by H.Loudon (1910) and was supposed by V.P.Kostin (1956) on precipices of Ustyurt. It should be marked, that V.P.Kostin does not give data on discovering of nests. In forestless mountains of Bukantau more than 30 nests controlled by us were located on rocks, and only 1 nest leant by edge on the small shrub, which under its weight completely has adjoined to the rock. In the plain Kyzyl-Kumy nests of BV are setting up on saxaul (Mitropolskiy, 1980), and in the Urme sands on the latitude of Dzhulek (northern Kyzyl-Kumy) nest was located on remainders of saxaul directly on the sandy soil
(Spangenberg, Feigin, 1936).
In dependence on dislocation, nests can be used during different periods. If nest is using repeatedly, so nest is additionally building, as a result, its sizes are increasing sufficiently. Not rare nests, set up in the trees, fall to the ground under its own weight (Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983). Constructions on the rocks serve uncertain long period. So, in Bukantau since 1976 till 1986 we did not record construction of nests, nesting pairs occupy having nests, insufficiently building on (raising) a cup, and sometimes avoiding it. Judging on status of lower layers of nest, some of it are using during some decades. Construction of nest, according to observations in the Nuratinskiy Nature Reserve, not always is finishing by the clutch appearance. Probably the two seasons are necessary for building by vultures the nest of full value. Thick twigs and quite long dry branches are using as a building material. Diameter of nest reaches 1,5-2 m, its thickness depends on duration of use and usually reach 1 m and more. Cup is lining with shattered stems of ferula, small thin switches, bunch of stems of grass plants and its roots, scraps of fells, wool from crushed pellets, small bones of ungulates occur sometimes, parts of testa (shell) and pads of tortoises etc. Almost always primaries of Vulture can be sighted in the nest or near it. Cup is expressed illegibly as a small deepening.
Vulture's nests concentrate into the group settlements - colonies and are located at the distance of 100-500 m each from other, but they breed by the separate pairs too. Number of pairs, nesting in such groups, is not stable from year to year, but usually always there are unoccupied constructions. In separate years birds are absent in colonies at all.
Eggs are mat. The main background is white or pale-yellowish. The surface figure, as a rule, does not cover more 30 % of surface and is represented by spots, specks and dots of brown or yellow-brown colour, and on the each separate egg (Clutch) one of these colours dominate. The deep spots are grey or grey-violet. Figure is formed by only deep spots on the some eggs. In several cases all elements of figure are reduced and are represented by innumerous and invisible dots. Ye.N.Korshunova and Ye.N.Korshunov (1983) counted up to 9,8% of clean-white eggs in the BV. Sizes of eggs from the Nuratau mountain ridge (n=97) fluctuate within limits 99,6-81,9 x 73,6-63,5 mm, in average (n=51) 91,06 x 69,67 mm. Besides that, 4 eggs were controlled here, differing in sizes from the common ones: 69,2 x 51,4; 78,1 x 68,1; 89,6 x 57,8 and 98,0 x 55,4. Among these eggs 3 were addled eggs, 1 was lost owing to undetermined reason. Egg weight in different stage of incubation (n=49) in average 236,2 (271,5-177,1) g. Sizes of eggs from Bukantau (n=29) in average 91,68 x 70,96 (97,9-84,9 x 75,4-66,1) mm. Weight of three new-laid eggs- 252,5; 249,3 and 205,5 g.
Dates of Black Vulture breeding are extended. So, in Nuratau (Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983), according to observations for 150 nesting cases, clutch takes place since the third decade of February till the first decade of April (the earliest is registered 24.02.81), but mainly during 1-2 decades of March. According to our observations in Bukantau (31 nesting cases), clutch takes place in the same dates. So, hatching of the first chick is recorded 28.04.82, and clutch in the same nest must take place at the first dates of March according to calculated dates. Cases of egg-laying at the end of March-first decade of April are registered. In nests, controlled by P.F.Rypl (Ivanov, 1969) in the vicinity of the Iskander-Kul Lake 14.05.33, was only one egg, and 3.06.33 - downy chick (Bogdanov, 1956). One egg was in the nest in the Zaaminskiy Nature reserve in April (O.N.Sudarev, oral communication).
It is interesting to record very early nesting dates in the Black Vulture breeding by solitary pairs on the plains of Kyzyl-Kumy. So, in the nest near the Sharga well (north-eastern Kyzyl-Kumy) at the second decade of May 1969 already fledged nestling was situated with developed contour feathering (Mitropolskiy, 1980), and consequently, clutch took place at the middle or even at the beginning of January. Winter 1968-1969 had strong snow-falls and long winter, provoked mass loss of small cattle that undoubtedly, has attracted Black Vulture and promotes the early breeding. Nest, described by Ye.P.Spangenberg and G.A.Feigin (1936) in northern Kyzyl-Kumy, also contained at the middle of May 1932 a large chick. The earliest flying out of young bird is registered by Ye.N.Korshunova and Ye.N.Korshunov (1983) in Nuratau 26.07.82, the latest - 2-7.09; main part of fledglings leave nests at the middle - end of August.
The complete normal clutch of Black Vulture consists of 1 egg that is recorded in 99 cases for the Nuratau ridge and in 31 cases for the Bukantau ridge. In eastern Uzbekistan all 3 known nests (each) contained 1 egg. Only in one case in the Nuratau ridge two eggs were discovered in the nest, but there was not a full confidence, that both eggs were laid by the same female. Case of egg discovering in uninhabited nest, where birds were sighted neither before, nor after clutch, allows doubt in a.m. fact.
Breeding success of BV forms in average for Nuratau 0,57 fledglings per clutch, and among 26 cases, when reason of eggs or chicks loss was known, 46 % were infertile eggs, 12 % - death of embryo, loss of chicks 22 %; in 19% cases they perished at the first days after hatching (Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983). In Bukantau, during checking of 29 clutches, we have recorded infertile egg only once. That gives base to suggest the great their breeding success here, that is result of, probably, relatively small sizes of nesting colony and better provision of birds with food.
Incubation, that begins just after laying of the single egg, continues 54-56 days. Flying out of young birds from the nests takes place at the age of 104-120 days.
Forming of specialization in the Black Vulture feeding went by the way of their utilization of the muscle tissues of the lost large ungulate animals (Kozlova, 1975). That is expressed in the greatest extent on our territory too. The main food of Black Vulture in the present period is the lost domestic animals. Small cattle as more numerous one, has the main role that is visually displaying during checking of pellets, collected in regions of nests. Wild ungulates formed the feeding base in the past, but in connection with decrease of their numbers right up to complete vanishing (disappearing) on the extensive territory, connection of Black Vulture with remainders of cattle-farming becomes more and more close. So, if in Nuratau the Severtsov's goat and wild boar occur still in the Black Vulture feeding (Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983), so in Bukantau exclusively domestic animals (camels, donkeys, horses, sheep, dogs) form their food; among wild animals only foxes, hares and yellow susliks are recorded in small quantity. Tortoises occupy a special place in the Black Vulture feeding. Separate pairs feed nestlings in May exclusively by tortoises. Cases of attack of Black Vulture on the just-born lambs are given (Kozlova, 1975); they can be considered as rarest phenomena.
Breeding of Vulture in a series of regions, where it could be sighted before, is result of increasing connection of bird with remainders of cattle-farming. In the absence of direct nest persecution or poaching shooting of birds, numbers of Black Vulture will increase. Nests are very accessible sometimes. The insignificant disturbance of birds on the nests doesn't create the sufficient damage for them.
Black Vulture accomplishes sanitary function and eliminates remainders of cattle-farming and demands conservation (protection) everywhere.
