- Of the projects that have contributed and continue to contribute to the reproduction and conservation of the species in the area, there should be special mention for Trenca, which has been supported by Endesa for 10 years.
- The nerve centre for the recolonisation of the species (which had disappeared from the Pyrenees in the second half of the 19th century), is in the Caza de Boumort National Park (Lleida) where this year a total of 65 specimens have been counted, 18 pairs and 9 chicks fledged of which four were also tagged with a GPS so their location is known at all times.
- Spain is home to 86% of the total European black vulture population (distributed between Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-León, Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia). The species is listed as vulnerable both in the Red Book of Birds of Spain and in the List of Wild Species in Special Protection Regime in the National Catalogue of Threatened Species.
The black vulture (Aegypius monachus) disappeared from the Pyrenees during the second half of the 19th century. Today, almost 200 years later, and as a result of a number of public and private initiatives taken during this time, we can now confirm that a colony of black vultures has been consolidated in the Pyrenees. This is supported by the latest figures provided by Trenca (an entity dedicated to conservation) within the framework of a species preservation project with which Endesa collaborates: Last year 2022, in the Caza de Boumort National Park (in the Pallars Jussà, Catalan Pre-Pyrenees, the nerve centre of the reintroduced population), 65 individuals of black vulture were counted, 18 pairs were formed and 11 chicks were born, of which 9 fledged. Of these, 4 were tagged with a GPS so we will be able to track their movements in greater detail. The radio tracking project is a joint project involving the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Regional Government of Aragon, SARGA, RNC de Boumort, Corps of Rural Agents, UAB, and others.
The figures observed in 2022 confirm the recent trend, so we can talk of the consolidation of the colony, although the challenge remains: To increase the population and extend it to new territories. Spain is home to 86% of the total European black vulture population (distributed between Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-León, Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia). The species is listed as Vulnerable both in the Red Book of Birds of Spain and in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species. In Catalonia the black vulture is considered a protected native wildlife species through Legislative Decree 2/2008, of 15 April, and the Catalonia Catalogue of threatened fauna (pending approval) considers the species in danger of extinction (pending approval).
To date, some of the objectives of the reintroduction project have already been achieved. Firstly, the Pre-Pyrenean massif has been recovered as a breeding territory for a key species that will enable the ecosystems to function correctly. It should not be forgotten that, despite the undeserved bad reputation they have, necrophagous birds play a key role in the food chains by eliminating abandoned corpses, they are the health workers of the mountains, which is why they are so valuable. They also contribute indirectly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Caza de Boumort National Park is the nerve centre for the reintroduction of this species in the Pyrenees. Of the 65 individuals observed this year, 23 have been reintroduced, 28 were born in the colony and the others are of exogenous origin (7 Iberian and 3 French). As you would imagine, the percentage of individuals born in Boumort is increasing, while the percentage of reintroduced individuals is decreasing. Boumort has become an ecological bridge between populations, not only in the recovery of a historical breeding territory for the black vulture, it also guarantees connectivity and genetic exchange between populations and reduces the risk of extinction. This is a sign that the project is progressing well.
Taking these data into account, a total of 80 chicks have been born in the wild since the beginning of the reintroduction project, and 54 chicks have fledged. Taking all data collected since 2010 into account, the flight rate (chicks fledged/pairs in flight) is 82% (slightly higher than the 64% observed in 2021), and the productivity (chicks fledged/pairs laying) is 43% (slightly higher than observed in 2021). If we only analyse the data for 2022, the rate of fledging was 82%, and productivity was 56%. Taking the data collected since 2010 into account, the reproductive success of the colony (pairs in flight/pairs laying) is 52%, higher than the 46% and 28% in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Specifically for 2022, reproductive success was 56%. Even so, reproductive success is below the 70-75% that is considered necessary for the population to be self-sustainable over time. Compared to the 18 pairs that currently exist in the colony, and taking into account that the Pyrenean massif has enough favourable habitat, a range of between 35 and 40 breeding pairs would constitute a strong and key nucleus for the conservation of the black vulture at European level.
The exogenous individuals paired and fixed in the territory confirm the connecting role of the Pyrenean colony between the Iberian populations and those in southern France, with implications for the conservation of the species at European level. Conservation depends on external factors such as the availability of food and a number of direct and indirect threats which need to be taken into account when assessing the effective viability of the population. So the entities involved in the project will continue to work in this direction.
Beyond its establishment in Boumort, the aim of the project is to extend the colony to other points west of the Pyrenees. For this reason, Supplementary Feeding Points (PAS in Spanish) acquire special significance; rubbish tips from which Trenca provides food in a controlled manner to vultures and other necrophagous birds. Specifically, the creation and management of the Supplementary Feeding Points is the aspect of the project that has been made possible with the participation of Endesa since 2013. Thanks to this support, Trenca has put into operation and manages a network of four Supplementary Feeding Points (PAS) and/or Specific Feeding Points (PAE in Spanish) to strengthen the links between the reintroduced black vultures and the release zone.
In addition to the Supplementary Feeding Point in Codó, in Senterada, this network has a Supplementary Feeding Point in Siall (located very near the Caza de Boumort National Park, in the municipality of Isona and Conca Dellà, in the region of Pallars Jussà) and in Cal Roger (in the municipality of Montferrer y Castellbò, north of the Alt Urgell region). It should be pointed out that they all benefit other necrophagous birds, some seriously threatened such as the bearded vulture, the Egyptian vulture and the red kite.
Throughout the year, a total of 18,013 kilograms of carrion were distributed between the three Supplementary Feeding Points. Unlike other similar feeding points, these Supplementary Feeding Points prepare a specific menu adapted to the different necrophagous species. They provide small pieces of carrion (especially quails and lamb's legs) and they are strategically distributed throughout the enclosure to favour the diversity of species that benefit from them. This feeding system has also avoided the emission of 6,490 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere, since the incineration of these elements has been avoided.
These actions are currently an integral part of the Biodiversity Conservation Plan that Endesa approved in 2012 to comply with the latest target for conservation that was established as one of the seven Sustainable Development Commitments within the framework of Endesa's first Strategic Sustainability Plan.
For more information about the biodiversity projects developed by Endesa go to: https://www.endesa.com/es/nuestro-compromiso/medioambiente/conservacion-biodiversidad
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