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CINEREOUS VULTURE IN KAZAKHSTAN


Gavrilov, E.I., Gistsov, A.P. 1985. Sezonnye perelety ptits v predgoryakh zapadnogo Thien-Shanya [Seasonal bird migrations in Western Tien-Shan foothills]. Alma-Ata, "Nauka" of Kazakh SSR Publishers. 224 p. In Russian.

 

Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus L.). Widely spread in the mountains of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, in Altai; in Kazakhstan - mainly on the main ridges of Tien-Shan (Korelov, 1962). In Talass Alatau this is unnumerous resident species (Kovshar, 1966). On Chokpak Pass in small number it occurs during nomadic movements.

     In spring for the light time of the day 17 Cinereous Vultures were registered, in the average (for 5 years) with 3 species per season. Maximal quantity was recorded in 1970, quite a lot of them was in 1968. The first Cinereous Vultures on the Pass were sighted 27 March (1970), most often they were recorded 15 April (1976) - 24 April (1969). The last birds were observed 9 May (1968) and 11 May (1969).

     In autumn for the period of observations 21 Cinereous Vulture was recorded. Usually we registered the birds, moving from Boroldai in Talass Alatau either in reverse direction - by single specimens and 2-3 specimens; 13 October 1977 on Boroldai spurs we saw 8 Cinereous Vultures which fed on corpses. The first birds on Pass were recorded 17 September (1972) - 30 September (1970), the latters - 22 October (1972) - 25 October (1068). In autumn 1 Cinereous Vulture was ringed.

 

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl). Spread in mountains of the south of Eurasia to Tibet; in Kazakhstan it breeds mainly in Tien-San (Korelov, 1962). It is common, and in separate years is numerous in Talass Alatau (Kovshar, 1966). In spring on Chokpak Pass 4 Griffon Vultures were recorded. Single specimens were seen 11 May (1968) and 15 May (1969); 10 May 1972 2 birds were sighted. In autumn single specimens were registered 13 and 14 September (1973).

 

 

KORELOV, M.N. 1962. BROWN VULTURE - Aegypius monachus L. In: Birds of Kazakhstan. Alma-Ata, Publ. House of Ac. of sc. of the Kazakh SSR. 1962. Vol. II. In Russian. Pp.617-623.

 

Synonym. Vultur monachus L.

Description. Adult birds are completely dark-brown, down on the head brown, as well as on the neck, where, it, soon, is growing old. Primaries almost black. Sometimes clean-white feathers are occurring among coverts and secondaries. Bill is dark-corneous, talons black; lore and nude parts of neck bluish, foot grey. Colour of lore, nude parts of neck and head can change to whitish, pale in dependence of bird status. Iris dark-brown.

     Young, as a whole, darker than adult ones - black-brown, with slight lustre; foreneck almost black, as well as primaries. Down on the head blackish. Lore and nude spot on the neck are light.

     Sizes (on literature data): wing 715-825 mm, tail 350-405 mm, tarsus 118-135 mm.

     Weight: males 7-11,5 kg, females 7,5-12,5 kg.

     The downy chick after hatching monotonously yellowish-grey. Later this first downy plumage is replacing by the second one, which in a chick becoming smoky-grey, with yellowish head. Probably, colour of down is becoming dark simultaneously with growth of chick.  Chicks from nests in Tien Shan at the age, when sprouts of feathers were appeared on them, and also almost feathered chicks have had down of even brown-grey colour.

    Eggs rather-dirty-white, with brown-red spots; their length 84-97 mm, width 62-72 mm.

   

    Brown Vulture nests in the Atlass mountains in Africa, in countries of Europe near Mediterranean Sea and on its islands, in the Crimea, in the Caucasia, in the Little Asia, Palestine, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Beludzhistan, Western Himalayas, in mountains of Middle Asia, in Altai, in Mongolia and in Northern China. Wintering grounds - in southern parts of nesting range, and also in India and in regions of Central and Southern China.

 

    Fig. 324. Distribution of Brown Vulture in Kazakhstan: 1-nesting, 2-wintering quarters, 3-summer sightings.

 

    In Kazakhstan region of regular breeding is limiting by low spurs and main ridges of Tien Shan. Non-breeding birds as well solitary birds, as groups of 20-30 specimens and concentrations up to 100 and more, can be sighted almost within all Kazakhstan.

    It is common on breeding in the south-western slopes of the Chatkal'skiy mountain ridge, in the south-western spurs of the Talasskiy ridge - Karzhantau, Ugamskiy, but in the central part, in region of the Aksu-Dzhabagly nature reserve, is rare and its nesting is unknown. Probably, inhabits Kazgurt, because is occurring there constantly, however nests are not found there. In Karatau, to west of Boroldai, is occurring not often and there is no data about nesting of BV here; in Boroldai is very common and in region of break of the Boroldai River is nesting, as well as in little mountains, adjoining to Boroldai from yhe east, in Burultau. It nests in the Kirghiz Alatau within all its extension from western spurs to Karabalty gorge and in Chu-Iliyskie mountains. In central parts of Zailiyskoe Alatau, in mountains Bolshie Boguty and Turaigyr it nests, as well as in alpine regions of Terskei Alatau, where is usual. In system of Dzhungarskoe Alatau inhabits western spurs - Chulak and Matai, in southern part - in Tyshkan, and in northern - nesting was not established and it could be suggested in the eastern part, in gorges, going into Alakul hollow.

     Besides that, there are data about Vulture's nesting in Kyzyl-Kumy, from one side, in Tarbagatai and in Kokon mountains near Semipalatinsk - from other side.

     In Kyzyl-Kumy, according to data of N.A.Zarudnyi (1915, 1916), Vulture does not nest even in mountain groups, but Ye.P.Spangenberg and G.A.Feigin (1936) have discovered Vulture's nest at the middle of May 1932 in sands on the remains of the saxaul's roots; chick was taken from the nest and adult bird was caught. However absence of exact date and quite unusual nesting conditions raise doubts in rightness of these data. If these data are reliable, so this fact should be considered as evidence about unusual occasional nesting.

     A little bit other situation is with Vulture breeding in Kokon. I.M.Zalesskiy and P.M.Zalesskiy (1931) have seen here Vultures 1-30 July 1921 and on the base of frequent sighting of Vulture they concluded that BV breeds in Kokon. V.A.Selevin (1929) writes that Vulture nested here "before". In a word, there are not data about breeding of BV in Kokon, as well as in Tarbagatai, though B.A.khakhlov (1928) considers BV as nesting bird here. Thus, undoubtedly, BV nests only in Tien Shan, but in not all its ridges and spurs.

     On the rest territory of Kazakhstan Vultures were sighted and are sighting constantly, but these birds are not nesting, they are vagrant birds.

     Any case, when such birds were trapped or shot, sighted outside the limits of nesting range (Eversman, 1866; Sushkin, 1908), they were non-breeding birds or without pair. 

     Numbers of Vultures in sites, where it nests, is very scarce. This is - separate pairs, settling down at the great distance one from other. In region of nests, if they can be sighted regularly, vultures are situated always in numbers of one-two birds. It should be underlined, that colonial nesting settlements if BV within limits of Kazakhstan are unknown. In places of the loss of cattle or in the regions of wild animals loss BV can be sighted up to one hundred birds simultaneously and more. Evidently, they are concentrating, flying together from the huge areas. How that is occurring (happening), is absolutely unknown, in spite of many statements on this occasion.

     Natural habitats of BV are variable in accordance with peculiarities of its life style. They are nesting either in low rocky mountains and in small gorges with poor vegetation, or in the high ridges with gentle outlines of slopes near upper limits of the coniferous forest belt. In all cases nesting sites are located comparatively near from regions of cattle pasture and habitats of wild ungulates and large rodents (marmots).

     Vagrant birds are sighting in the most variable conditions - in deserts, steppes, forest-steppe regions, in little and considerable mountain groups and ridges.

     Vulture go well on the ground, slightly rocking oneself to and fro, sometimes doing jumps, helping itself by wings. Vulture takes off ground heavy, especially after abundant meal on the carrion. After spreading wings, it taking a run, does several jumps and only after that take off in the air. Quite often before that Vultures in advance are being forced to clear (free) themselves from part of swallowed food. Hungry birds take off easier, but doing several jumps.

 

Fig. 325. Attitudes of the Brown Vulture. Fig. by A.V.Sinyavskiy.

 

Raising in the air, Vulture easy slips on the spread wings and quickly finds oneself on the great height. BV uses the active flight seldom. Sometimes swoops on the semi-opened wings; after reducing height, instantly brakes and as if hangs in mid-air on the spread wings, rocking allegedly by parachute. Vulture flies up to the landing site on the rocks and trees somehow from below; just before landing shoots upwards hardly higher the sitting place level, after that lowers smoothly. Vulture often does the original "dancing" near carrion. Spreading wings and protruding feathers of cloak (mantle) and collar, bending neck and throwing back one's tail, similar to the leking Turkey-cock, vulture clumsily shifts from one foot to the other, jumps up and turns round and round by head. It strikes the same attitude, joining battle or courting for female, though, somewhat modifying attitude in accordance with circumstances. Voice is similar to hissing and groaning. Willingly drinks water and bathes on the coastal sand-bars, but the water presence near nest is not obligatory by no means. After satiation, vulture in afternoon often are locating on the rocks, directed to the sun, and bask in the sun either laying...., laying one wing under themselves, or sitting, ruffling feathers and spreading raising slightly wings.

     BV is highly careful and in majority of cases by the first does not lower on the dead animal, especially if carcass is intact and is not skinned. So, in August 1960 in Zailijskoe Alatau on the open slope of "œotshchelka"....., somewhat lower than lake in the Bolshaya Almatinka River valley several sheep carcasses were left. They were intact, and during ten days neither Black Vulture, nor Griffon Vultures did not approach to them, though Carrion Crows and Magpies fed on carcasses constantly. According to data of P.P.Sushkin (1938), Vultures have flown together on the thrown out internal organs of wild rams during several hours, but they did not landed on the left intact animal. They don't fly to prey also in the case, if near it they see carcass of raptor. Vulture has striking vigilantness and discovered carrion relatively very soon.

     Vulture feeds mainly carrion - lost cattle, wild ungulates, large rodents, especially marmots, as well in mountains, as on the plains. Side by side with this, vultures are able actively to catch small animals. So, Ye.P.Spangenberg and G.A.Feigin (1936) observed pair of Vultures in Priaralskie Kara-Kums, hunting, obviously, for lizards: birds either soared above "barkhans" (sand-hills), or suddenly landed and clumsily at a run persecuted and catched some animals, most likely lizards. A.A.Sludskiy (1947) was eye-witness of Vulture's attack on the Houbara Bustard. Houbara Bustard has raised in the air, but vulture became to persecute it and on the wing catched it by feet, after that lowered with victim on the ground.

     Cases are known, when vultures took away prey from other raptors. In the Priaral (surrounded the Aral Sea) Karakums pair of vultures rushed from the great height, diving on the Steppe Eagle, tearing to pieces Yellow Suslik, and has taken away a prey (Spangenberg and Feigin, 1936).

     Besides that, on the interrogatory data, vultures sometimes are flying together to the sheep flocks during period of lambing. After noticing of sheep, which begin to lamb, vultures sit near of them and wait appearing of lamb and placenta. These data are confirming by observations of I.A.Dolgushin (1951) in Karatau. Here 2 April 1941 it saw two vultures, walking around two sheep, which dropped behind flock (of sheep); one of them just has lambed. Three soaring Black Vultures and one Griffon Vulture were sighted above sheep.

     Question about character of presence Vultures on territory of Kazakhstan is unclear. Their passage was recorded by nobody, and there are not certain observations about date and course of passage. In any case, in winter vultures in sites of common nesting are rare extremely and are leaving here in very modest quantity. In spring they begin to occur normally since the end of March or beginning of April. So, in the north-western parts of Kazakhstan the earliest appearing of this bird is dated by beginning of April. In the near-Aral Karakums they were recorded 12, 13 and 18th April. These observations are belonging to sites, locating outside the limits of nesting range and, that is very important, far to north-west of it.

     In Karatau they were sighted already 2 April, in the Kirghiz Alatau in nesting region solitary birds were 8 April, in Chu-Ilijskie mountains - at the second half of March. These data allows to consider that in the southern half of Kazakhstan in spring Vultures are appearing near nests at the end of March-beginning of April. They begin to nest since the same time.

     In many cases Vulture's nests are built by such way, that they are inaccessible, therefore there is a few of their factual descriptions. Existing data are evidence of that in conditions of Tien Shan in Kazakhstan, their nests are mainly of two types. If vultures are nesting in low, dry mountains, without tree vegetation, so their nests are locating on the rocks, on the rocky juts and screes. Often they are leaning on some shrub, probably, taking for tree. In Ulkun-Borultau two nests were found. They both were situated on the steep slopes and leant on the shrubs of honey-suckle. In the Chu-Ilijskie mountains nest was on the rock's jut. Nest in the Bolshie Boguty mountains represented the massive construction of thick twigs, located by part on the rock's jut, and by another part on the great shrub of Ephedra...

     The second type of nests is occurring in the high forested mountains with gentle made even slopes; here vultures are nesting on the trees. Nest, discovered by us on the northern slopes of Terskei Alatau (in upper parts of the Kokpak River), was set up on the top of broken fir-tree, standing slightly separately of upper edge of the fir-forest. Clodhopper of the top provoked the densely bushing out of twigs and as a result of that the quite wide ground has formed.

 

Fig. 326. Nesting site of the Brown Vulture. Terskei Alatau. Photo by I.P.Kuzin.

 

Nest was based on this ground, resting by one edge (border) against the dry top of the lateral trunk. Nest, probably, was occupied by Vultures during many years, because represented the massive construction, made of branches and twigs, with height of more 1 m, diameter more 2 m. Nest was lined with scraps of thick felt, fell and feathers. In one of the neighbouring gorges one nest was discovered, made by the same way.

     Clutch consists of one egg. As female, as male take participation in incubation. According to observations in the Crimea, in continues during 55 days. Chicks are growing very slowly.

     Data for Kazakhstan regarding dates of breeding are very limited. In the Ulkun-Borultau mountains (not far from Dzhambul city) in nests, discovered 30 and 31 March, there were slightly (weakly) incubated eggs (Dolgushin, 1951). In the Kirghiz Alatau, according to data of V.N.Shnitnikov (1949), in 1936 Ye.P.Spangenberg has discovered 7 nests: 30 April - with one strongly incubated egg, 2 May - with one incubated, 19 May - with one unfertilized (addled egg) and at the end of May - four nests with large nestlings. In 1934 nests, controlled in the same place by Ye.P.Spangenberg at the middle of July, were left already by chicks. Ye.P.Spangenberg worked in the central and eastern parts of the Kirghiz Alatau, already within limits of Kirghizia, but not far from borders of Kazakhstan. In the Bolshie Boguty mountains (eastern spurs of the Zailijskoe Alatau) 30 June we discovered nest with fledged chick. On the northern slopes of the Terskei Alatau in one of nests, founded by us on the high spruce, 27 June a chick with size of large Pigeon has been; in the Terskei Alatau, in upper parts of the Little Kokpak, in 1936 V.B.Chekalin has discovered a nest on the top of spruce, which in 29 May was a chick with length 35 cm (this chick later was killed by Raven in absence of parents in the nest); Choughs have set up own nest in thickness of that nest.

 

Fig. 327. Nest of the Brown Vulture. Terskei Alatau. Photo L.V.Zhirnov.

 

     It is seen from a.m. data that in many cases vultures begin to nest very early, probably, at the early beginning of March, and young bird leave nests in July-August. After leaving nests, they are staying during certain time in the region of nests, and later begin to lead the nomadic style of life.

     In autumn there is not noticeable passage. Birds, obviously, partially moving on new places, but very gradually. Part of them, undoubtedly, spend a winter in Tien Shan. On the northern slopes of the Terskei Alatau, in the Bolshoi Kokpak, Vultures was shot 20 December. In the Matai mountains we observed pair of vultures 31 October and 1 November. There is pointing in literature, that Vulture was shot in winter within limits of Altai near Ust'-Kamenogorsk (Sushkin, 1938). However, quantity of birds, leaving for winter, is very limited, and their sharp declining was noticeable in Tien Shan already in October.

     Eliminating carrion, lost owing to epizootics of Marmots and other animals, BV, undoubtedly, is useful bird. BV is using as informant also, which shows regions, unfavorable in epizoothological respect.

 

 

Fadeev, V.A. 1981. Cinereous (Black) Vultures and Griffon Vultures in Central Kazakhstan.

In: Nature. 1981. No 4. Pp. 98-99. In Russian.

(Institute of Zoology of Ac. of Sc. of Kazakh SSR)

 

     Cinereous Vultures and Griffon Vultures are natural orderlies. They escort many-thousand flocks of saigas from wintering quartes to the summer pastures, and in regions of their lambing they form great concentrations. In 60-70's years female of saigas lambed in different regions: along the Baikonur River of the Dzhezkazakanskaya Region, in upper parts of the Ulyshilanshik of the Turgai Region, in Zhilanshikturma (Sary-Turgai River) site of the Turgai Region.

     In sites, where saigas will breed, Cinereous Vultures and Griffon Vultures arrive early (at the end of April). For the beginning birds occur as solitary or in the flocks in 2-15 birds. Quantity of birds increases simultaneously with approaching of birth days. At the first dates of May we counted tens, while during the mass lambing, which in saigas happens during 10-20 May, in one place up to 500 birds were concentrated there. Usually in flock Cinereous Vultures form 40-45% and Griffon Vultures - 55-60%. It is possible on the base of these birds to detect territory where saigas breed. It could be explained by that during lambing in saigas a lot of lambs and adult animals perish, those corps serve for necrophages as a food.

     In 5-10 days after birthing of lambs, when they have reared up and got stronger, saigas begin a migration to north in the semidesert and steppe zones. Cinereous and Griffon Vultures in this time fly southwards. Only little part of Vultures escort flocks of ungulates. On the summer pastures of saigas, i.e. in the territory located northwards of Turgai River, these necrophages can be sighted seldom and occur usually as solitary birds or in small flocks.

     Cinereous and Griffon Vultures eat a carrion exclusively. For 10 years we did not see, how these birds attack living animals.

     During hot time of day raptors rest and only close to evening they again appear in sites of lambing. Saigas don't fear Vultures absolutely. On watering-places itā€™s possible often to sight females of saigas with lambs and in the same place - the resting and bathing Vultures. Female try to frighten off birds from water body, approaching to sitting birds and kicking by front hoofs to ground. Vultures bath quite willingly, but only in small water bodies, later, widely spreading wings, during hours they are getting dried under sunlights.

     10-15% of just born lambs perish in saigas, i.e. tens thousand individuals. Besides that, murrain is recording frequently among pregnant females too. Role of necrophages grows especially in period of falling ill of saigas by foot-and-mouth disease, that is reason of up to 40% of just-born lambs death.

     Thus, Cinereous Vultures and Griffon Vultures, undoubtedly, are very useful birds and require strict protection. During 2-4 days they completely clean area from corps and thus predict distribution of epizootics.

 

 

Fomin, V.Ye., Filimonov, A.N., Zhirnov, L.V. Breeding of the Black Vulture in Central Kazakhstan. 1974. In: Materials of the VIth All-Union Orn. Conf. Moscow - 1-5.02.74. Part II. Moscow Univ. Press, 1974:  47. In Russian.

 

   7 Black Vultures and 1 Griffon Vulture were sighted 23-25.05.1973 in the south-western extremity of the Shalkar-Nur mountains (south-east of the Aktyubinsk Region).

   25 May in one of the lateral offshoot of "sai" a nest of Black Vulture was discovered. Tree, on which nest was located, raised on the steep slope of southern exposition in the small parterre of trees (silvery dzhida tree (Elaeagnus spp.) and poplar (Populus alba)) and dense shrubs. Nest - the massive construction from branches and twigs of saxaul was set up on the top of dzhida tree (Elaeagnus orientalis) at the height of 2 m 80 cm. Sizes of nest: diameter - 1,9 x 1,4 m, height - 1,3 m, tray is plane. In litter - small twigs, dust of rotten wood. One egg was situated in the nest, sizes (mm) and weight (grams) of which were the following: 93,80 x 71,85 - 245. Egg - dirty-white with brown-yellow spots, a little concentrating on the obtuse pole.

   The second lost nest of Black Vulture was discovered 25 May during study of the neighbouring "sai"s. Branch of poplar, on which this nest was situated, has broken down, and it was laid on the ground with tray looking down. Nest was made by means of saxaul's twigs and branches. This nest was in three times larger than the first one, and, obviously, was occupied by Vultures during many years. A number of Passer's nests were in walls of the second nest, in nest with clutch Passer's nests were not discovered. It is quite probably, that first nest was made by Vultures in this year after loss of the old one.

 

 

Mitrofanov, O.B. 1998. Sezonnoe raspredelenie khishchnykh ptits v Altaiskom zapovednike i na prilezhashchikhg territoriyakh [Seasonal distribution of birds of prey in Altai Nature Reserve and on adjoining territories]. // III  konferentsiya po khishchnym ptitsam Vostochnoi Evropy i Severnoi Azii [3rd Conference on Birds of Prey of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia]. Stavropol. Pp.80-81. In Russ.

 

Materials were collected in 1989-96. Counts were carried out in summer and winter by means of Yu.S.Ravkin's method (1967). Total length of routes formed 4056 km. 26 biotopes is investigated; birds of prey are found at 21 biotopes.

Stony-grassy alpine area. Absolute dominant Common Kestrel (11 spec. / sq. km). Rare - Upland Buzzard (0,8), Saker Falcon (0,6), Golden Eagle (0,4), Black Kite (0,03) and Black Vulture (0,1); Goshawk (0,08), Bearded Vulture (0,05) are very rare. In winter the Rough-legged Buzzard and Saker Falcon are rare (0,2 each).

Settlements in high mountain area. Goshawk is dominant (6 spec. / sq km). Sparrow Hawk (2) and Black Kite (1) are common; Golden Eagle is rare (0,4). In winter the Goshawk dominates (3); Golden Eagle is rare (0,4). Mountain tundra-steppe. Black Kite and Rough-legged Buzzard dominate (1 spec. / sq km each species). Common Kestrel (0,6), Golden Eagle (0,5), Hen Harrier (0,4), Pallid Harrier (0,2), Saker Falcon (0,1) are rare: Black Vulture (0,08), Pallas's Sea Eagle (0,07), Goshawk, Steppe Eagle and Lesser Kestrel (in 0,04), Red-footed Falcon (0,01) are very rare. In winter Golden Eagle (0,1) dominates; Bearded Vulture and Saker Falcon (0,04 each species) are very rare.

"Ernik" * alpine area. Absolute dominant is Hen Harrier (1 spec. / sq. km). Golden Eagle (0,4), Upland Buzzard and Common Kestrel (0,01 each) are rare; Merlin (0,03), Bearded Vulture, Black Vulture (0,01 each species) are very rare. In winter Golden Eagle dominates (0,2); Goshawk (0,06) is very rare.

High raptor population is typical for the insular larch woods (33 spec. / sq. km) and low-mountain settlements (15).

Remark:

"Ernik" or "yornik" - cis-polar or alpine vegetation community with dominance of Dwarf Birch (Betula nana, B. rotundifolia etc.) and admixture of shrubby willows.

 

 

 

Sklyarenko, S.L., McGrady, M., Katzner, T., Kovalenko, A.V. 2003. Gruppovoe poselenie chernogo grifa v Kazakhstane [The group settlement of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Kazakhstan]  // Materialy IV konferentsii po khishchnym ptitsam Severnoi Evrazii [The materials of the IVth conference on birds of prey of Northern Eurasia], Russia, Penza, 1-3 February 2003. Editor ā€“ Prof. Dr.V.M.Galushin. Penza, Penza & Rostov Pedagogical University Press. Pp.249-251. In Russian.

 

Institute of Zoology, Al-farabi 93, Almaty, 480060, Kazakhstan; sklyar@nursat.kz

 

      The Cinereous Vulture remains to be one of the least studied species of birds of prey of Kazakhstan, that is true concerning peculiarities of its biology number and distribution on nesting. Within the limits of Republic, the nomadic immature birds can be sighted practically everywhere, but the region of the regular breeding is limited by spurs and main ridges of Tien-Shan, Jungarian Alatau, single nests are known in Betpak-Dala and Saur mountain ridge (Gavrilov, 1999). Unnumerous known nests were situated at big distance each from other; in the review ā€œPtitsy Kazakhstana [Birds of Kazakhstan]ā€¯ it was stressed especially that the group settlements of the Cinereus Vultures in Kazakhstan are unknown (Korelov, 1962), and for the last 40 years these imaginations (knowledge) were not changed.

      In the year 2002 we have discovered the group settlement of the Cinereus Vulture in the spurs of the Northern Tien-Shan, approximately at 200 km to S-E of Almaty town. The first group is situated in the upper reaches of Charyn River, near north-eastern edge of Kungei Alatau mountain ridge. Here 4 pairs of Cinereus Vulture settled in canyon (about 1500 m a.s.l.), that divides the mountain Zhalanash valley on its joint with footnote of the mountain spurs. The powerful river with width 10-15 m runs in the rocky goge with depth up to 100 m and width down from 30 to 70, and on upper part of rocks ā€“ to 400 m; at another 100 m steep grassy slopes raise upwards, and at the level of valley the width of depression reaches 1 km. In this canyon there is a series of lateral short offshoots, combs, along river the narrow stripe of turanga forest goes. At 1,5 km lower along the stream from the nesting site of Cinereus Vulture the canyon bottom sharply extends to 1 km, the gentle river valley with tree-shrubby floodland is forming. Three nests were situated in triangle 1500x800x800 m, and the fourth one ā€“ on the short side of this triangle at the distance 200, and respectively, 600 m from neighbors. At least 2 nests of  the Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) were situated here too, one within limits of the same triangle at 300 m and in the direct visibility from the nearest CV (at the same time the GV fledgling was sitting in the typical nest of the Cinereus Vulture, but it was impossible to say surely, that Cinereus Vultures nested there also), the second ā€“ behind triangle, at 300 and 500 m from the nearest vultures and at 800 m from the first Griffon Vulture. 14 July in all these 6 nests there were completely feathered chicks.

      The next pair of the Cinereus Vulture nests (27 July ā€“ completely feathered chicks) was situated in canyon of the same type on Temirlik River (right tributary of Charyn), near north-western edge of Ketmen ridge, at 40 km from above-described settlement on Charyn, at the height 1370 m a.s.l. The rocky canyon also dissect the tipchak slightly knolled steppe near mountain spurs, its depth ā€“ to 200 m, width upwards ā€“ in the average about 100 m, on bottom ā€“ 20-70 m; river is less powerful, also with a stripe of turanga. Nests are situated in the direct visibility each from other, at 810 m. Here there are also tracks of Griffon Vulture presence, and at 860 m from lower along stream the Bearded Vulture nest is situated, also with one fledging, which was sitting already at 10 m from the nest.

     All 6 nests of the Cinereus Vulture ā€“ massive constructions typical for this species ā€“ situated in the main former river-beds of canyons (4) and in lateral branches (2), and were built on rocky juts (three), on juts of narrow transversal combs near transition of the grassy part in the rocky one (two), on rocky shelf (one), are open from above. Distance from the upper part of rocks ā€“ from 3 to 50 m, to the canyon's bottom ā€“ from 50 to 100 m. At the same time three nests were situated directly under river. The nests on Charyn River were more than by 100 m lower than the valley's level.

      Judging by age of chicks, all pairs of scavengers began to nest practically in one and the same time, that did not humper them to settle in neighborhood each from other. Here it's impossible to speak about coloniality in the strict sense, because birds behave completely independently, but if not gravitation of the Cinereous Vulture to the group settlements, so at least their high tolerance to appearance of neighbours during occupation of especially suitable nesting sites is seen absolutely clearly.

     Work was carried out within the frames of the joint project opf Institute of Zoology (Kazakhstan) and Arizona University (USA), with financial support of Wildlife Conservation Society (USA).

 

 

 

 

Sklyarenko, S.L., Katzner, T., McGrady, M. 2003. O sostoyanii populyatsiy khishchnykh ptits-padalshchikov na yugo-vostoke Kazakhstana [On the population status in some raptors-scavengers in the S-E of Kazakhstan]  // Materialy IV konferentsii po khishchnym ptitsam Severnoi Evrazii [The materials of the IVth conference on birds of prey of Northern Eurasia], Russia, Penza, 1-3 February 2003. Editor ā€“ Prof. Dr.V.M.Galushin. Penza, Penza & Rostov Pedagogical University Press. Pp.251-253. In Russian.

 

Institute of Zoology, Al-Farabi 93, Almaty, 480060, Kazakhstan; sklyar@nursat.kz

 

     Scavengers remain to be one of the least studied group of the birds of prey in Kazakhstan, that belongs to the modern status of their populations. Earlier, we tried to estimate the number of scavengers in Republic on the base of analysis of literature and existing scattered data, and made the following estimations: Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) ā€“ several tens (up to 100) pairs, Egyptian Vulture ā€“ over 100, Cinereus Vulture and Griffon Vulture ā€“ up to several hundreds, Himalayan Vulture ā€“ several tens (less 50) pairs (Sklyarenko, 2000). At the same time the trends of number changes remained to be unknown, in literature only colony of the Griffon Vultures was described (Kolbintsev, 1989) and another one ā€“ Himalayan Vulture (Janyspaev, Belyalov, 1991). In the years 2000-2002 the first special works on clearing up of the scavenger population status in the ranges of all five species in the S-E of Kazakhstan were carried out, on separate plots from southern slopes of Jungarian Alatau to Western Tien-Shan. The following studies were carried out: 1) investigation of the known colonies and search of new colonies and nests; 2) monitoring counts at the sites regularly visiting by scavengers and other species of birds of prey on autoroutes within the region of works as a whole.

     Out of 5 species, the Griffon Vulture dominated in counts. By the present moment at least 6 its settlements are known (in four of them the successful breeding is confirmed), which exist in two variants. The first one ā€“ the present colonies on powerful cliffs (precipices) or rocks (Usek River in Jungarian Alatau, upper reaches of Chilik River in Zailijskoe (Trans-Ili) Alatau, Karatau ridge in Western Ten-San) with number of adult birds aproximately from 8 to 40. The second type ā€“ settlements of 2-3 pairs on cliffs of the lesser size (canyons of rivers Charyn, Temirlik in the spurs of ridges Kungei Alatau and Ketmen, Kokpek gorge in Syugaty mountains in the spurs of Trans-Ili Alatau, Karatau ridge). The biggest of the known colonies is situated in Karatau mountains, where in 2002 up to 40 Griffon Vultures were observed (A.Gavrilov). In the colony on Usek River by the end of breeding season in 1991 there were about 40-50 Griffon Vultures, in the year 2000 ā€“ minimum 23, in the year 2001 ā€“ minimum 11, in the year 2002 ā€“ minimum 9, i.e. modern number is about 25% of such one 10 years ago. This fall is confirming by interrogation of shepherds. On the colony in the upper reaches of Chilik in 1991 exclusively Himalayan Vultures were observed (6 nests), in the year 2002 there were the same numer of birds, but already the Himalayan Vultures and Griffon Vultures in aproximately equal parts (A.Janyspaev).

      The Cinereus Vultures successfully nested in 8 nests, and four and two of them formed the group settlements, in the first time described for Kazakhstan. At the same time, several nests, known earlier, were not used by Cinereus Vultures. The Bearded Vulture successfully nested in 9 nests, and in one of them there were 2 fledglings. The Egyptian Vulture is quite common in Karatau and is rare in all other investigated regions.

      No clear signs of diseases, similar to those caused the mass mortality of vultures in India (Risebrough, 1999, 2000), are revealed. The counts at the sites of the constant concentration of scavengers (mountain pastures of Trans-Ili Alatau) have not shown the reliable trends of number changes.

     Thus, number decline takes place for local habitats of the genus Gyps, probably ā€“ for the Cinereus Vulture, while the Bearded Vulture population looks stable; for the Egyptian Vulture data on trends are not enough. As a whole, until now our preliminary estimations of number, named above, are confirming, but the number of Griffon Vulture and Cinereus Vulture could be earlier re-estimated due to ability of these birds to concentrate from huge territories. Decline of the Griffon Vulture populations and probably Cinereus Vultures that are observing now can be connected with: 1) decline of the number of domestic animals and strengthening of the control by owners for their losses; 2) sharp decline of saiga population in central Kazakhstan (Betpakdala group), where a number of immature birds is represented now without food.

     Three of above-mentioned species ā€“ Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Egyptian Vulture ā€“ are included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan, and obviously, inclusion of the Griffon Vulture and Cinereus Vulture is necessary in the list of specially protected species  

     Work was carried out within the frames of the joint project of Institute of Zoology (Kazakhstan) and Arizona University (USA), with financial support of Wildlife Conservation Society (USA).