Post-fledging movements of Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus in Turkey revealed by GPS telemetry

Abstract

Yamac E. & Bilgin C.C. 2012. Post-fledging movements of Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus in Turkey revealed by GPS telemetry. Ardea 100: 149-156. We studied the movements, home ranges and roost site preferences of three first-year Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus after they fledged at the Turkmenbaba Mountains, Eskisehir, western Turkey. We captured chicks at the nest in 2009 and 2010 and fitted them with GPS-GSM transmitters. After fledging, we received a total of 993 locations from all birds during 105-148 days of tracking. Tracked birds initially used small foraging areas, covering a mean 90% kernel home range of 356 +/- 134 SE km(2), and on average moved <10 km per day. As they started to migrate, daily movements increased to 59.3-120.3 km on average and took place largely during midday. Birds preferred to roost at sites with higher altitude, steeper slope and more wooded land. Our data suggest that first-year birds from Turkey disperse south in October and November to desert habitats in middle latitude Arabia, and may cover up to 2765 km during migration.