MISCELLANEOUS

CINEREOUS VULTURE IN ZOOs

Mustafaev, A.G., Agaeva, V.N. 1990. Reproduction of Falconiformes birds in conditions of Zoo of the Baku town.

In: Rare, scarce and little-studied birds of North Caucasia: Materials of scientific-practical conference, (Stavropol, 23-28 April, 1990). Stavropol, 1990. Pp.54-58. In Russian.

 

                     S  u  m  m  a  r  y

In fauna of Azerbaijan there are 36 species of Falconiformes, 15 among them are keeping at zoo of the Baku town: Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Goshawk, Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Egyptian Eagle, Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Peregrine Falcon, Saker Falcon.

It is suggested to listed the Black Vulture and Griffon Vulture into the second edition of Red Data Book of Azerbaijan. At zoo Black Vultures successfully bred at the first time in 1989. Nest-building is recorded since 21/I, in this time other birds were moved from voliere, besides Goshawk. Sizes of voliere 20 x 20 m, height 18 m. Copulation was registered since February. Since the beginning of March the living food (white rats) and main food (carrion) were given to Vultures. Vultures used for nest tree twigs with length 1,2 m and diameter up to 3 cm. Egg was laid 9/III, chick hatched on the 53rd day. All-day round observations are described for birds, conducted on the 16th and 23rd days after hatching. At the age of 73 days chick had complete juvenile plumage, at age of 110 days it was removed to the Moscow Zoo. Griffon Vultures were settled (kept) in voliere 6 x 4 m, with height of 10 m. Copulation and nest-building were observed since 13/III, nest was located on the plain stone with height of 2 m. Egg was laid 30/III. In 50 days birds stopped incubation. The dead embryo was determined at the age of about 1 month inside the egg. In 34 days from beginning of incubation bird copulation was observed. Enbryo's loss (death) is connected with frequent interruptions in incubation, provoked by disturbance from the side of Zoo's visitors. For successful reproduction of Falconiformes it is recommended to set up covers (shelters) for nests and to add the living food into ration (rats, rabbits etc.).

 

USSR, Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. V.A.Ostapenko - author of review.

 

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Aliskerov, S.V. 1998. Khishchnye ptitsy v zooparkakh stran SNG i Baltii (1992-1996) [Birds of prey at Zoos of the countries of Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltic countries] . // Ezhegodnik "Dnevnye khishchnye ptitsy i sovy v nevole". No 7. [Annual report "Diurnal Birds of Prey and Owls in captivity"]. Moscow, EARAZA. Pp.6-28. In Russian.

 

Black Vulture (Cinereous Vulture). P.22.

 

                          1992         1993         1994         1995         1996

No of Zoos         14             17              18             23              22

No of bird           46             52              55             62              67

unident. sex     17 (37%) 22(42%)   8(15%)   14(23%)     12(18%) 

No of the          11(48%) 13(50%)  16(58%)   17(55%)     20(60%)

pointed pairs

Number of

breeding pairs    2             11                7              11                1

Received from

Zoo                    10               5                 -                2                 -

Other

receipts                -               2                 1               4                 -

Number of young

birds reared        2              2(1)             -              1  (1)           P2

Loss (adult)         -               1                 1                1                1

Sent out in

other Zoos           3              1                 -                 2                 -

Other

departures           -                -                3                1                  -

 

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Gryazeva, L.N. (former head of Orn. Section of Tallinn Zoo), Shergalin Ye.E., Shergalin, R.E., Shergalin, E.E.  Tallinn, 1985. REPORT "REINTRODUCTION OF RARE BIRDS OF PREY". Ministry of Culture of the Estonian SSR/Tallinn ZOO/. Wholly in  Russian. Hardback. Circulation - 5 copies. 58 pages + 36 black-white photos in Appemdix.

 

Contents

 

I. Introduction                                           3

Reintroduction of rare species in captivity - aspect of their conservation tactics                                3

Brief review of history and results of reintroduction of  rare raptors in the foreign zoos and breeding centres     6

Methods of raptors reintroduction in nature              12

Reintroduction of rare species of birds of prey at Zoos and Breeding centres of the USSR                             15

 

II. Programm of reintroduction.            20

III. Work on reintroduction.                   22

     Raven                                                23

     Steppe  Eagle                                   27

     Kestrel                                               32

     Black Vulture                                     33

     Eagle Owl                                          36

IV.  Conclusions.                                    38

V.   Appendices.                                     40

VI.  Used literature.                                 56

VII. Photoillustrations                              58

 

 

              Black Vulture                        Pp.53-55.

 

09.01.85. One pair of Black Vultures is keeping in the marginal spacious voliere, 3 other birds, including 2 birds with injured wings are in very close and inconvenient room. One bird in approaching of people to it, is in nervous  tremor constantly (all time). The first observations were conducted and dry twigs of different diameter for future nests were collected in adjoining forest-park zone. Features of the mate behaviour were not noticed.

12.01.85. Observations were continued. There were not changes. Twigs were collected.

13.01.85. Observations conducted. Without changes. 20.01.94 Twigs collected. Without changes. 02.02.85-09.03.95 -  without changes. 10.03.85 One bird in extreme voliere /probably, female/ chose place on the ground, just near right door. Bird was sitting densely, just directly on the snow and did not allow anybody to enter, i.e. took the threatening poses and lunged. In this situations workers of Orn. Section can not enter the cage.

13.03.85 we had to drive away Vulture from door. We have built a nest downstairs for this pair, on the ground at the same place, where Vultures themselves chose a place last year. Artificial nest inside the box was made for the second Vulture pair also.

14.03.85 without changes. 16.03.85 upstairs the second nest for the first pair was made on the special platform.

17.03.85 without changes. 19.03.95 vultures of the first pair sat on the upper nest and were leking (displaying). They "fingered" feathers each other on the head and neck. There is not changes in the lesser voliere in three vultures.

21.03.85 female of pair in the lesser voliere has laid egg, which was moved into incubator.

24.03.85 vultures sat on the upper nest and leked (displays). They "fingered" feathers and posed, extending wings. Injured Vultures in the lesser voliere formed pair, leked. Twigs were put for them into voliere and birds immediately were interested in twigs. 25.03.85 without changes. 31.03.85 vultures continued the mutual courting displays on the upper nest. The new element arise in their ritual: they in turn demonstrate twigs, which they keep in their bill. In general during the mate period, dance in Black Vultures is very majestic, solemn (ceremonial), when wings are spread, so the high plumes of the light-grey down are rising between wings and body. It was photographed.

01.04.85. Vulture's female is sitting on the nest. Hardly we could shift carefully the bird. One egg has been in the nest. Male was sitting not far from nest on the roof of hanging box and take threatening poses, trying to scare us.  Egg was taken and moved into incubator, the paraffin substitute was laid instead of it. Female immediately began to incubate it.

05.04.85 without changes. Nest-building is not completed in Vultures in the lesser voliere, though shifting of twigs from one place to other place is continuing. The formed pair persecutes the third bird and the third bird is saving on the second tier - ledge, which is here. 08.04.85 without changes. 11.04.85 without changes. 17.04.85 it was decided to take the artificial egg for stimulation of the repeated clutch appearing. It was pity to look on the bird - she was upset very strongly the egg disappearing. Vultures were rushed about in cage during very long time and finally female began to "incubate" the empty nest.

19.04.85 male as usually sat on the roof of box and looked normally. Female sat closely and had very downcast, apathetic, unhealthy look. She did not react to our approaching.

21.04.85 male is looking normally, in female - the depressed look. 23.04.85 without changes. 25.04.85 female became more animated and begins to express the interest to male. 28.04.85 vultures again began the mate dances (courting displays). They were photographed. 02.05.85 vulture continued the mate plays. Their activity is observing more often in period 20-21 o'clock. 05.05.85 vultures continue plays. Rather like, that the down on the head of male is darker, than in female. Pair of vultures in the lesser voliere plaid also. 06.05.85 without changes.  10.05.85 vultures continue displays. 13.05.85 both vulture's pairs continue displays. 20.05.85 without changes. 22.05.85 the first pair was very worried, drove away us. Later female has sat on the empty nest. Vultures are quiet in the lesser voliere. 25.05.85 vultures of the first pair are irritated and aggressive, but being threatened, don't attack. 26.05.85 without changes. 27.05.85 the first pair is active. Male took twigs and bones downstairs and carried it into the nest upstairs. He took nesting material from the lower nest. He stripped bark (rind) into fibres off the "green" twigs and eaten up it partially. Birds in the lesser voliere as before paid attention each other. 28.05.85 without changes. 29.05.85 both pairs as before are active. 30.05.85 both pairs continue be interested in nests and twigs. 31.05.85 without changes. 01.06.85 without changes. 09.06.85 both vulture's pairs have been calmed and don't express features of the nesting behaviour. Nobody was hatched from eggs, moved into incubator. The exact reasons are vague still. Obviously, it is necessary to begin to study incubation technics (technology). 

 

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2003 * Rossiya* Krasnyi spisok osobo okhranyaemykh redkikh i nakhodyashchikhsya pod ugrozoi ischeznoveniya zhivotnykh i rasteniy. Vtoroi vypusk. Part 1 (Pozvonochnye zhivotnye). 2003 *Russia*  The red list of rare and endangered animals and plants, which particularly protected in Russia. Second issue. Part 1 (Vertebrates). Moscow, All-Russian Research Institute of Nature Protection of Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. 2004. 304 p. Bulletin of the Red Data Book 1/2004. Science editor V.E.Prisyazhnyuk. In Russian.     Status in RDB of the Russian Federation – 3 (R)   Pp.120-121.   Subjects of the Russian Federation, established special conservation Cinereus (Black) Vulture Republic Altai (3) Bashkortostan (6**) Buryatia (1*) Severnaya [Northern] Ossetia (1*) Tatarstan (0), Tuva (3), Khakassia (6), Altaiskiy Krai (3), Krasnoyarsk Krai (6**), Primorskiy Krai (3), Stavropolskiy Krai (3), Astrakhan Oblast (4), Irkutsk Oblast (6), Orenburg Oblast (6**), Evreiskaya (Jewish) Autonomous District (3).   Distribution areas, within limits of which the special regional protection is not established Adygeya, Dagestan (1), Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria (3), Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Chechnya, Krasnodar Krai, Amurskaya oblast, Kemerovskaya (3),  Chitinskaya Oblast (1).   Conventional signs 0 – Probably extinct. 1 – Situating under threat of extinction. 2 - Declining in number. 3 - Rare. 4 – Undetermined by status. 5 – Restored and restoring. 6 – Rare with irregular presence. 7 – Out of danger.       **********************************************************************************************************************       Chibilev, A.A. 1995. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius moncahus). In: Birds of the Orenburg Region and their conservation. Yekaterinburg. Pp.39-40. In Russian.   Distribution and numbers. Usual nesting sites of Black Vultures - mountains and foothills, in trees, more seldom - on rocks. The main breeding range - Middle Asia, Kazakhstan, Trans-Caucasia, the Crimea, and also South Europe and mountain-steppe Asia - from Turkey to Mongolia. Movements of Black Vulture for extension of great distances in searchings of food are typical [1]. There are data about discovering of living nest with chicks!!!!! and shooting of the Black Vultures's fledgling in the Guberlinskie mountains [2,3]. In 1953-57 in Adamovskie steppes groups of Vultures of up to 5 specimens were sighted on carcasses of domestic animals [4]. In 70's nomadic movements of Vultures were observed during periods of mass Saiga migrations in Northern Kazakhstan [5]. At the same time it was discovered settlement of the Black Vulture in the Aktyubinsk Region [6]. In territory of Region they were sighted in 1975 in the south of Dombarovskiy district and in 1978 in the south of Kuvandykskiy districts [5, 7]. Limiting factors. The Orenburg Region is situated outside the limits of the main breeding range of the Black Vulture. Destruction of nests, disturbance, shortage of food - main factors, limiting species numbers. Conservation measures. Within limits of the Orenburg Region conservation measures have not significance for conservation of species. In the case of the Black Vulture appearing in region, especially as their nests, it is necessary to organize temporary zones of the rest.   Sources of information:   1. Galushin, V.M. 1980a. Modern status of diurnal raptor numbers in the European part of the USSR. // Ecology, geography and conservation of birds. L. 156-157. 2. Darkshevich, Ya.N. Pers. comm. 3. Raiskiy, A.P. 1951. Wildlife of the Chkalovsk Region. // Sketches of physical geography of the Chkalovsk Region. Chkalov. 157-202. 4. Yeremenko, pers. comm. 5. Chibilev, A.A. 1992. Rare sightings of the Red Data Book bird species in the Orenburg Region. // Rare species of plants and animals of the Orenburg Region. Orenburg. 67-70. 6. Fomin, V.Ye., Filimonov, A.N., Zhirnov, L.V. 1974. The Black Vulture breeding in Central Kazakhstan. // Materials of the VI All-Union Orn. Conf. M. Part  2. P.147. 7. Khomentovskiy, A.S., Gaev, A.Ya., Chibilev, A.A. 1981. Let us to transform native territory. Chelyabinsk: YuUKI.
Lipsberg, J. 1983. Black Vulture Aegypius monachus (L.). In: Birds of Latvia. Territorial distribution and numbers. Riga, "Zinatne", 1983. In Russian. P.59  Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus (L.) Melnais Grifs, Maitu lija  - Latvian name of BV.   Vagrant species In XIX century BV was mentioned by V.Russow [Russow, 1880], which pointed three cases of its shooting on territory of Latvia. At the first half of XX century BV is mentioning as rare vagrant species [Loudon, 1909; Grosse, Transehe, 1929; Taurinsh, Vilks, 1949]. All eight cases of discovering of this species on territory of Latvia was described by N.Transehe [Transehe, 1965]: 1) before 1837 - in the vicinity of the Mezhotne settlement, specimen situated in collections of former Provincial Museum of the Yelgava city; 2) in 1837 - in the vicinity of the Ruiena settlement; 3) in 1873 near the Lielautse settlement (all three cases of sightings were also mentioned already before [Russow, 1880]); 4) in autumn 1897 - in the vicinity of the Valmiera city; 5) 15.05.1905 - in the vicinity of the Bauska town; 7) in 1932 - in the vicinity of the Rezekne town; 8) in 1933 - in the eastern shore of the Gulf of Riga near the Skulte settlement [Korresp. Bl. Naturf.-Ver. Riga, 1934, Bd 61, S.85, 86] (shot specimen is situating in collections of Museum of Nature of the Latvian SSR Riga). According to uncontrolled data, one BV more was shot 10.12.1954 in the vicinity of the Malta settlement and transmitted to local department of Hunter's Society (communication of E.Taurinsh).
Shepel', A.I. 1992. CINEREOUS VULTURE (Aegypius monachus L.)   In: [Birds of prey and owls of the Perm Prikam'ye (area around the Kama River)]. Irkutsk, Irkutsk Univ. Press, 1992. In Russian. Pp.149-150.       L.P.Sabaneev (1874) considered that BV nested near the Kaslin town of Chelyabinsk Region and could penetrate along Urals to the north. In the Sverdlovsk Region in autumn 1959 it was bagged in the Verkhne-Saldinskiy district and during several days it sighted in October of the same year on the vacant lot in the regional centre (Danilov, 1969). In Bashkiria, at the beginning of century and till 40's vagrant records were as usual events, in 50's - became extraordinary rare, in subsequent time such cases were not recorded (Il'ichev, Fomin, 1979, 1988). In Tataria and Kirov Region vagrant records were observed in 30's -50's (Grigor'yev et al., 1977; Plesskiy, 1971).      For the Perm Region data about Vulture are only in P.V.Syuzev (1911) and S.L.Ushkov (1927), which inform about observations of bird by F.A.Teploukhov in 1890-1891 near the Il'inskoe settlement (now - centre of district) and shooting of it near Perm -9.06.1922, Kungur -13.06.1925, Kizel - at the end of 1925. There is not any information about BV for subsequent period of time.
Vinokurov, A.A.1992. Cinereous Vulture. In: Rare and endangered animals. Birds. Moscow. Vysshaya shkolaп© publ. house. 1992. In Russian.   Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (Linnaeus, 1766)   P.127.   Vulnerable species with decreasing number.   Distribution is very mosaic. By the middle of our century it has stopped to nest in many countries of Mediterranean region and in the north of Morocco. It is nesting by small colonies and by solitary birds. It built nests in the trees, more seldom - on the rock ledges. There is one egg in the clutch. The main food - corps of animals. Total numbers is unknown, probably, does not exceed several thousands of birds. In Europe the highest population is saved in Spain - 250-300 pairs. More 100 pairs, probably, are nesting in Turkey. Several tens individuals are leaving in the rest countries of Europe. The main reason of the number declining - worsening of the feeding base as a result of increasing of cattle-farming culture and decreasing of wild ungulates loss. In many countries of Europe is protecting by law. In Spain a colony of BV there is in Monfragyu National Park.     *********************************************************************************** Dement'yev, G.P. THE CINEREOUS VULTURE Aegypius monachus In: Wildlife of the USSR. Birds.  Edited by Prof. B.M.Zhitkov and Prof. A.N.Formozov. Moscow, Publishing house of children literature, 1992. 400 pp. In Russian. P 234.             Cinereous (Brown) Vulture (sometimes it is called as Black, or Grey, Vulture, or Vulture-Monk) is differed from Griffon Vulture by large, covered by down head, round but not hole-like nostrils and that number of rectrices is 12, but not 14 as Griffon Vultures have. Colouring in adult Brown Vulture from upper and lower side is dark-brown. Sizes of these Vultures are considerable: wing span 240-270 cm, wing length 72-84 cm, tail -35-41 cm. Adult Vulture is weighting 6-8 kg. Males and females are similar in sizes. Lifestyle of Brown Vulture is similar to habits of Griffon Vultures; only it nests more willingly on trees, than on rocks, and doesn't form colonies. Besides that, eating carrion, Brown Vulture - in contrast to Griffon Vultures - eats skin with wool too, belching it later in pellets. Brown Vulture is distributed from northern Morocco, Portugal and Spain in Southern Europe to Palestina, Iran, Belujistan, north-eastern Mongolia and vicinity of Tibet; in our country is occurred in the Crimea, in Caucasia, in south-eastern Altai, in Tarbagatai and in Turkestan, sometimes it vagrants far from its nesting range.  ***********************************************************************************   Ludwik Tomialoic. THE CINEREOUS Vulture In: Ptaki Polski [Birds of Poland]. Rozmieszcenie i liczebnosc. Warszawa, 1990. Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.   Cinereous Vulture on p.112. List of references:   Bochenski, Z. 1970. Ptaki Babiej Gory. Acta zool. cracov. 15, 1:1-59.   Domaniewski, J. 1917. Materialy do ornitofauny ziem polskich. Cz.II. Spraw. Tow. Nauk. Warsz. 10,9; 1001-1043.   Domaniewski, J. 1918. Materialy do ornitofauny ziem  polskich. Cz.III. Spraw. Tow. Nauk. Warsz. 11,4; 485-499.    Ferens, B. 1950. Ptaki Zywiecczyzny. Mat. Fizjogr. Kraju 25: 1-96.   Glutz, U.N., Bauer, K., Bezzel, E. 1971-1982. Handbuch der  Vogel Mitteleuropas. IV-IX. Frankfurt a.M.   Hammling, J. 1933. Zur Vogelwelt des posener Landes.  Deutsche wiss. Zeitschr. f. polen 26, 41; 27-82.   Karlinski, J. 1882. Wylaz ptakow tatrzanskich na podstawie  wlasnych i cudzych spostrzezen. Spraw. Kom. Fizjogr. 16: 141-169.   Katin, E.J. 1912. Perecen ptic Kieleckoj Gubernii. Orn. Vestnik 3.   Kocyan, A. 1884. Ptaki spostrzegane po polnocnej strome  Tatr. Pam. Tow. Tatrzanskiego, Krakow 9: 50-70.   Martini, G. 1926. Die Vogel des Kreises Hirschberg in  Schlesien. Ber. Ver. schles. Orn. 12: 61-81.   Pax, F. 1925. Wirbeltierfauna von Schlesien. Berlin.   Pfutzenreiter, F. 1941. Zwei neue Belege vom Kuttengeier (Aegypius monachus) in Schlesien. Ber. Ver. schles. Orn. 26,  1/4: 56.   Robien, P. 1928. Die Vogelwelt Pommerns. Abh. Ber. Naturf. Ges. Stettin 9: 1-94.   Sapal'ski, J. 1862. Poglad na Historya Naturalna Gubernii Radomskiej. Kielce.   Schauer, E. 1862. Tagebuchnotizen wahrend eines ornithologischen Ausfluges auf der hohen Tatra in den  monaten Juli und August 1861. J.orn. 10, 3: 224-240, 6:  463-473.   Schauer, E. 1878. Ueber die Vogelwelt in den Umgebung von Krakau. Mitt. orn. Ver. in Wien 2,5; 59-63. 6; 70-72, 7:81-83.   Taczanowski, W. 1882. Ptaki krajowe. I-II. Krakow.   Tischler, F. 1941. Die Vogel Ostpreussens und seiner Nachbargebiete. I-II. Konigsberg/Berlin.   Tranda, E. 1958. Strepet (Otis tetrax L.) oraz inne rzadkie ptaki zokolic Lodzi. Acta orn. 5,6: 211-215.   Wodzicki, K. 1851. Wycieczka ornitologiczna w Tatry i Karpaty galicyjskie. Leszno.