Branta Issues > Issue №4 (2001)

New data about Griffon Vulture nesting and number in the Crimea

Kinda V.V., Prokopenko S.P.

At present several nesting sites of Griffon Vulture are determined in the Crimean Mountains (Gyps fulvus Hablizl). Nests known earlier in Crimean Natural Reserve on mounts Basman (Kostin, 1983) and Babugan (Zubarovsky, 1977) are also inhabited nowadays. Besides, B.A.Appak informs about a nest registration on the territory of Khalhal reserve (near Generalskoe village) and points to one pair nesting on western slopes of Chatyrdag, referring to A.F.Kozlov’s information.

Two nests of Griffon Vulture were founded 15.06.1997 near Sokolinoye village in Bakhchisaraysky district (Kostin, Beskaravayny, 1999). All above-mentioned places are situated westward of Karabi plateau. Farther to the east only one occasion of this species breeding is known in 1927 on Karadag rocks (Zubarovsky, 1977, according to B.K. Shtegman’s data).

In 1998 within IBA-programme the territory to the east of Karabi-yaila was surveyed. Two nesting pairs of Griffon Vulture were found on April 27 - 28 on a rocky precipitous ridge, stretching several hundred meters along the eastern bank of the Uskut river. Deep niches of the nests were situated one above other at a height about 9 and 13 meters from the base of 70- meters sheer rock. Details of a find and some features of breeding behaviour were registered. The fact of group (colonial) nesting of Griffon Vulture in the Crimea was first described. Such facts had not been recorded earlier (Kostin, 1983). During the first day of observation in the nest area there was recorded a group of 6 birds, using neighboring rocks as sleeping sites. According to the general data in 1997 -1998 there were at least 8 pairs of Griffon Vulture, breeding in the Crimea.

Regarding to the authors estimation general size of the population is 45-50 individuals (8-10 breeding pairs).