During the summer several recoveries of Griffon Vultures released by FWFF were reported from FYR of Macedonia, Greece and Eastern Rhodopi in Bulgaria. These are as follows:

Griffon Vultures released by FWFF in Kresna Gorge:

Red ring G28 – observed in the end of August 2011 at the feeding site Vitachevo in FYR of Macedonia (data from Emanuel Lisichanets / Association AQUILA). This bird is released in February 2010 and was not observed after the release. From the same area one more red ring – G?? was reported but the number was not seen.

Red ring G39 – observed on 14.10.2011 at the feeding site Studen Kladenets in Eastern Rhodopi, Bulgaria (reported by Ivailo Angelov/ BSPB- BirdLife Bulgaria)

Griffon Vultures released by FWFF in Kotel:

Green ring B19 – observed several times in Eastern Rhodopi. Last seen 16.10.2011 at the feeding site Studen Kladenets in Eastern Rhodopi, Bulgaria (reported by Ivailo Angelov/ BSPB- BirdLife Bulgaria)

Yellow ring K0M – observed several times in Eastern Rhodopi in Bulgaria and Dadia Greece. Seen 05.06.2011 at the feeding site Studen Kladenets in Eastern Rhodopi, Bulgaria (reported by Ivailo Angelov/ BSPB- BirdLife Bulgaria)

Yellow ring K0H – observed on 07.09.2011 by Volen Arkumarev/ BSPB at the feeding site Studen Kladenets in Eastern Rhodopi, Bulgaria (reported by Ivailo Angelov/ BSPB- BirdLife Bulgaria)

Blue ring F08 – observed in the end of August 2011 at the feeding site Vitachevo in FYR of Macedonia (data from Emanuel Lisichanets / Association AQUILA).

A young Griffon Vulture with wing-tag L02 was observed today (17.10.2011) at the feeding site in Kresna Gorge. Knowing the marking pattern used in the different countries,  the bird is most probably marked in Israel. It is first time a Griffon Vulture marked in Israel to be observed in Kresna Gorge.

Today in total 7 Griffon Vultures and about 50 ravens were present at the feeding site in Kresna Gorge.

Five juvenile Griffon Vultures born in 2011 were observed at feeding site and later on roosting in Kresna Gorge on 15.10.2011.

The birds were not marked, but they most probably originate from Serbia or Croatia and use the Kresna Gorge as stepping stone during their migration towards Bosporus. From Bosporus these Griffon Vultures will most probably continue to their wintering grounds in Middle East or Africa.