Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.2
A. Ringim, S. Ivande, S. Muhammad, P. Apeverga, Harry Hanson Jr.
{"title":"Only one vulture was detected during transect surveys in northern Nigeria.","authors":"A. Ringim, S. Ivande, S. Muhammad, P. Apeverga, Harry Hanson Jr.","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Vulture and raptor populations have declined across West Africa during recent decades due to numerous and widespread anthropogenic threats. To estimate encounter rates of vultures and raptors in northern Nigeria, we conducted a total of 248 km driven transects on 195 km and 53 km of paved and unpaved roads, respectively. We also conducted walked surveys beneath 79 km of power transmission lines to search for dead vultures and raptors; and visited 12 abattoirs, 11 slaughterhouses, and 12 dumpsites to assess the occurrence of vultures and raptors. All fieldwork was done between October and December 2018. Overall, 357 individuals of 23 species were detected, most of which were recorded at low encounter rates. Only one Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus was recorded across all surveys, and no other vulture species were seen. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius, Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis, and Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus had the highest encounter rates of 0.351, 0.262, and 0.189 individuals km-1, respectively. In contrast, the largest raptor species, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Beaudouin's Snake-eagle, and Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus had the lowest encounter rate of 0.004 individuals km-1 (one individual each). No dead vultures or raptors were found during the walked surveys beneath power lines. Although historical data about vulture and raptor distribution and abundance in northern Nigeria are limited, our results show an apparent absence of vultures from the wider landscape and a low density of raptors. Support among local stakeholders for the conservation of vultures and raptors should be encouraged through wider dissemination of information about the importance of these birds, as well as stronger deterrents again illegal killing and trade.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122026170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.6
Ambrish K. Mall, H. Roy, Surendra Singh, P. K. Gupta, J. Jena
{"title":"First record of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India.","authors":"Ambrish K. Mall, H. Roy, Surendra Singh, P. K. Gupta, J. Jena","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.6","url":null,"abstract":"No abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128166066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.4
C. Barlow, Erik Brohaugh
{"title":"Road-killed frogs add another item to the food list of the Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus in The Gambia.","authors":"C. Barlow, Erik Brohaugh","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.4","url":null,"abstract":"No abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"287 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131903738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.5
Cloé Pourchier, V. Barrios
{"title":"The story of Sa’a and other examples of the implementation of complementary conservation actions to fight against the illegal killing of vultures in Niger.","authors":"Cloé Pourchier, V. Barrios","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.5","url":null,"abstract":"No abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"134 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117301391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.1
Natalia S. Novoselova, A. Novoselov, Arthur Macarrão, Guilherme Gallo-Ortiz, Wesley Rodrigues Silva
{"title":"Thermal circulation affects Black Vulture Coragyps atratus soaring behaviour in the vicinity of two airports in south-east Brazil.","authors":"Natalia S. Novoselova, A. Novoselov, Arthur Macarrão, Guilherme Gallo-Ortiz, Wesley Rodrigues Silva","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v82i1.1","url":null,"abstract":"The growth of air traffic all over the world faces an increasing risk of aircraft collisions with birds. The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), being a large soaring species living across the Americas, presents a serious hazard to airplanes. The reduction of this threat without harm to birds is a complex task requiring thorough investigations of their behaviour. Various natural and anthropogenic factors can affect the distribution of soaring Black Vultures in the surrounds of airports. Here we focus on the impact of meteorological parameters (i.e. air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and atmospheric pressure) on Black Vulture flight at two study sites. In the course of one year, from September 2012 to August 2013, we surveyed with binoculars the soaring activity of Black Vultures around Amarais and Presidente Prudente airports in the southeast of Brazil. The study areas were characterized by tropical climatic conditions with mild dry winter and hot rainy summer. We found that the frequency of soaring flights depended on the wind speed, a proxy of the strength of thermals (upward air flows). This finding is consistent with habits of Black Vultures using thermals for soaring. In contrast, air temperature, air humidity and atmospheric pressure did not affect their activity. We also showed that the different seasons affected the birds’ behaviour, but the degree of their influence depended on the level of anthropogenic pressure in the soaring terrain. Two contrasting types of daily soaring activity appeared: a plateau-like trend and a tendency of two peaks at morning and afternoon with a pronounced drop between them. Our findings can be used to inform methods to reduce the risk of collisions between aircraft and Black Vultures at our study sites, and our analytical approach could be applied elsewhere.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"150 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115185017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-05-31DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.4
R. Buij, C. Mcclure, James M. Hassell, Stephen M. Awoyemi, N. Richards, M. Virani, M. Ottinger
{"title":"Exposure to pesticides and zoonoses during procurement, trade, and consumption of vulture parts: an unexplored threat to human health.","authors":"R. Buij, C. Mcclure, James M. Hassell, Stephen M. Awoyemi, N. Richards, M. Virani, M. Ottinger","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.4","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Examination into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has shed further light on opportunities for broader zoonotic pathogen transmission stemming from the trade in living wildlife and animal parts, and in associated practices. In certain parts of the world (e.g., Africa), various bird species are illegally captured for both subsistence and non-subsistence purposes such as for belief-based use. The latter practice includes rare and declining vulture species and arises from the (relatively recent) belief that directly ingesting certain vulture body parts may impart powers of clairvoyance or bring good fortune. Among a variety of capture methods used by hunters, pesticide-poisoned or nicotine-laced baits are prevalent. In 2020, a mass mortality incident in Guinea Bissau involving over 2000 Critically Endangered Hooded Vultures was linked to belief-based practices, and to the use of a carbamate pesticide. This was to date the highest reported number of vultures killed by pesticide poisoning within a single event. Such deliberate, indiscriminate poisoning is now widely acknowledged within conservation sectors as posing evident threats to vulture species and populations. However, the potential human health repercussions arising from the possibility for zoonotic pathogen transmission (e.g., anthrax, avian H5N1 influenza), and for secondary exposure to the range of toxic substances used to capture and prepare individual birds – whether to hunters, procurers and traders of vulture parts or to consumers – have remained unexplored.Objectives: Our aims are to 1) generate awareness of these practice within human health risk assessment sectors; and 2) generate interest within the human health sector in examining the potential for zoonotic pathogen transmission and toxicity or poisoning risks to people that may stem from these practices.Discussion: We briefly describe human behaviours associated with this belief-driven practice as they relate to potential exposure, and issue a plea for examination of the associated health risks, in collaboration with ongoing conservation and wildlife forensics efforts.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126298034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-05-31DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.2
H. Mikkola, C. Barlow
{"title":"Owl pellets constitute another interesting addition to the dietary list of the Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus – based on an old observation.","authors":"H. Mikkola, C. Barlow","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"No Abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"64 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133815956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-05-31DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.1
Olivia Sievert, J. Adendorff, Shaibu Kadewere, C. Reid, A. Botha
{"title":"Recent records of vulture nests in Malawi’s Southern Region.","authors":"Olivia Sievert, J. Adendorff, Shaibu Kadewere, C. Reid, A. Botha","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v81i1.1","url":null,"abstract":"No Abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"267 2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134171367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vulture NewsPub Date : 2022-02-10DOI: 10.4314/vulnew.v80i1.3
S. Manigandan, P. Kannan, H. Byju, S. Bharathidasan, Cimi Thambi, B. Ramakrishnan
{"title":"Death of a Himalayan Vulture in South India highlights the potential threat of power infrastructure","authors":"S. Manigandan, P. Kannan, H. Byju, S. Bharathidasan, Cimi Thambi, B. Ramakrishnan","doi":"10.4314/vulnew.v80i1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v80i1.3","url":null,"abstract":"No Abstract.","PeriodicalId":404970,"journal":{"name":"Vulture News","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117332932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}