Peak District conservationists considering ‘repatriating’ Bearded Vulture
Peak District National Park authorities have released a statement about the continued presence of the Bearded Vulture in the park and have admitted that it may have to be captured and repatriated to protect it from illegal persecution.
Here is their press release.
Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park, said: “In a year that was already written into the history books by the unusual and unprecedented, no-one in the Peak District expected our skies to be graced by one of Europe’s most magnificent and rarest birds.
“The arrival of a bearded vulture to the Dark Peak has understandably become a source of wonder and excitement in recent weeks - not only for those who carry a passion for nature, but others who simply wish to marvel at a bird of prey larger than anything ever witnessed in our almost 70 years as a National Park.
“The vulture’s appearance at a time when many of us were taking the first steps back into nature since lockdown has no doubt added to its popularity as a ‘must-see’ for wildlife watchers.
“Such widespread interest also demonstrates the power of birds of prey as a gateway to a wider discovery of our wildlife. Witnessing the return of the osprey, white-tailed eagle and red kite to UK skies has in turn shown the multi-million pound economic contribution these species can make through nature-based tourism.
“These are also flagship species that thrive when we are getting things right in our protected landscapes; whether within our 15 UK national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or across Europe from where our bearded vulture made its headline-grabbing flight.
“We still have some way to go to achieve the same recognition for our native birds of prey in the Peak District, but this recent breeding season has once again shown the green shoots of recovery continue to grow, with species such as peregrine and goshawk in the Dark Peak nesting successfully across multiple locations. Wildlife crime remains a factor in this progress, not only in our Bird of Prey Initiative study area where the bearded vulture has made its temporary home, but elsewhere in the National Park where police and others continue to work on tackling criminality impacting on our raptors.
“Whilst this most recent visitor is unlikely to be a long-term fixture due to our seasonal conditions not matching that of its Alps or Pyrenees home, the bearded vulture offers a glimpse of a future where nature-based tourism is an integral part of our already rich offer for visitors to explore.
“Such significant and specific interest in our National Park does not come without its challenges. Maintaining responsible visitor activity; car parking, accessing land appropriately and leaving the outdoors as we find it are all part of the picture. I would particularly like to thank those who have supported the presence of the bearded vulture whilst keeping the ethos of being ‘Peak District Proud’ at the heart of visitors’ experiences.
The fact the vulture has appeared confident to remain within a relatively modest area of the Peak District is testament to all those working in the countryside as custodians of our protected landscapes; from the National Trust and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, to local volunteers, landowners, gamekeepers and land managers who have all positively acknowledged the vulture’s ground-breaking presence and supported its wellbeing.
“For those yet to visit us for a chance to witness this remarkable sight, I would urge you to ‘know before you go’ – understand where you can park safely, plan your trip and route carefully and always have the vulture’s welfare as your utmost priority above a slightly closer view or more engaging photograph. Spending a penny, or a pound in our local communities will also help our Peak District businesses to continue to build their resilience against the effects of Covid-19.
“Whilst the bearded vulture remains a very welcome visitor, as summer turns to autumn our attention will naturally turn to its own welfare in our changeable weather conditions. Although any intervention remains a last resort, conservation experts both locally and from the continent are already exploring how the bird may be returned safely to its home reintroduction area, as all individual bearded vultures remain vital to the scheme.”
Ends.
That such action has to be even considered is a pretty damning indictment of those in charge of running the Peak District National Park and their failure to protect the raptors that live and spend time there.
10 Aug 2020
11 August update
Vulture Conservation Foundation have released the following statement following Sarah Fowler's claim that "conservation experts both locally and from the continent" are exploring the repatration of the vulture.
Over the weekend a statement from the Peak District National Park has caused some confusion about whether there are plans to intervene by catching the bird and transporting it back to the Alps or Pyrenees:
“Although any intervention remains a last resort, conservation experts both locally and from the continent are already exploring how the bird may be returned safely to its home reintroduction area, as all individual bearded vultures remain vital to the scheme.”
We at VCF would like to clarify this statement, from our perspective. At this stage there is no need to intervene unless the bird becomes grounded (unable to fly) due to weakness, injury or other cause and is in need of treatment. If that is the case, the bird will be captured and transported to a suitable facility for treatment and rehabilitation, which would be the main priority. Following that, if the bird is eventually determined to be releasable by qualified veterinarians, a strategy for re-release will be formulated in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders and organizations. The strategy will be informed by scientific evidence, such as results of genetic analysis to determine the origin of the bird, as well as logistical and other issues. This is the standard procedure for all similar cases, with the main difference being that the bird has crossed the sea to the UK, which is only the second time the species has been recorded in the country. However, it is not unusual for young Bearded Vultures to travel to northern Europe, and many of those birds return to their normal range unaided, or occasionally require rescue, rehabilitation and re-release in a suitable location. Ideally the bird will eventually travel south and cross the sea successfully to return to mountains where there are other Bearded Vultures, giving it a chance to be recruited into the breeding population.
If intervention is required, based upon the criteria above, then we at VCF have already started to put a plan into place in cooperation with local and national organizations to ensure the welfare of the bird.
To be clear, from VCF’s perspective, at this stage intervention will only be required if the bird is grounded (unable to fly) due to weakness, injury, or other cause and requires rescue, treatment and rehabilitation for eventual re-release in a suitable location.
Thank you again to everyone for the huge amount of interest in the Bearded Vulture in the UK, it is encouraging to see that so many people are keen to ensure it remains safe while in the country.
ENDS.
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