The first Egyptian vulture of this year returned to Bulgaria this morning, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) announced on its official website.
The bird's name is Zara. She was hatched and raised in the Wildlife Rescue Center – "Green Balkans". Zara was released into the wild by the BSPB in 2020 as part of the program to strengthen the species in Bulgaria, the society also pointed out. Since then, the female Egyptian vulture has lived freely in the wild. The bird's life is closely monitored thanks to the GPS transmitter with which it is marked. Zara has managed to form a pair in the wild and has already left offspring twice. Interestingly, last year she was also the first Egyptian vulture to return to us, but then she arrived five days later – on March 15, the BSPB commented.
Most Egyptian vultures return to Bulgaria after March 20, with the onset of astronomical spring. Obviously, however, Zara can't wait to get home. During her spring migration, she traveled nearly 4,000 kilometers in 24 days, moving from Sudan to Bulgaria, the BSPB pointed out.
The society reminds that the Egyptian vulture is the most endangered vulture species in Europe. On the Balkan Peninsula today, only about 55 pairs nest, with approximately 35 of them in Bulgaria. This makes our country the most important place for the preservation of this globally endangered species in the region.
The BSPB announced in February a significant reduction in bird mortality after securing power distribution lines in the Burgas Lakes area.