Every year, on the first Saturday of September, International Vulture Day is celebrated. In Portugal there are three species of these necrophagous birds, which play an essential role in ecosystems by removing decomposing bodies from the fields that, otherwise, could contaminate water or transmit diseases. In the absence of vultures, opportunistic species such as rats or feral dogs would proliferate, bringing social and sanitary problems and altering ecological processes.
The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is the largest vulture in Europe, with a three-meter wingspan. Disappeared from Portugal in the 1970s, it returned to nest in the country in 2010. Currently it nests in five different locations, including the International Tagus, the Herdade da Contenda in Moura, the Malcata Nature Reserve, Vidigueira/Portel and the International Douro. The species is classified as Endangered in Portugal, due to threats such as power lines, chemical pesticides and prey contaminated with lead. A LIFE project launched in November 2022 aims to double the number of nesting pairs, with between 119 and 126 pairs recorded last year.
The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is the most common species in Portugal, with at least 1200 pairs estimated on the mainland. This bird lives in colonies and is expanding in the country and in Europe. Its breeding population is concentrated in the northeast and in Beira Baixa/Alto Alentejo, with the largest colony in the country being at Portas do Ródão, with 101 confirmed pairs. It is present in Portugal throughout the year, but makes wide movements outside the breeding season.
The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), also known as the scavenger, is the smallest of the Iberian vultures, with 65 centimeters and two kilos. It is classified as Endangered in Portugal and was named Bird of the Year 2016. It is present in the country from April to September to reproduce, spending the colder months in Africa. The European population has suffered a decline of about 50% in the last 40 years, with the main threats being reduced food availability, illegal use of poison, disturbance of nesting sites and collision with power lines. This bird can travel 80 kilometers per day in search of food and can cross the Strait of Gibraltar in just 20 minutes.
