FEASABILITY VISIT FOR THE BLACK VULTURE REINTRODUCTION IN BULGARA

NOTES AND PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

from the visit from 1st to 4th October 2017

Report produced by the Vulture Conservation Foundation, within the: Bright Future for Black Vulture LIFE14 NAT/BG/649

Jovan Andevski, Raphaël Neouze and Marleen Huyghe Vulture Conservation Foundation

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INTRODUCTION Following some questions and needs for information regarding the upcoming start of the Black Vulture releases in Bulgaria (2018) stressed at the VCF board meeting (Sevilla, April 2017), it was decided to organize a visit of the project area by members of the VCF advisory board and VCF staff.

The main objective of this visit was to evaluate the implementation of the preparatory actions and the suitability of the already selected release sites. Closely related issues such as existing threats, monitoring and release methodology were also discussed.

PARTICIPANTS

From the Vulture Conservation Foundation: Marleen Huyghe, Raphaël Neouze and Jovan Andevski.

Hosts: Ivelin Ivanov (Green Balkans), Emilian Stoynov (FWFF) and Georgi Stoyanov (BPPS/Green Balkans).

Photo 1. Vrachanski Balkan. Emilian Stoynov (FWFF), Jovan Andevski (VCF), Marleen Huyghe (VCF), Raphaël Neouze (VCF), Georgi Stoyanov (BPPS/Green Balkans) and Ivelin Ivanov (Green Balkans).

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OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

• The conditions have been full-filled, Bulgaria is ready for Black Vulture reintroduction (releases) as foreseen in Vulture Back to Life Project.

• Human capacities were established along the 15 years of implementation of vulture conservation activities at these particular sites, in later years also due to the successful implementation of Griffon Vulture project.

• Although the habitat is not typical (considering the south-west European habitats), potential breeding and feeding habitats were identified during the visit. Artificial nesting sites should be provided. Advice will be given by VCF.

• Bulgaria, Stara Planina in particular, is the only option at the moment for reintroduction project in Europe that could facilitate connection with the eastern Black Vulture population (Ukraine and Turkey).

• Birds have to be released at least on two sites to fulfill the Life Project expectations (not necessary the two places have to start in 2018).

• Engagement and practical involvement of national or local administrative structures (Ministry, Natural Parks, National Parks, etc.) have to be secured as its crucial for implementation of the reintroduction project.

• Feeding activities should continue in Central Balkan National Park, although is not within the project area, but is in between the two release sites.

• First birds will be released using the hacking method (three birds together). • The VCF will provide advice and support for the hacking release. • The Black Vulture EEP can secure min 3 -6 birds for the first hacking release

(2018). • The VCF will explore possibilities of securing wild born birds suitable for

hacking. • The two release aviaries, in Sinite Kameni/Sliven and Kotel to be improved

during March 2018, following VCF recommendation and should be evaluated.

• The new experimental wing-tag transmitters will be considered for marking Black Vultures, only after testing them on captive birds and obtaining results from the 15 Griffon Vulture tagged. To be concluded by May 2018.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RELEASES

• First three (EEP) birds have to be released by hacking and most suitable (human capacities and recourses based mostly) place seems to be Sinite Kameni/Sliven managed by Green Balkans.

o Pending on Green Balkans to report on solutions to be found with the operator of the two wind turbines in the area.

• Due to the limited availability of captive born birds, only one hacking place can be established for the first year (2018).

• Hacking place in Vratsa will be established 2nd year (2019), if birds are available.

• The wild born birds coming from recovery centers in Extremadura will be released by acclimatization aviary, where previously successful hacking release have been performed.

• As it will be only one hacking release first year (2018), release by aviary can only happen in Kotel, six months after the hacking release in Sinite Kameni/Sliven (spring 2019), which is on about 30km of distance.

• Few birds (4 apx.) from the first transport from Extremadura should be kept in Vratsa and released in 2020 after the 2nd year hacking release there in 2019.

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RELEASE SITES

Originally three Black Vulture release site were foreseen in Bulgaria within the LIFE Project (Sinite Kameni (Sliven), Kotel and Kresna George). Unfortunately, due to the poisoning incident in Kresna (2017), this site was discarded. Therefore, the focus of the reintroduction activities will remind only in the mountain chain Stara Planina Mt. (Balkan Mountain).

1. The two release sites at the eastern part of Stara Planina: Sinite Kameni and Kotel (currently used as Griffon Vulture release sites) are very close to each other (about 30km of distance), therefore can be considered as one release site.

2. Vratsa site (western part of Stara Planina), was considered and integrated into the Project after the exclusion of Kresna site. This site was defiantly the most successful site for reintroduction of Griffon Vultures.

3. Central Balkan a former Griffon Vulture release site, is not considered in this project for the moment.

Stara Planina Mt. Black Vulture release sites (yellow) and ex Griffon Vulture release site (red)

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ASSESSMENT:

After three days of intensive field visit of Stara Planina Mt., with focus on Vratsa, Sinite Kameni (Sliven) and Kotel, visiting the release aviaries, feeding sites, potential hacking sites, potential nesting sites and foraging surrounding areas. Discussions and conclusions are resumed in the following point:

Sinite Kameni and Kotel: as previously mentioned due to the proximity of these two sites can be considered as one. In the Griffon Vulture reintroduction, these two sites were used as two separate sites, but the birds released at both sites formed one flog (40-50 birds apx.), that is using the both feedings sites (near each release site there is a feeding site), breeding pairs were formed only in Kotel, but most of the birds are spending the hard winter period in Sinite Kameni.

Sliven Kotel

AreabetweenSlivenandKotel

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Habitat suitability the habitat at this site is different compared to what the species uses in Spain and France. The climate is continental with Mediterranean influence in the southern part of Stara Planina. Regarding breeding possibilities, several places were identified with old deciduous forest with manly Quercus (rubur & ilex) and Fagus (sylvatica & orientalis) trees. Pine trees are also scarcely present and in most cases not suitable for breeding. Extremely low temperatures and snow are common during the winter period, something that limits the access to the release aviaries and feeding sites, mostly during January. In Sinite Kameni, agreement have been achieved with the municipality of Sliven to clean the road during winter and in Kotel during January there is no access by car, but food can by supplied by horse. This area is rich in natural food sources, mainly due to the relatively high concentration of livestock.

Threats, fortunately poison seems not to be a problem in this area, probably due to the low presence of wolf and other predators. Over 20 years no poisoning incidents have been recorded in this area. These data seem reliable as Green Balkans and FWFF are working intensively on vulture conservation in this area for more than 15 years. Electrocution was identified as serious threat in this area due to its impact on to the griffon vulture reintroduction project. Most of the dangerous electricity pylons were isolated, except one line in the Kotel area (will be isolated before the Black Vulture releases). Even though, there are not cases of collision with power lines, this should be considered as a possible threat and adequate actions should be taken. In Sinite Kameni, there are two wind turbines, apparently not very active, but due to their proximity to the release and feeding site, some solution has to be found (stop them during the daylight or during the release periods, total stop etc.). Green Balkans committed to talk to the electricity company and find solution for this.

Human resources/capacities, one of the biggest advantages of this area is the experienced Green Balkans team (in Sinite Kameni) and FWFF team (in Kotel)

Abundant livestock in Kotel and Sliven area

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working there from more than 15 years. The wildlife hospital of Green Balkans is on about 70 km from this area.

Vratsa, is the most successful Griffon Vulture release site were about 10 breeding pairs were formed and a flock of 40-50 birds is usually present in the area. This place is also the most distant one from the native Black Vulture colony in Dadia, Greece.

Habitat suitability, it seems that the breeding and foraging habitat appear to be more suitable in this site. Large areas with old deciduous forest, but also big pine trees in the rocky upper parts of the hills. Regarding food, here the food resources seem to be more limited due to the livestock breeding decline. Hunting activities could probably offer some food opportunities for the vultures, but vultures mainly depend on food supply at the feeding site (next to the release aviary). Low temperatures and snow is also common in this area.

Threats, no poisoning activities are detected in the area, but this is more or less expected due to the low presence of livestock. The area seems to be free of dangerous electricity pylons and power lines, which brings low risk for electrocution and collision.

Human resources/capacities, this is probably one of the disadvantages here. The responsible person for this site is doing an important work, but as the work will very much increase when the Black Vulture releases start the need for additional workforce is evident.

FWFF committed to increase the staff capacities in this area.

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Birds availability Available birds from Extremadura (wild born), foreseen in the project:

2018 2019 2020 2021 12 12 12 12

Available birds from the Black Vulture EEP

2018 2019 2020 2021 3-(6)* 3-(6)* 3-(6)* 3-(6)*

()*depending of the success of the captive breeding season, only if available

We should explore the possibility for urgent transports of the first juveniles entering into the recovery centers in Extremadura and see if they can be also available for hacking. So, we can consider the possibility of having two hacking sites run simultaneously.

Hacking VCF strongly suggested that the first birds, especially in the first years of the project must be released using the hacking method. In the first day of the visit this idea was not fully understood, very likely due to the fact that was not foreseen into the Life Project. After the good explanation and long discussions, the advantages of this method were well understood and welcomed by the Green Balkans and FWFF. Summary of the discussion is as follows:

o Two hacking platforms should be build: o Sinite Kameni (Sliven), place managed by Green Balkans offering

capacities and infrastructure to implement this action. Video camera surveillance was also offered. Several options for hacking place were discussed and preselected.

o Vratsa, place jointly managed by Green Balkans and FWFF (to increase human capacities) coordinated by Georgi Stoyanov. Suitable place for hacking was preselected, local team is counting with shelter next to the release aviary and potential hacking place.

o As building of hacking platform is not a very costly action, therefore was also proposed to build one platform in Kotel, which may be used in the last years of the project.

o VCF will provide advice and information for building the hacking platforms and the methodology.

o Visit to the hacking places in France and Cataluña will be organized by the Green Balkans team with VCF support at the beginning of the year 2018.

o Only EEP birds are suitable for hacking release? o Explore the possibility of using wild recovered birds for hacking.

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o A minimum of three birds together is necessary to insure the security of the birds on the first year for hacking method. For the following year, two birds together could be the minimum number, as some birds shall already be present in the area. If birds are not present in the area than three birds have to be released.

o A sheltered observation point (at about 500m from the hacking place) should be installed to ensure continuous observation of the chicks on the hacking platform which should continue after fledging.

Release aviaries Three aviaries used for the Griffon Vulture releases were visited (Sinite Kameni, Kotel and Vratsa) - all of them needs adaptation, reparation or reconstruction. VCF will provide clear instruction and sketches for improvement of the release aviaries.

It was decided to use the existing aviaries in Kotel and Vratsa, the aviary in Sinite Kameni will be repaired, but not use for Black Vulture releases at the beginning of the project.

SearchingforasuitablehackingplaceinKotelandSliven

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Funds might not be sufficient for complete improvement on the aviaries!

RaleaseaviaryinSliven

RaleaseaviaryinKotel

RaleaseaviaryinVratsa

The aviary in Kotel needs to be practically rebuild to make it much bigger and higher. An additional adjacent smaller aviary should be provided to allow to separate a bird when necessary.

The aviary in Vratsa had significantly better design and size, but still some improvements should be done.

The aviary in Sliven is in a bad condition and some reconstruction work has to be done. Although, was preliminary decided that this aviary will not be used for release of Black Vulture, Green Balkans will improve the aviary and will be used for recovered birds from the Center in Stara Zagora.

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Monitoring All agreed that an intense and accurate monitoring of the released individuals is crucial and compulsory for the reintroduction project, due to the particularities of habitat and distance with closest native colonies. The results of the monitoring of the released individuals should be processed and published.

Transmitters All Black Vulture released in Bulgaria will be settled with GPS transmitter.

• The project partners secured funding for 48 tags. They did not count the tagging of the EEP birds that will be available for the hacking. Therefore, funds have to be secured for tagging the EEP birds (10-15 tags approximately).

FWFF exposed their successful experience and skills using the experimental wing-tag transmitters (ornitela) on Griffon Vultures and showed interest in using these tags on Black Vultures as well. One Griffon vulture was tagged 8 months ago and 14 more birds will be tagged in the next days. Below are the advantages of these tags:

• Very light – only 35g • Well exposed on sun and always fully charged • Birds are getting use to them very quickly • No use of teflon or any strips around the bird • Much easier to be fixed • Good quality data considering the relatively low cost of the tags (980€)

The disadvantages are as follow:

• It requires to perforate and arm the patagial area of the wing • It cannot be settled with an additional VHF tag • It has not been experienced for long • Asymmetric weight to only one side of the bird • Infection risk • Hole size increase (California Condor experience, site missing)

Patagial wing-tags transmitters

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We agreed that it is still too soon to take any decision about tagging the Black Vulture with this kind of tags. Therefore:

• Tagging the 14 more Griffon Vulture with these tags will definitely provide more information and help us to decide.

• We also agreed to test these transmitters on Black vultures in captivity, within the EEP, in Planckendael Zoo.

o FWFF will provide the tagging materials and dummy tags.

VCF together with the Green Balkans and FWFF will analyze the results and take a decision about the use of this wing-tags transmitters.

Genetic monitoring, it was agreed that samples (blood and feathers- EEP protocol available) from all Black Vultures released and possibly wild born birds will be provided for the EEP genetic study.

• Samples of two stuffed Black Vultures from the Kotel Natural Museum were collected.

Artificial nests, at least half (20) of the foreseen nesting platforms will be placed before the first release of birds. As some historical data is suggesting possible breeding on Pyrus and Morus will be also considered for artificial nest platforms apart of Quercus and Fagus trees.

Feeding of chicks and birds in the aviaries, VCF will provide guidelines for the feeding of the birds on the hacking site and in the aviaries and on the feeding sites.