The griffon vulture population in Sardinia continues to grow.
This is stated in the annual census carried out last 28 October as part of the LideSafe for Vultures project to verify the demographic trend of these birds of prey and evaluate the effectiveness of the actions undertaken.
The data confirm the positive trend, with an estimate of the numerical strength from an established minimum of 332 individuals to an estimated maximum of 378 individuals and a growth compared to 2022 of 11.8%.
The census was carried out from 19 observation points: 17 in the north-west of Sardinia, where the island population of this species is concentrated, the only remaining native colony in Italy, and 2 in Urzulei and Villasalto, where the reintroduction of the Griffon Vulture is being prepared.
The data is consistent with the results of reproduction monitoring, which in 2023 recorded 83 territorial pairs and the fledging of 55 young.
Of the pairs registered in north-west Sardinia, the only Griffon Vulture breeding area on the island, 76 are found in Bosano and 7 in the Alghero area.
Reproductive success and productivity recorded a decline of 2.47% and 5.71% compared to 2022 although territorial pairs (+9), spawning (+6) and juveniles (+3) increased.
This was due to the growth in the prenatal mortality rate, with 13 broods lost compared to 9 in 2022, and the loss of 2 young before fledging, with a postnatal mortality rate of 3.5%.
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