Vulture News

Volen Arkumarev, Diego Méndez, Adrián Naveda-Rodríguez, Rob Wallace — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No Abstract.

Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of the Andean condor – 1st Vultures of the Americas Symposium. March 17-21, 2025, Sucre, Bolivia

Diego Méndez — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Abstracts of the 5th International Congress of the Andean Condor and 1st Vultures of the Americas Symposium. 17–21 March 2025, Sucre, Bolivia.

Diego Méndez, Adrián Naveda-Rodríguez, Rob Wallace — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Condors in the stones: expressions of bioculturality

Sandra Gordillo, Andrea Recalde — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The cultural importance of the Andean Condor in South America is widely known through different tangible and intangible expressions, and in this context it is possible to identify signs of the recognition that the condor has had in the past in different human groups, mainly Andean cultures. This work proposes incorporating the biocultural perspective into educational programs and as part of conservation strategies for this species. To this end, it explores rock art and focuses on a set of ornithomorphic representations from different archaeological contexts in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. The different images depicted were examined according to the execution technique used and recognizable biological attributes. This analysis indicated that the motifs attributed to condors, despite the chronological and spatial heterogeneity between sites, share certain characteristics in their mode of representation, suggesting patterns of multi-species interaction at regional and inter-regional scale. Furthermore, the presence of the condor, as an active social agent, is interpreted (and re-interpreted) as a symbolic reinforcement of territorial belonging and ancestral memory. Therefore, the rescue of the archaeological heritage revitalizes the encounter with the symbolic bird, reinforcing the concept of the Andean condor as a biocultural species of South America.

La importancia cultural del cóndor andino en Sudamérica trasciende el tiempo y el espacio y ha sido ampliamente reconocida a través de distintas expresiones tangibles e intangibles. En ese contexto, es posible identificar señales del reconocimiento que el cóndor tuvo en el pasado en diferentes grupos humanos, principalmente culturas andinas. Este trabajo propone incorporar la perspectiva biocultural en los programas de educación y como parte de las estrategias de conservación de esta especie. Para ello, indagamos en el arte rupestre y nos centramos en un conjunto de representaciones ornitomorfas provenientes de distintos contextos arqueológicos de Argentina, Chile, Bolivia y Perú. Las distintas imágenes representadas fueron examinadas atendiendo a la técnica de ejecución utilizada y los atributos biológicos reconocibles. Este análisis indicó que los motivos que se atribuyen a cóndores, a pesar de la heterogeneidad cronológica y espacial entre los sitios, comparten ciertas características en su modo de representación, sugiriendo patrones de interacción multi-especie a escala regional e inter-regional. Además, la presencia del cóndor, como agente social activo, se interpreta (y re-interpreta) como un refuerzo simbólico de pertenencia territorial y memoria ancestral. Por lo tanto, el rescate del patrimonio arqueológico revitaliza el encuentro con el ave simbólica, reforzando el concepto del cóndor andino como especie biocultural de Sudamérica.

Approximation of the population size and structure of the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus in the El Almorzadero Páramo, Santanderes, Colombia.

Carlos Suarez-Grimaldos, Estefanía Gómez-Betancurt, Fernando Castro-Vargas — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is globally classified as Vulnerable to extinction, while in Colombia it is considered as Critically Endangered. Knowledge about the species' population within the country remains limited, making it difficult to implement conservation strategies that accurately reflect its current status. The El Almorzadero Páramo is regarded as one of the most important strongholds for the species in Colombia; however, the size and structure of this particular population are not well known. The aim of this study was to provide an initial approximation of the population size and structure of the Andean Condor using camera traps deployed at feeding stations from March to July 2022. Individual identification was carried out based on morphological characteristics. A total of 21 individuals were identified, including 9 adults, 8 subadults, and 4 juveniles, with a predominance of females (n = 13). The feeding stations were used to different extents, possibly due to anthropogenic factors and the presence of domestic dogs, which quickly consumed the carrion. This study represents the first attempt to estimate the population size and structure of the species in the El Almorzadero Páramo using the camera trap capture-recapture method.

El cóndor andino Vultur gryphus está clasificado como vulnerable a la extinción a nivel global, mientras que en Colombia se reporta como en peligro crítico. El conocimiento sobre la población de esta especie en el país es limitado, lo que dificulta la implementación de estrategias de conservación que se alineen con su situación real. El Páramo El Almorzadero es considerado uno de los bastiones más importantes para la especie en Colombia, aunque el tamaño y la estructura de esta población específica no se conocen con claridad. El objetivo de este estudio fue proporcionar una aproximación inicial al tamaño y a la estructura poblacional del cóndor andino mediante el uso de cámaras trampa en estaciones de alimentación durante los meses de marzo y julio de 2022, empleando la identificación individual basada en características morfológicas. Se identificaron un total de 21 individuos, incluyendo 9 adultos, 8 subadultos y 4 juveniles, con predominio de hembras (n = 13). Las estaciones de alimentación fueron utilizadas de manera desigual, posiblemente debido a factores antropogénicos y a la presencia de perros domésticos que consumían rápidamente la carroña. Este estudio constituye el primer intento de aproximar el tamaño y la estructura poblacional de la especie en el Páramo de El Almorzadero mediante el método de captura-recaptura con cámaras trampa.

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus abundance is associated with its proximity to landfills in Xalapa, Mexico

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Black Vulture Coragyps atratus is highly adaptable and frequently occupies human-modified landscapes. Here, we evaluated whether vulture abundance in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, is associated with proximity to landfills. Eight roosting sites were surveyed between March and May of 2021 and 2022, and repeated counts of perched individuals were conducted at each of them. Sites were classified as near (<500 m) or far (>500 m) from landfills. Descriptive comparisons indicated that sites near landfills supported higher abundances (mean 111.33 ± 70.41 individuals) than far sites (mean 29.22 ± 30.27 individuals). Some distant roosts with unexpectedly high counts were associated with alternative food sources, such as slaughterhouses or natural habitats. These findings indicate that landfills act as key attractors for Black Vultures in Xalapa, although other resources can partially sustain populations at more distant sites. Our results highlight both the ecological flexibility of the species and potential health risks associated with anthropogenic food subsidies, emphasizing the need for management strategies that balance conservation with public health concerns.

Nesting and parental behaviour of Andean Condor Vultur gryphus in the Andes of central Chile

Víctor M. Escobar-Gimpel, Sergio Alvarado — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Birds invest significant energy in parental care, often through biparental cooperation, to enhance offspring survival by provisioning food and protection. The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus, a long-lived and monogamous species, exhibits shared parental roles in remote nesting sites, although its reproductive ecology in the wild remains poorly documented due to the inaccessibility of nests and limited field observations. From January 2006 to October 2009, we searched for Andean Condor nests in the Andes of central Chile. We found five nests and we determined that the reproductive period in central Chile begins in early- or mid-August. From October 2007 to May 2009, we studied parental care in two pairs of condors, recording behaviour patterns associated with reproductive events. The behaviours we observed were: a) male or female enters and stays inside the nest, b) parent-chick interactions without food delivery, c) nest guarding, d) coming to the nest with food, and e) chick feeding. At the locality of Farellones the male entered the nest (69%) and came to the nest with food (65%) more often than the female (30.4% and 35%, respectively), while the female guarded the nest (57.6%) more often than the male (42.4%). However, at the El Ingenio site, the male entered the nest (59.1%), fed the young (63.6%), and guarded the nest (60%) more often than the female. In both the Farellones and El Ingenio localities, the amount of time that the male and female remained in the nest, interacted with the young, and guarded the nest did not differ considerably. This study does not allow us to determine whether these observations correspond to a general behaviour pattern of this species in central Chile, or only applies to the two breeding pairs of condors studied. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the study of condor reproductive behaviour to other areas of its distribution.

Daily movement patterns of the Black Vulture Coragyps atratus in the city of Mérida, Venezuelan Andes

Luis A. Saavedra, Carlos H. Paparoni, Carla I. Aranguren — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Black Vulture Coragyps atratus is the most abundant vulture in the Americas, but its ecology in the neotropics, particularly in Venezuela, remains poorly known, despite its affinity for urban environments. This study characterized the daily movement patterns, evaluated the influence of environmental variables, and estimated the minimum population size of the Black Vulture in the city of Mérida, Venezuelan Andes. Daily counts were conducted from fixed observation points during October and November over four consecutive years (2021-2024), recording hourly individual abundance, direction of movement, and environmental variables. A cyclical bimodal movement pattern was observed, with a morning peak of mass displacement along the meander belt of the Chama River ascending to the northeast out of the city, and an evening peak of return descending to the southwest. Generalized linear models showed that Black Vulture abundance was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with cloud cover and precipitation. Additionally, net directional counts on days with favourable environmental conditions yielded an estimated population of 614 ± 150 individuals for the city of Mérida. The results suggest that Black Vultures in Mérida use the city and its surroundings as roosting sites and take advantage of orographic conditions and urban thermals to move efficiently towards foraging areas.

A miscellany of Andean Condor natural history observations in Bolivia

Diego Méndez — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Field observations of vulture-plant interactions in Bolivia

Diego Méndez — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Wind farms: a new anthropogenic threat for the Andean Condor

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Beyond conflict and livelihood: Andean Condor conservation must go hand in hand with local perceptions

Paula L. Tardío-Rodríguez, Yara S. Lazcano-Higueras — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract

Vulture News

Table of Contents

Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of the Andean condor – 1st Vultures of the Americas Symposium. March 17-21, 2025, Sucre, Bolivia

Abstracts of the 5th International Congress of the Andean Condor and 1st Vultures of the Americas Symposium. 17–21 March 2025, Sucre, Bolivia.

Condors in the stones: expressions of bioculturality

Approximation of the population size and structure of the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus in the El Almorzadero Páramo, Santanderes, Colombia.

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus abundance is associated with its proximity to landfills in Xalapa, Mexico

Nesting and parental behaviour of Andean Condor Vultur gryphus in the Andes of central Chile

Daily movement patterns of the Black Vulture Coragyps atratus in the city of Mérida, Venezuelan Andes

A miscellany of Andean Condor natural history observations in Bolivia

Field observations of vulture-plant interactions in Bolivia

Wind farms: a new anthropogenic threat for the Andean Condor

Beyond conflict and livelihood: Andean Condor conservation must go hand in hand with local perceptions