The Hawk Conservancy Trust - African White-backed Vulture research

This project is run in partnership with BirdLife South Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Birds of Prey Working Group and Gauntlet Birds of Prey Eagle and Vulture Park. It is based in the Kimberley area, South Africa. Mark Anderson (Executive Director, BirdLife South Africa) is the key partner. Important support for the project has been provided by De Beers.

Due to significant declines in West Africa in recent years, the African White-backed Vulture is now listed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN. Moderate declines in South Africa have lead to the species being listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

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.

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

One part of this topic is complete. View the results here
One part of this topic is in progress
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 - view here)

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. The full paper is available on request.

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

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

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

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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	A web site last modified on Monday, 15 March, 2010

African White-backed Vulture researchand conservation programme

African White-backed Vulture monitoring

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

Mortality factors affecting vultures

Nest tree characterisation of African White-backed Vultures

African White-backed Vulture research
and conservation programme