site.btaNew Group of Black Vultures from Spain Arrives in Eastern Rhodopes

A new group of seven black vultures have completed an 3,300-kilometre journey from Spain to Bulgaria’s Eastern Rhodopes, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) reported on Wednesday. Their arrival marks another milestone in the efforts of BSPB and the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, who have been working since 2022 to restore the species' population in the region. With the latest arrivals, the total number of black vultures released in the area has reached 33, with the goal of establishing a breeding colony in Bulgaria.

After a three-day journey organized by the Spanish organization GREFA and its Bulgarian partners, the birds are now housed in a special adaptation aviary, where they will remain for several months to acclimate to local conditions. The vultures are expected to be released in October. A team of experts will closely monitor the birds in the coming days to ensure their adaptation goes smoothly and their condition remains stable.

Dr. Dobromir Dobrev of BSPB noted that just three years after the reintroduction programme began, four pairs of black vultures have already formed, with one currently nesting. “This shows our efforts are moving in the right direction, and with the support of the local community, we hope for even better results in the next breeding season,” he said.

The black vulture is one of the rarest birds on the Balkans. The species was widespread in Bulgaria in the past but disappeared as a breeding species about 25 years ago. In the 1980s, a few pairs were recorded in the Eastern Rhodopes, with the last confirmed breeding pair nesting near Studen Kladenets Reservoir in 1993.

The birds released in the last two years are successfully adapting to life and their new home in the Eastern Rhodopes. On February 14, 2024, for the first time in 31 years, two pairs have settled in nests in the Eastern Rhodopes.

The last natural colony of black vultures in the Balkans is located in Dadia National Park in Greece, currently home to 44 pairs. However, due to its limited size and slow population growth, natural expansion is unlikely. This prompted BSPB and the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation to launch a reintroduction initiative. Now, thanks to international cooperation, these majestic birds are once again flying freely over the Rhodopes.