Barte vulture rescue: Delivery in Ramsau inspires hundreds of spectators!

Barte vulture rescue: Delivery in Ramsau inspires hundreds of spectators!

The Berchtesgaden Alps are again richer around a fascinating resident: beard vulture, the largest bird of prey in Central Europe, became at home again. On Tuesday, two young bearded vultures, "Generl" and "Luisa", were released as part of a nature conservation project in Ramsau near Berchtesgaden. This event marks the fifth year of the project, which has been successfully carried out since 2021. A total of ten bearded vultures have been released into freedom since the beginning of the release. All of them survived and can now gain a foothold in nature, although the young birds are only about 90 days old and unable to fly during the release.

The release took place in a protected rock at 1,300 meters and attracted hundreds of onlookers who witnessed the presentation of the bearded vulture. "Generl" received its name in honor of Eugenie Buhl, while "Luisa" was named by an anonymous sponsor. Interested parties can follow the development of birds through a webcam. "Luisa" originally had difficult starting conditions because it comes from a breeding station in Austria.

a lighthouse of species protection

This year's release took place against the background of the tenth anniversary of the environmental cyclical “Laudato Si’ ”by Pope Francis. Spirails were present to emphasize responsibility for creation. Dr. Roland Baier, head of the Berchtesgaden National Park, describes the project as a success story for species protection. Around 400 bearded vultures currently live in the Alps, including about 70 breeding pairs. The beard vultures are special aa -eaters that feed exclusively on bones and AAS.

The beard vulture was eradicated in Bavaria over 100 years ago. Therefore, the resettlement project is essential for promoting biodiversity. The bearded vulture takes place according to the concept of the "modified hacking method". With this strategy, 2-3 young birds are released into freedom to support social interactions. Male and female bearded vultures differ only minimally in size and weight, although females tend to be larger. The gender determination takes place through genetic analysis.

financing and future of the project

The financing of the project by the Bavarian Ministry of Environment expires in 2025. A promise for a continuation is available, but the official confirmation is still pending. The project sponsors, the LBV and the Berchtesgaden National Park, coordinate the release and the subsequent support of the bearded vultures. This also includes monitoring measures and the documentation of the movements of the birds, including through GPS data. In addition, the educational work against dangers for bearded vulture, such as poisoning by bleims, is intensified. The goal is to secure the survival of the species in the long term through these initiatives.

The bearded vulture project in Berchtesgaden is carried out over a period of ten years. So far it has been clear that the first beard vulture chicks in Bavaria could slip in the next three to four years. Experts are optimistic that the bearded vulture population can stabilize and continue to grow. The return of these majestic birds to their former habitat is considered a significant success in the context of nature conservation in the Alps.

For more information about the project, you can see the pages of the Berchtesgaden National Park here or the LBV visit here . Rosenheim24 Nature conservation project.