PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
After two decades of recovery in Spain, species of vulture and other necrophagous birds (i.e. feeding on carrion) faced a new threat, namely a lack of food. This has been caused by several factors, including the emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which provoked strict measures to prevent its spread; the most important, with regard to these birds being an obligation to collect and dispose of sheep, goat and cattle corpses in central Spain. The management of by-products of hoofed animals coming from hunting has also changed in recent years, due to considerations of disease spread, resulting in the reduction of food availability for scavenging species. Stricter health controls from farms, to slaughterhouses and meat production facilities have also reduced waste food sources. In addition, the decline of extensive livestock grazing in recent years, particularly of sheep, reduces considerably the potential biomass available for cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and other priority bird scavenger species of European Community interest.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE FEEDING SCAVENGERS project aimed to protect vultures and other scavenger birds in their natural habitats in central Spain, using feeding stations in locations that reduce inter-specific competition. Specific project objectives were to construct a database of food availability spatial data to help optimise the management of biomass for necrophagous bird species; make available enough food and in such a way that its spatial distribution benefits all of the wild scavenger bird species of Community interest in the project area in central Spain; keep the reproductive success of target species within optimal parameters; facilitate the re-colonisation of historic breeding areas by cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and complete a supplementary feeding point network to guarantee access to food for this species and to reduce its mortality due to the illegal use of poison; and reduce the existing conflict between scavenger species and livestock farmers.
RESULTS
The LIFE FEEDING SCAVENGERS project improved the available carrion biomass available to scavenger birds in central Spain, particularly to foster four target species: cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and red kite (Milvus milvus). In 2014, only 39 tons of carrion was originated from extensive livestock farms, whereas as a result of the project, in 2018, 157 tons of carrion was left in fields in a scattered manner.
Before this LIFE project, carrion was concentrated in a small number of vulture restaurants in the 26 Natura 2000 sites (SPAs) located within the project area. Today, a significant amount of carrion is widely dispersed thanks to the cooperation of 518 farmers who leave corpses around their land (when conditions are favourable). Therefore, farmers with extensive livestock (mainly ovine and caprine) are helping the target species in the face of competition due to the concurrence of the most numerous scavenger species, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus). Ovine and caprine are smaller corpses that favour Aegypius monachus, which is usually at a disadvantage vis-à-vis griffon vulture - a gregarious feeder that prefers larger carrion.
Overall, cattle farms have deposited 582 tons of biomass during the project period (2014-2018). This was diverted from incineration in a waste plant, and eaten by scavengers instead thanks to collaborating cattle farms, so enabling biomass to be naturally recycled by means of scavengers. Furthermore, 34.2 tons of carrion was deposited at the project’s 10 newly-created feeding stations (“muladares”).
Monitoring improved knowledge about the occurrence of scavenger bird species. The project beneficiaries have taken 370 746 photographs (161 396 photos with animal captures) with camera traps deployed where the food was distributed. Up to 1 120 cinereous vultures were recorded with 10 508 night-traps, all in scattered carrion from extensive livestock. In addition, 259 000 photographs (112 841 photos with birds) were taken in the camera traps installed in fenced feeding stations, where the feeding of 527 cinereous vultures was recorded.
The project contributes to the implementation of the EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. The regional government approved a Resolution regarding the "Action Programmes" for the four target species (cinereous vulture, Spanish imperial eagle, red kite and Egyptian vulture), which were published in November 2019 in the official gazette (BOCyL) of the Regional Government of Castile and León. Castile and León is one of the most important areas for scavenger species in the Iberian Peninsula, and also the EU. The region’s population of griffon vulture, around 6 000 pairs, accounts for 24% of the Spanish population, for instance; populations of Egyptian vulture and cinereous vulture account for around 26% and 15% of the total Spanish population, respectively; while the region has half of the winter and breeding Spanish population of red kite.
The main innovative aspect of this project, which can be replicated elsewhere, is the effective system for feeding scavenger species by means of carrion disposal in addition to vulture restaurants, taking into account the requirements of all the different species.
The management of carrion under the auspices of this methodology has a clear and positive impact for the livestock sector, especially on small- and medium-sized extensive farming systems. Farmers can directly save up to 5% of their expenses on animal carcass management, which is costly and time consuming.
CBD Habitat Foundation, the coordinating beneficiary, drafted a report on the ecosystem services provided by the scavenging bird populations in the 26 SPA of the project. The economic savings amounted to about €150 000/year within the project’s duration. Other results included estimated insurance costs reduction (€170 000/year) and CO2 emissions reduction (12 000 CO2 tons/year) due to reduced transportation. Furthermore, savings on the transport of carrion for disposal were up to €591 795 in Castile and León.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
