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The African White-backed Vulture research and conservation programme

This project is run in partnership with Northern Cape Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation (NCDTEC), and is based in the Kimberley area, South Africa. Mark Anderson (Senior Ornithologist at NCDTEC) is the key partner.

Although African White-backed Vultures are still quite numerous across their range, they have suffered a decline over recent years in South Africa. The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland now lists them as ‘Vulnerable’.

The project has been running since 2001, and investigates several aspects of African White-backed Vulture ecology in the study area. An annual trip to participate in a long-term monitoring programme is an important part of the project.

Here is a description of the areas we are working currently:

African White-backed Vulture monitoring

Aim: To continue to support and participate in the ringing, identification and monitoring programme for African White-backed Vultures in the Greater Kimberley Area, South Africa

Outcomes:

• One part of this topic is complete. View the results here
• Improved conservation management of an important raptor species
• Opportunity to extend existing work to a wider area
• Potential for the development of additional project components (e.g. recording of movements)

Benefits:

• Continued involvement in a successful, long term conservation monitoring project
• Active field conservation work for a species exhibited at HCT, currently classified as ‘threatened’
• Personal development of HCT personnel

The distribution of African White-backed Vultures in relation to land use

Aim: To determine how different land use types affect AWbVs breeding, foraging and roosting behaviour in the Greater Kimberley Area, South Africa

Outcomes:
This area of research is complete. A summary can be found here (soon)

Benefits:

• Proactive role in the development of conservation strategies for a identified project species
• Working partnership with other conservation organisations

Mortality factors affecting vultures

Aim: To quantify the impact of various mortality factors on the population of African White-backed Vultures in the Greater Kimberley Area, South Africa

Outcomes: Contribution to the development of methods to reduce mortality rates

Benefits:

• Proactive role in the development of conservation strategies for an identified project species
• Strengthening and extension of working partnership with conservation organisations in South Africa

Nest tree characterisation of African White-backed Vultures

Aim: To identify the habitat and nest tree requirements of African White-backed Vultures in the Greater Kimberley Area, South Africa

Outcomes:

• An understanding of tree species and type used by AWbVs
• Map identifying suitable habitat areas for AWbVs

Benefits:

• Proactive role in the development of conservation strategies for a identified project species
• Continued working partnership with other conservation organisations
• Opportunities for staff to participate in a field conservation programme

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