Griffon Vultures – Magnificent Birds of the Spanish Mountains
Often misunderstood, or at least badly portrayed!
Spain is home to around 17,000 pairs of Griffon Vultures. That sounds like quite a lot, but the sobering thought is that this figure accounts for approximately 75% of the World´s population.
The wingspan of an adult bird is almost 3 metres, and they can live for over 30 years. They are often seen as “flying planks” high in the blue skies of Southern Europe. But what of the lives of these mystical creatures? “Vultures!” is often a phrase, an insult indeed for someone who preys on the vulnerable, the weak, for their own easily gotten gains. No wonder then, that this carries over to the image of these most noble of birds.
I beg to plead in their defence! Firstly, on a “personal” basis, they are monogamous, usually pairing for life. As these photos show, they breed on mountain crags, building their nests from sticks. The lay a single egg, which is incubated for 50-60 days. Four months after hatching, the chick is fledged and can fly, but usually needs further care and feeding by the parents. In total, that´s around 50% of the entire year dedicated to nest building, incubating and rearing their young. Pretty unselfish behaviour I´d say! That´s not to mention the fact that they have to fly hundreds of kilometres in search of food…food that is, that they consume and feed to their young without killing a single living thing, except for the occasional ill or injured creature. All of that is done whilst having to dodge the all too vast swaiths of windfarm rotors that are placed to convince us that we´re taking care of the planet.
I count myself as exceptionally fortunate to have seen these animals up close here in the rugged mountains of Valencia. To have sat still in the shade at a distance so as not to bother them, and to watch in awe as they go about their lives.
On another level, I´ve sat back and watched as people young and old have become captivated by the sight of these magnificent animals through a telescope. How they felt part of the day of the Griffon Vulture, just doing what they do to survive, to bring up their chick, to live for another day. That´s what makes my days special. Not to boast about what I´ve seen, that´s easy. But to see what such a sight brings to others, and bear witness to that connection with nature that will hopefully help to protect what absolutely needs protecting.
Dave Warrington.