Vulture News

November 16, 2006; ??? Author ???

Recently, a young Hooded Vulture has been putting in an appearance at the Wild Dog Boma in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi-Park (HIP) in Zululand. Although Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus have not been officially recorded in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal since 1975, periodic sightings have been made. Despite the very infrequent and unconfirmed sightings in KZN, this record is the first official record for the species and has been captured into the KZN Wildlife Species Database. What is assumed to be the same Hooded Vulture has also been seen feeding on carcasses in Mkhuze Game Reserve and at the bomas in Thanda Game Reserve.

This thin-billed small vulture is an extremely rare visitor to KZN and not many birders have seen this species in the province before. Although more common further to the north, in areas like the Kruger National Park which is the only known breeding population, this species is now nowhere common. It is thought that less than 50 pairs of Hooded Vultures remain in South Africa. The use of poisoned baits to kill vermin is believed to have had a major impact upon the species.

This vulture was photographed by Penny Spiering, who is the Wild Dog Re-introduction programme manager, where it is seen feeding alongside the Wild Dogs in their boma in HIP.