The Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus population in Morocco has undergone a marked decline since the 1980s to the point of nearing local extinction in the twenty-first century. A field study of some possible sites for Egyptian Vultures was carried out over six days during June 2014 in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco. We counted a total of 48 Egyptian Vultures at three different localities: two occupied breeding sites and one communal roost that hosted 40 vultures of different ages. A (probable) singe adult bird at the breeding site was located and a previously occupied site was also visited. A preliminary survey amongst local people indicated that threats faced by this species are predator poisoning in some areas, and the use of vulture parts for traditional medicine. Given that the species is considered globally Endangered and populations continue to decline in many areas, the discovered population reported here, although relatively small, is of national and regional (North-west Africa) importance. We expect this new situation will revive the hopes for studying and conserving this and other vulture species in Morocco and North-west Africa in general.
This discovery is described in:
Amezian, M. & El Khamlichi, R. (2016). Significant population of Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus found in Morocco. Ostrich 87: 73-76
Hello,
I am a German birder, married to a moroccan lady from the middle atlas, and I am organising birding trips for a German trip organiser (birdingtours.de). I’ve seen Egyptian vulture only twice in Morocco in 1999 far in the South and in 2007 in the Boulemane region in the Middle Atlas. Would it be of any help to show breeding sites or roosts from a distance to customers to demonstrate to the locals that protection of birds is better than poisening?
I love the Middle Atlas regions which in my eyes is one of the best birding area in whole Morocco.
Best wishes
Jürgen Prell
Sounds good in my opinion, although it has to be treated with much care so as birders and locals do not disturb this relict population.
Best wishes,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
nice to hear that. I can’t say if my next trip in April will take place, depends on customers, of course. It also depends if the sites are not too far away from our general route. Probably we can get in touch, if you send me an email adresse to contact you? We could also talk about details of observation points etc. The last thing I want is to disturb the birds and our customers are never careless fotographers.
Best regards and sorry for the late reply
Jürgen Prell