THE CINEREOUS VULTURE (Aegypius monachus L.) IN RUSSIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE
Galushin, V.M.1983. THE CINEREOUS VULTURE Aegypius monachus (Linnaeus, 1766)
In: Red Data Book of the RSFSR. Animals. Vol.1. First Edition. Moscow, Rossel'khozizdat, 1983. 454 pp. In Russian.
Cinereous Vulture on pp.222-223.
Distribution. In Russia CV is nesting on the northern slopes of the Glavnyi Kavkazskiy (Main Caucasian) ridge (1-4). There are data about discovering of living nest with chicks and shooting of the BV fledgling in 1930's in the south of the Orenburg Region (5, 6). Earlier unknown BV's settlement was discovered in 1973 in the neighboring Aktyubinsk Region of Kazakhstan (7). The old data about BV's nesting in the South-Eastern Altai (8) later was not confirmed. It was mentioned about possibility their nesting in Southern Sayany (9). Pair of BV was recorded at the beginning of April near Khanka Lake (10), but there are not direct evidences of BV nesting in Primor'ye. Movements of BV for considerable distances for searching of food are known well and that is explanation of their frequent sightings in adjoining regions of Siberia and Far East, and numerous vagrant records far northward. The main regions of the BV habitat in the USSR - Middle Asia, Kazakhstan, Trans-Caucasia and mountain Crimea. Outside the USSR BV is nesting in Southern Europe (Spain, the Balkans) and in Asia (from Turkey to Mongolia and China). CV are living in mountains and foothills, where their food is abundant (carcasses of ungulates) and suitable for nesting trees or more rare - rocks. Part of population (probably, adult birds) is resident; solitary winter sightings are known in the Northern Caucasia too (4). At the same time a lot of birds (probably - immature) make nomadic movements widely in winter, for instance, in Southern Primor'ye up to 400-500 BV spend winter annually (11).
Numbers. The total numbers of BV in the Caucasia within limits of the RSFSR, perhaps, doesn't exceed 30 nesting pairs. In some difficult of access mountain regions of Middle Asia, the high and stable density of BV population is saved. In the Middle Asia and Trans-Caucasia, the sufficient declining in BV numbers was not recorded, whilst in Moldavia it has disappeared some decades ago (12), only 5-8 nesting pairs are survived in the Crimea (13). In Europe presently there are 700-900 BV, but their numbers is decreasing everywhere (14).
Limiting factors. Shooting, loss in traps and owing to poisoned baits, destruction of nests, disturbance, lack of food - main factors, limiting numbers of species.
Conservation measures. Shooting on territory of the RSFSR and other republics is prohibited. Species is listed in Appendix II to CITES Convention. It is necessary to strengthen control for fulfilling of protecting legislative measures, carry out explanatory work, especially among shepherds, and also among tourists and alpinists, about necessity to protect BV. Organization of additional feeding plots, successfully acting, for example, in Spain (15) is desirable. For setting up of game reserves in regions of nesting it is necessary to reveal the nesting sites.
Information sources. 15 sources.
Compiler: V.M.Galushin.
***********************************************************************************************
Tilba, P.A. 2001. CHERNYI GRIF [THE CINEREOUS VULTURE]
In: Krasnaya kniga Rossijskoi Federatsii [The Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (Zhivotnye)]. 2001. Moscow, ACT-Astrel Press. Pp.451-452. In Russian.
Category and status: 3rd - "rare species".
Disribution. Northern slopes of the Great Caucasia within limits of Krasnodarskiy and Stavropolskiy Krai (territory), mountain regions of Northern Ossetia and Dagestan [1-4]. The sites, where breeding was registered, are strongly scattered and distant each from other by hundreds kilometers. Breeding in the south of Orenburg Region. South-Eastern Altai, suggestions about breeding in Southern Sayany and Primorie [5] were not confirmed. Outside Russia it occurs in Northern Africa, South Europe, mountain systems of Asia.
Habitats and mode of life. Inhabits mountain regions in combination with extensive open spaces and small plots of forest. During nomadic movements it occurs on the plains in the steppe zone. Breeds by rarefied colonies or single pairs. Nests are locating in trees, more rarely in rocks. There is 1 egg in clutch. Breeding cycle is about 6 months [6,7]. Breeding success is not high: in Georgia 0,25 fledgling per pair [6], in Uzbekistan 0,48 fledgling per pair [7]. It feeds by carrion, giving preference to the muscle tissue of died large mammals. Resident species, but the part of specimens of the population undertakes wide nomadic movements, forming temporarily concentrations far outside the breeding range. In winter in South Primorie (Ussuriland) they concentrate in the number of 400-500 CV [5]. Annually the CV is registering in Kalmykia, forming sometimes the flocks of up to 18 birds [8], periodically it is registering in the South-Western Trans-Baikalia [9].
Number and limiting factors. In Europe there are 700-900 CVs, their number decreases [5]. In Uzbekisan number as a whole is not high, but in the separate regions it reaches considerable indices. In Nuratau Nature Reserve in the 1980Б─≥s it consists of 40-45 pairs [7]. It is rare in Kazakhstan, where single pairs do breed [10]. One of the rarest large birds of prey of Turkmenia [11]. Comparatively recently it has disappeared in Moldavia, in the Crimea not more 5-8 pairs breed [5]. In Eastern Trans-Caucasia the number declined by the present time at 10-15 times [12]. In Georgia there are 10-15 pairs [6]. In Russia in the Great Caucasia the breeding of one pair was established in 1992 in the Caucasian Nature Reserve [1], however in subsequent period their breeding was not registered here. In Stavropol Territory single cases of the species breeding were registered [2], number is estimated at 3-4 pairs [13]. Similar situation is in Northern Ossetia [3]; CV number decreases in Dagestan [4]. Total number in Russia, to all probability, does not exceed 10-15 pairs. Out of limiting factors in the front plan we can call the worsening feeding conditions, connected with wild ungulate number decline, decline of domestic cattle stock. Extermination, robbing of nests, disturbance in reproductive period, natural loss of eggs and chicks undermine the population status. Attempts of reproduction of the Cinereous Vulture were carried out in the 1950Б─≥s-1960Б─≥s at Moscow Zoo, but they turned out to be unsuccessful. Successful breeding of this species is known in Ukraine in Mena town [14].
Arranged and necessary conservation measures. It is listed in the RDB of IUCN-96, Appendix 2 of CITES, Appendix 2 of Bonn Convention, Appendix 2 of Bern Convention, Appendix of Agreement, signed by Russia with Republic of Korea on conservation of migratory birds, List of bird species, situated under the global threat of extinction. The part of population is under protection in Caucasian, Teberda, North-Ossetian, Kabardino-Balkarian Nature Reserves, however in majority of these nature reserves the CV is not constantly occurring breeding bird. Carrying out of special studies on revealing of distribution and population status of this species are necessary in Russia. The nesting plots known by the present time should be situated under strict protection. Establishment of additional feeding plots at the sites of regular bird distribution is necessary.
Literature
1. Tilba, 1993.
2. Varshavskiy, Shilov, 1989.
3. Boehme, 1958.
4. Pishvanov, Prilutskaya, 1988;
5. Galushin, 1983.
6. Abuladze, 1983.
7. Korshunova, Korshunov, 1983.
8. Bliznyuk, 1993.
9. Dorjiev, 1987.
10. Kovshar, 1966.
11. Polozov, 1983.
12. Sultanov, Mustafaev, 1994.
13. Khokhlov, Vitovich, 1990.
14. Ostapenko, 1986.
|
|
******************************************************************************
Dement'yev, G.P., Gladkov, N.A., Prushenko, Ye.S., Sudilovskaya, A.M. 1948. THE CINEREOUS VULTURE.
In: Guide of birds of the USSR. Moscow, "Sovetskaya Nauka" Publ. House, 1948. 450 pp. Pp.211.
GENUS BLACK VULTURE. AEGYPIUS SAVIGNY, 1809
Black or Grey Vulture. Aegypius monachus Linnaeus, 1766
Adult bird. The general colouring dark-brown, primaries black, tail blackish. Down on the head bownish with light roots. Sides of neck and hindneck are nude. Foot of meat colour, lore bluish, bill silver, talons black.
Head wide, bill very massive. "Necklace" consist of untwisted feathers. Nostrils round. Wings very long; 12 rectrices, tail short.
Length (4) 1020-1155 mm, wing (15) 725-835 mm, wingspan (4) 2820-2930 mm. Weight of male 6310 g, female 7657 g.
The first year (nesting) plumage. Black on the head, very dark brown on the rest parts.
Distribution. North Africa, South Europe, Western and Central Asia to Tibet and Western China. In the USSR - mountain Crimea, Caucasia, south-east Altai, Tarbagatai, Middle Asia from Pamir to Tien Shan.
Note. In 1939 near Rostov-on-Don one vagrant adult Indian Vulture Pseudogyps bengalensis was shot.
|
|
*********************************************************************************
Boehme, R.L. 1975. THE CINEREOUS VULTURE (Aegypius monachus L.)
In: Birds of mountains of South Palearctic. Moscow, Moscow University Press. 1975. 180 pp. In Russian.
5. Aegypius monachus L. (on p.10)
Distributed in mountain of South Palearctic from North Morocco and Pyrenees peninsula to north-west of Dunbei (Manchzhuria).
Settled bird, in the north of its breeding range - nomadic bird. Mainly inhabits mountains-steppe landscapes, but sometimes nests on plains also. G.P.Dement'yev (1951, Birds of the Soviet Union) suggests, that nesting on plains takes place under presence of special favourable feeding conditions - plenty of carrion. Nests built on trees and only as exclusion - on rocks (Sushkin, 1938).
Beginning of clutch is going at the first dates of March. In Tien Shan on Sary-Djazskie syrts one nest with one fresh egg was discovered 4.III 1905 (Shnitnikov, 1949), in Terskei-Alatau - 12. III 1954 (Yanushevich et al., 1959), nests with strongly incubated eggs 30.IV; 2.V and at the end of May 4 nests were recorded with large chicks (Spangenberg, 1936).
In Tajikistan in lower Vakhsh River one nest of Black Vulture was met by R.L.Potapov (by A.I.Ivanov, 1969) 18.III 1959. It was located on the jut of rock and included 1 egg.
==================================================================
Kostin, Yu.V., Dulitskiy, A.I., Mal'tsev, I.V. 1981. THE CINEREOUS VULTURE (Aegypius monachus L.). In: [Rare animals of the Crimea]. Manual. Simferopol', "Tavriya", 1981. 160 p. In Russian. Pp.74-75.
Inhabits mountains of South Europe and Asia from Spain in the west to Mongolia and China in the east. In majority of places this is resident bird, making only feeding migrations. Everywhere is scanty, in territory of Ukraine is distributed only in the mountain Crimea. Listed in the red Data Book of Ukrainian SSR. Presently nest of Black Vulture are only on territory of the Crimean Nature reserve - Hunting Farm. There are 5-8 pairs, which are breeding annually. Earlier the BV was distributed in the Crimea wider. Biology is studied well.
Pairs are life-longed. For nest setting up, BV chooses large trees. One nest is using many years in succession; in nature reserve there are nests, which in BV live during 40-60 years. Often pair has several nests, situated near each of other and occupying in turn. The single egg of clutch is appearing at the end of March - beginning of April. Incubation - 55 days, chick is staying in the nest 3,5-4 months and begins to fly at the second half of August. BVs are feeding on the offals and carrion.
Immature and non-breeding in the current year birds form the considerable part of the Crimean population. At the present time 50-60 BV are living in the Crimea, judging on their concentrations on the garbage dumps during the cold time of year.
Taking into account a quantity of breeding pairs, the slow rates of breeding of these birds, shooting of BV and destruction of their nests in all cases and under any pretence it should be considered as inadmissible.
***************************************************************
Dementyev, G.P., Galushin, V.M. 1986. CINEREOUS VULTURE (Aegypius monachus).
In: Falconiformes. Life of animals. Birds. Vol.6. Moscow, Prosveshchenie, 1986. Pp.118-149. In Russian.
Ibidem. Pp.132-133.
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) - is a huge bird: total length 75-100 cm, weight 7-12 kg. Head is massive, covered as well as upper part of neck by short down. Bill is strong, with round nostrils, adapted to dismemberment of large carrion. On the lower side of neck there is a collar from long pointed (sharp) feathers. Eyes are large, salient.
The total colouring of adult birds is dark-brown. Sides and back side of neck are featherless, of pale-meat colour.
Cinereous Vulture - resident bird of mountains and foothills, nesting in southern Europe, North Africa, Front, Middle and Central Asia. In the Soviet Union it is occurring in the Caucasia and in the Middle Asia, where it is numerous relatively; in scarce numbers - in the south-east of Altai. Nests by pairs, and not by groups or colonies, and on trees, and therefore it is connected with the forest belt of mountains. Nest - huge construction from twigs, with lining from thin branches, dry grass, wool etc. Clutches consist of 1-2 eggs, motley, with red-brown spots on the white background. Both parents incubate during 55 days. Nesting period is continuing 3-3,5 months.
Cinereous Vulture eats carrion. About its feeding habits (typical for other Vultures too) wrote N.M.Przhevalskiy: "Birds during whole days are soaring in the clouds, so high, that, in spite of own huge sizes, they are not noticeable for the naked eye. However from such distance, Vulture can distinguish, that is doing on the ground, and, noticing a carrion, about which usually the Crows, Magpies and Kites are concentrating, it pulling wings to body and as a bomb falls down from above on the gain. The other Vultures are following to the first one, which notice maneur of own "colleague", therefore on the carrion soon tens of huge birds are concentrating, which begin to eat with noise and fights. Being full up, Vultures fly away and more often are sitting at the same place slightly aloof and looking on the feast of "colleagues", which are appearing more and more. Gluttony of Vultures is so great, that they pay a few attention on the hunter and even after shooting they soon return to the carrion. It is noticeable, that Vulture, rushing from clouds with frightful speed to the carrion, is able to distinguish (make out) that is happening on the ground. We with friend were eyewitnesses of the similar case. Once our camel, going on the pasture, has laid to rest and has fallen down on one side. In such position, animal continued to lie during some time, and suddenly high in the clouds we have noticed black point, which approached rapidly to the ground and which in we have known a Cinereous Vulture. To our great surprise, bird, don't fly to ground about 300 steps, suddenly has let out own wings and has flown aside. Looking on the laid camel, we have noticed, that animal stood up, and Vulture, taking the laid animal for carcass, has noticed own error, in spite of terrible speed of moving down."
|
|
|
|
