Cinereous vulture increases to more than 108 nesting pairs in Portugal

Photo: ©Alfonso Godinho- LIFE Aegypius Return

The LIFE Aegypius Return project closes its second breeding season with optimism.

The LIFE Aegypius Return project began with the aim of doubling the breeding population of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Portugal, which in 2022 totalled around 40 pairs in four colonies. In 2024, the project recorded 108 to 116 nesting pairs, which produced at least 48 fledglings. Breeding success has slightly increased and a new, fifth breeding colony is already known, further evidence of the species' expansion in the country.

Results of the Cinereous Vulture 2024 breeding season in Portugal.

Slow but steady growth

The Cinereous Vulture, a protected and Endangered species in Portugal, has been monitored in detail by the partners of the LIFE Aegypius Return project, with support from the Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation (ICNF) and the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Rewilding Portugal and Quercus. The project began in 2022, when approximately 40 couples were known to exist in Portugal, distributed among the colonies of Douro Internacional, Serra da Malcata, Tejo Internacional and Herdade da Contenda, in Alentejo. After defining a strict protocol for monitoring the species' reproduction, a precise reference situation was established in 2023, with 78 to 81 nesting pairs recorded. The considerable increase from 2022 to 2023, despite reflecting some growth in the population, could also echo the great effort made in articulated monitoring in the various regions of the country, with regular prospecting of new nesting sites. The increase recorded in 2024 is exclusively due to the natural expansion of the species, which is due to conservation measures that have been implemented, namely in previous projects (such as LIFE Habitat Lince Abutre and LIFE Rupis), in the current actions of LIFE Aegypius Return and also thanks to a timid but generalised improvement in the habitat conditions and tranquillity required by the species.

This year, 108 to 116 nesting pairs were recorded in Portugal, which produced 48 or 49 chicks recruited into the population. Breeding success improved slightly, from 0.47 in 2023 to 0.51 in 2024. Another strategic objective of the LIFE Aegypius Return project has thus been achieved: that at least half of the eggs result in a flying chick.

The results are promising, but despite the optimism, they should be viewed with caution, as any significant threat to one of the colonies - which remain relatively small and subject to disturbance - could jeopardise this positive trend and the sustainability of the populations.

The results in each colony

Douro Internacional, the most isolated colony

The most isolated and peripheral colony, in the Douro Internacional, surprised last year with three nesting pairs. This year, the surprise was even greater! In addition to the increase in the number of couples, to eight, the species expanded for the first time since its return to the opposite bank of the Douro River, with three nests in Spanish territory. However, all of these new pairs could possibly be very young and inexperienced, as of the eight pairs only five had a clutch and only four chicks (two in each country) survived to become independent. The LIFE Aegypius Return project has a strategic plan to address the fragility of this colony: reinforcement with acclimatised individuals in region.

The monitoring of this colony - now transboundary - relies on interregional support between Palombar, the Northern Regional Directorate (DR) of the ICNF and teams from the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.

A Cinereous Vulture chick (tagged with a GPS/GSM transmitter) in the nest, in Douro International. © Palombar

Serra da Malcata, an expanding colony

The Malcata colony was only confirmed in 2021, with four nesting pairs. In 2023, 14 were registered and this year the number increased again to 18. All the couples laid, but only 12 chicks survived to become independent. This colony has been monitored in a joint effort between the technicians and rangers from the ICNF - DR Centro and Rewilding Portugal. Local partner Associação Transumância e Natureza (ATN) has been prospecting for nests in other regions that are relatively close and potentially suitable for the species, such as Almeida and the Coa and Águeda river valleys.

Marking a Cinereous Vulture chick in the Serra da Malcata. © Dora Oliveira/ICNF

Tejo Internacional, the first and largest colony

The recolonisation of the Cinereous Vulture in Portugal, four decades after its extinction as a breeding species, took place in the Tejo Internacional Nature Park, with the settlement of two pairs in 2010. Since then, the colony has gradually expanded, but with relatively low breeding success. In 2024, the breeding success of this colony was 0.41.

In 2023, 44 to 46 nesting pairs were known (five of which were in Spanish territory) and this year between 61 and 64 were monitored, producing 24 to 25 fledglings. Of all these couples, around a quarter (15 to 16) opted for the Spanish side of the river this year, resulting in 4 or 5 chicks recruited into the population.

Monitoring this transboundary colony is particularly difficult because, between occupied nests and old nests, there are already more than 160! Curiously, 12 nests built by Cinereous Vultures were opportunistically occupied by pairs of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus).

The monitoring work is being carried out by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and has the support of the ICNF - DR Centro and Quercus. This year, the support of the Agentes del Medio Natural of the Junta de Extremadura and the team from the Parque Natural del Tajo Internacional, in Spain, was crucial in rescuing Cinereous Vulture chicks in delicate situations and also in confirming some monitoring data.

The joint effort of SPEA, ICNF and Agentes del Medio Natural da Junta de Extremadura (AGM-JE) in rescuing a Cinereous Vulture chick that received veterinary care at CERAS, managed by Quercus. ©Agustin Ruano/AGM-JE

Herdade da Contenda with more pairs and more offspring

Herdade da Contenda, a property owned by the Municipality of Moura, in Southern Portugal, is home to the second largest Cinereous Vulture breeding colony in the country. Last year, 17 to 18 nesting pairs were recorded there, producing five young that were recruited into the population. These numbers increased in 2024, with a total of 20 to 21 couples and seven fledglings. This colony is also cross-border: five pairs have nested in Spanish territory, albeit very close to the border, and, for the first time, one successful fledgling  was born in the Spanish Contienda.

This colony is monitored by the Liga para a Protecção da Natureza (LPN), in co-operation with Herdade da Contenda, E.M. and the ICNF - DR Alentejo.  The liaison between the Portuguese and Spanish teams and authorities has been fundamental in guaranteeing the protection and tranquillity of the birds in all the areas occupied by the Cinereous Vultures during the breeding season.

Cinereous vulture monitoring work at Herdade da Contenda © VCF

Vidigueira, the most recent colony

In June 2024, ICNF technicians discovered a fifth Cinereous Vulture breeding colony in Vidigueira, Southern Portugal. This is the species' westernmost colony in its global distribution area! The late discovery, midway through the breeding season, made it impossible to conduct detailed monitoring of all breeding parameters while ensuring the birds' tranquility. However, the ICNF confirmed the presence of five nests and successful reproduction in one of them. The resulting chick, a young male, was fitted with a GPS/GSM transmitter and named Pousio.

Tagging Pousio, the only Cinereous Vulture chick from the recent colony in Vidigueira. ©LPN

Monitoring in Spain

The LIFE Aegypius Return project also involves monitoring the Cinereous Vulture in the Sierra de Gata y Valle de las Pilas (SGVP) and Canchos de Ramiro y Ladronera (CRL) Special Protection Areas (SPA) in Spain. This work is being carried out by local partner Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre (FNYH), who last year recorded a total of 157 nesting pairs, which produced 103 fledglings. This year, a total of 153 nestings pairs and 90 flegdlings were recorded.

In the SPA Campo de Azaba, the third covered by the project in Spain, the Cinereous Vulture does not have confirmed nesting, but FNYH perform regular field prospections. In the same SPA, FNYH also manage a supplementary feeding station for scavenger birds and closely monitor all the species that use it, paying special attention to the Cinereous Vultures.

Cinereous Vulture monitoring in Sierra de Gata and Valle de las Pilas, with the LIFE Aegypius Return project teams and the ICNF, during the second partners’ meeting, June 2023. Observations made with optical equipment and from a great distance to avoid disturbing the birds.

Consolidating the species’ return

Despite the encouraging results for the conservation of the Cinereous Vulture, the LIFE Aegypius Return project teams are not letting up. Until 2027, there is still a lot of work to be done, for example, improving the availability of food and nesting sites, and fighting threats. This includes collaboration with the ICNF and the police (Guarda Nacional Republicana) to implement the Antidote Programme, along with support for the hunting sector to accelerate the transition to lead-free ammunition. The project also focuses on the intangible aspects of valuing the ecosystem services provided by the Cinereous Vulture, emphasizing public perception and environmental education.

The LIFE Aegypius Return partners thank all the individuals and organizations, directly or indirectly involved in the species monitoring efforts, for their contributions to the effective implementation of the project and the species' recovery.

LIFE Aegypius Return 

The LIFE Aegypius Return project is co-financed by the European Union's LIFE programme. Its success depends on the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders and the collaboration of the partners: the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), the coordinating beneficiary, and local partners Palombar - Conservation of Nature and Rural Heritage (with co-funding from Viridia - Conservation in Action), Herdade da Contenda, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, the League for the Protection of Nature, the Transhumance and Nature Association, the Naturaleza y Hombre Foundation, the National Republican Guard and the National Association of Rural Owners of Game Management and Biodiversity.