The
Government of Extremadura has
published the results of the Black Vulture (also known as Monk or
Cinereous Vulture) (Aegypius
monachus)
census of 2013 (see
link),
showing the highest ever known population of 897
breeding pairs.
Furthermore, the breeding success of 806
pairs was monitored, showing that 590 young fledged,
in other words a
breeding success of 73%.
The first Black Vulture censuses, albeit only partially completed,
were from 1974, when only 86 pairs were known in the whole region.
With the passing of time, the quality of the censuses has
significantly improved, but there was also a true increase in the
population with the figures in 1990 reaching 404 pairs, in 2000 610
pairs and in 2006 to 829 breeding pairs. Since then the population
has remained, with small fluctuations, between 800 and 900 pairs. One
must take into account that this type of census will always
underestimate the real population, owing to the difficulty of
determining if pairs do breed or because some nests remain undetected
(in order to do a thorough census it is reckoned that 16 visits are
necessary). Notwithstanding these caveats, it is clear that
Extremadura has the most important Black Vulture population in
Europe. For further information about the population,
evolution and distribution of the Black Vulture in Extremadura
read
here
