a-voice-in-the-wilderness: Habitat Of Cape Vulture Invaded by Golfers...(see why here http://surfingandgolf-tours.blogspot.com/2009/09/tee-box-is-1400-feet-above-greengolf-in.html)

There is nothing more exciting than the activities around the sight of a kill in the Kruger Park...

There are various roll players like the predators that caused all the consternation but it's the Scavengers that interest me more...
The antics of the Vultures can keep you fascinated and occupied for hours, but there is a threat

Vultures are scavengers. They rely on carcasses of dead animals for their food supply. In the past food supply was mostly large animals, but now as humans and cattle compete with wildlife for space, the reduction of wildlife numbers has forced the vultures to feed mostly on the carcasses of cattle, goats, donkeys, and sheep, the staple foot of the poorer communities which is one of the main causes of their decrease in numbers.
They act as a “clean up crew” and help to eliminate the spread of diseases.

Vultures are scavengers dependent upon food from natural mortalities, and are very susceptible to changes in their environment.

Identification

Cape Vulture

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Useful scavenger of Southern Africa

Vautour du Cap (fr) , Kransaavoël ( Afrikaans)

L 115 cm

Habitat:
Wide ranging, but breeds on cliffs, endemic to Southern Africa and becoming rare. Common in Transkeï and Drakensberg.

Call:
Cackling and hissing noises audible when feeding on carcasses and at the nest.

Distribution
Seven species breed in southern Africa: Cape Griffon ( Vulture), African white-backed Vulture, Lappet faced Vulture; White-headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Bearded Vulture and Palm nut Vulture, Historically all theses species were linked to Africa’s diverse ecological tapestry, but as man has developed more and more of the continent, only fragments of these vast ecosystems remain.

The South African red Data book considers six of these seven vultures as rare, vulnerable or endangered and this is cause for great concern.

The Egyptian Vulture, once fairly common in parts of Southern Africa is tragically now extinct as a breeding species.

Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) are only found in Southern Africa (this is an endemic species. In 1983, the world population of Cape Vultures was estimated to be around 3700 (2300)in Botswana and Transvaal. Colonies of Cape Vulture exist in Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and other parts of South Africa.

Disturbances to the colony during the breeding time can affect the breeding success of the Vultures. For example, an adult that is startled by a noise may fly out suddenly and knock an egg or small chick off the ledge at the same time. Also a chick may attempt to fly off the ledge before it is ready due to some kind of disturbance. In both these cases the chance of rearing a chick successfully is reduced. Scaring the adult vultures off the nest also increases the opportunities for predators to steal the eggs or young.
The reproductive rate is very slow…One egg a year only, is produced per pair.

Did you know that… ?

Vultures appear on every continent except Australia and Antartica?

Vultures cannot flap their wings for more than two minutes?

The Cape Vulture is one of the three heaviest flying birds in Africa?

Experiments show than a vulture can see an object of only 6.4 cm, like a mouse, from 1000m above ground level

The beak of Vultures and other birds continues to grow throughout their life? (Just like your fingernails)

Cape Vultures have lived in captivity for more than 14 days without eating?

It takes 3-4 months for a vulture to grow a long primary feather?

Only two vultures in the world ( Turkey Buzzard and Black Vulture in North America) show an increase in numbers?

It's difficult to distinguish between an adult and a juvenile in the case of the White-backed Vulture
When seen together, The Cape Vulture is much larger and usually much whiter in appearance, with the dark flight feathers contrasting with pale wings linings. Under ideal viewing conditions, two bare patches of blue skin at the base of the neck are distinguishable.

Status:

The Cape Vulture is faced with natural as well as human-related threats to its survival. As mentioned before… food supply may be a factor in the birds’ decline. The quality of food rather than the quantity seems to be the problem. In the past, Cape Vultures relied on bone flakes from carcasses to supplement the intake of vital core elements for their chicks.
With the absence of Hyenna and other large carnivores that crunch up the bone at a carcass, vultures are no longer able to supply their chicks with the necessary bone flakes. Without the supply of calcium from the bone, chicks develop a disease called “osteodystropy” whereby their bones are deformed and break easily.

Other potential threats to the Cape Vulture come from the poisoning of carcasses by farmers, electrocution at power lines, and poaching from traditional doctors who want to use parts such as feet, brains and hearts for traditional medicine.

Disturbances to the colony by humans, Black eagles and Baboons, particularly during the breeding season, may be a significant factor in the decline of the population in southern Africa.

Cape Vultures have received a lot of attention from conservationist’s world wide due to their threatened status. With an increasing human population, habitat for the Cape Vulture and their prey becomes scarcer. The colonies are producing fewer and fewer young birds every year, and if this trend continues the Cape Vulture will soon be extinct.

The loss of a species of vulture is not only a tragedy in itself; it also means the loss of an important organism in the cycle of nature. Measures to protect this bird must be given the highest priority.

The future of the Cape Griffon lies with the people of Southern Africa and it would be a sad day if these impressive birds no longer soared on wide pinions above their mountain home.

To learn more

Vulture Study Group. P.O Box 72334 Parkview 2122 Johannesburg, South Africa.

References :
Vulture News N° Aug, 23rd 1990.

Schlee Marsha A., 1990, Menagerie de Paris: Vulture management and research , Vulture News, 28.08.1990.
Verdoorn, G.H., 1989, Annual census of Cape Vulture nestlings in the Magaliesberg result, Vulture News, 22:44-48

National Parks:
Wildlife National Park - Cape Vultures at Mannyelanong, Otse. (Botswana)

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