Habitat preferences of the Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Bulgaria to support species management

Abstract

The Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large scavenger with a population ranging between Portugal and India. The species is an obligate scavenger with a narrow ecological niche and is therefore particularly dependent on, and limited by habitat availability. The study aimed, for the first time in Eastern Europe, to identify the habitat preferences of the Griffon Vulture at landscape and cliff scales. We used long-term monitoring data between 1987–2018 to analyze habitat preferences of the natal Griffon Vulture population in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. We employed single explanatory variable tests to reveal the species habitat preferences at two spatial scales. The results revealed Griffon Vultures’ high preferences towards rocky habitats at the landscape level. At a cliff scale, the height and length of the cliff, the distance to the nearest conspecific colony and the distance to the nearest feeding site were the best predictors for the species habitat preferences. We stress the importance of these findings considering the current status of the species within the region. Our results are useful to support the future conservation of the Griffon Vulture population in Bulgaria and provide a starting point for future research in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.