Nicosia: This year marks a historic turning point for the recovery of the griffon vulture population in Cyprus as for the first time since 2021 successful breeding activity was recorded, with five breeding pairs nesting in various areas of the island.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a joint press release from BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service says that this development comes just a few years after the loss of the last breeding pairs due to vulture poisoning incidents in 2022 and 2023 and is proof that efforts to strengthen the population are starting to bear fruit.
The five pairs are expected to contribute significantly to the recovery of the population, adding new individuals to a species that is still in a critical conservation status in Cyprus. It is particularly encouraging that four of the five pairs include birds that were transferred from Spain as part of the LIFE project 'Life with Vultures' and have now reached breeding age.
The chicks will be ringed and equipped with GPS transmitters to monitor their movements, contributing to a better understanding of their behaviour and to their more effective protection after they leave the nest. The press release says that the pairs nest in historical breeding areas of the species. Among these is a site that has not been used for nesting in the last 15 years, which suggests that the population is gradually starting to use traditional areas on the island again.
Four of the five breeding pairs include Spanish birds released in Cyprus in 2022 and 2023. Of particular importance is the fifth pair, which consists of the last remaining individual of Cretan origin, a 13-year-old female transferred to Cyprus as part of the GYPAS project (2011-2014) and released in 2015, and a male bird born in Cyprus in 2021.
The breeding season of the Griffon Vulture, which usually extends from late winter to summer, is the most sensitive period for the species. Human presence or intrusive activities near active nests, helicopter flights, recreational approaches or other sources of aerial and acoustic disturbance can force adult birds to temporarily or even permanently abandon the nest.
The press release also notes that for the protection of two nests located within the British Bases, additional measures have been taken to limit human disturbance during the breeding season. In collaboration with the British Bases Administration, the Game and Fauna Service and BirdLife Cyprus, protection zones have been established around the nests, which will remain in force throughout the breeding season. This measure was implemented as a preventive measure, with the aim of minimising the risk of disturbance to the birds and ensuring their successful breeding.
Although this year's breeding success is a significant milestone, the Vulture remains among the most endangered bird species in Cyprus. Illegal use of poisoned baits and electrocution from power lines continue to be the most serious threats to its survival, while the protection of nesting areas and the maintenance of suitable habitats remain critical for the long-term recovery of the population.