In our last 15 years of birding, while doing the survey of whitebellied sea eagle or during regular birdwatching we used to frequently see Oriental White-backed vulture or white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) in flight or feeding on carcasses. In the last eight years however their sightings have been rare. Locals who know vultures very well also report seeing them rarely.
Since this bird is classified as “critically endangered” by IUCN and its population is declining throughout India, we decided to monitor its nesting and have been doing so for the last two years.

Vulture report 2007-08

Study area

Two nesting colonies, one at Anjarla (170 48/ N 730 02/ E) and one at Murud (170 46/ N 730 04/ E ), Taluka Dapoli, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Both are coastal villages and seven km. from each other. Both nesting colonies are 0.25 km from sea and in coconut groves. In the year 2003-2004 total 15 hatchlings were fledged from 15 nests out of a total 36 nests from both colonies. In the year 2004-05 total 38 nests were observed and 10 nests had hatchlings by mid April.
Vultures find it easy to build nests on coconut (Cocos nucifera) trees but the tree owners are not happy about this. Vulture activity on the tree causes loss of coconut crop. Even on the perching trees the leaves come off and branches start drooping. Then the bird droppings create problems for the tree as well as the garden around. Due to these reasons tree becomes unproductive and the owner has no alternative but to destroy the nest. At Anjarla one nest was lost in this manner.

Food scarcity

In Konkan since many years villagers used to dump their dead domestic animals at a particular place in the village. Nowadays, as per health department’s guidelines the dead animals are burried to keep the village clean. Very rarely are they thrown in an open space. This may be a cause for scarcity of food for the vultures.
It was observed and confirmed by locals that many times the vultures feed on dead fish at the seashore. Both the nesting colonies under study are on seashore and a third one is also located on seashore. We have not found any colony yet that is away from the sea.

False incubation

In our study we have observed 40% false incubation in the year 2005-06. The parents were seen incubating for around 2 to 2.5 months but there was no egg in the nest. This was confirmed with the use of a CCTV camera and also by climbing the tree.
This is peculiar behaviour and worthy of research.
In last four years the number of fledged youngs has been declining. In the first year 15 birds were fledged. In second, third and fourth year the number came down to 10, 5 and 2 respectively.

We must do something for this species before it’s too late!