The Egyptian Vulture calls for survival!

March 6, 2024

AOS

Let’s all bring a positive change by helping the only breeding vulture in Albania, which is currently fighting for survival. A simple and well-meaning act can help save the small and endangered population of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Albania, the most loyal vulture species in our country, from which we get the notable epithet “Land of Vultures”.

Click the PayPal link or bank transfer and give your contribution today for the future of the “Land of Vultures”!

No donation is too small, and every donor will be a beacon of hope for this vulture species. Together, we aim to raise a sum of 4,000 EUR. With this amount, we aim to cover expenses for maintaining a supplementary feeding station in one of the territories of the Egyptian Vulture in Albania. Specifically, the fund will be used to supply the feeding station with safe food for a time period of five months and the installation of a camera for online monitoring of the station. Every transaction will be documented and reported by AOS for complete transparency; thus, fully conveying how your contribution will help this important project. The amount we aim to raise will go entirely for securing the necessary materials, while the support with staff and experts will be provided by AOS entirely voluntary.

It is highly important to emphasize that the Egyptian Vulture is a globally endangered species with less than 50 breeding pairs in the Balkans and only 6 pairs in Albania. In most parts of its range, the Egyptian Vulture populations have been rapidly declining in recent years.

Some of the main threats to the Egyptian Vulture population in the country as well as the region are the use of poison baits in nature to eliminate large and medium sized carnivores, etc., collision with powerlines and electrocution, habitat loss, human disturbance, etc. In this situation, the construction of supplementary feeding stations has resulted as a successful solution for protecting and sustaining the Egyptian Vulture and other scavenger species. The food station is a safe, fenced area where controlled and safe food is supplied periodically for vultures and other scavengers.

Considering that this species’ population in the country is represented by a small number of breeding pairs and nesting sites, the loss of any individual would be dramatic for the population. Providing supplementary and safe food affects the success of the breeding season for the pair in the area and provides safe food for their chicks. Additionally, the Egyptian Vulture individuals don’t have to travel to long distances in search for food; thus, reducing the risks they can potentially face in unsafe areas, including: poisoning, electrocution, human disturbance, etc. Therefore, supplementary feeding stations are useful in mitigating risks and lowering the mortality rate of this species.

Given the precarious situation, the Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS) together with RAPA Gjirokastra built in 2022 a supplementary feeding station for the Egyptian Vulture in Fir of Hotova-Dangëllia National Park. From the beginning, the station has been functioning regularly and has supported for two consecutive breeding seasons the Egyptian Vulture pair that nests nearby, which managed to successfully rear 4 chicks. Therefore, we need to come together to continue maintaining the success of this feeding station, which supports the survival of the Egyptian Vulture, the only breeding vulture in our country.

The fund collected from the donations will be managed by AOS, who will guarantee full transparency for each transaction and expenditure as well as all the work carried out.

Join us on this noble mission and become a part of the history of conservation for this incredible vulture, which is so important to us and nature!

You. Wings of Hope!

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/aosalb