Julien Burcher

Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees, northern Spain, last week. This is Europe’s rarest vulture species and is listed under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Spain holds the largest population in Europe. Historically, this species was intensively persecuted across much of its range due to the mistaken belief that it preyed on livestock. This misconception is reflected in the name Lammergeier, meaning “lamb-vulture”. However, Bearded Vultures are primarily scavengers and only exceptionally take live prey. They are the only vulture species specialised in feeding primarily on the bones of dead animals. These unique scavengers play an important role in nutrient recycling and the functioning of healthy mountain ecosystems. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, their numbers are now increasing in western Europe. Reintroduction and recovery programmes are ongoing across several regions to help restore the species to its former range. However, the species remains classified globally as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.