Hooded Vulture(Necrosyrtes monachus)
The hooded vulture is a typical vulture, with a head that is usually pinkish-white, but flushes red when agitated, and a grey to black hood. It has fairly uniform dark brown body plumage. It has broad wings for soaring and short tail feathers. This is one of the smaller Old World vultures. They are 62–72 cm long, a wingspan of 155–180 cm and a body weight of 1.5–2.6 kg. Both sexes are alike in appearance, but females often have longer eyelashes than males. Juveniles look like adults, only darker and plainer, and body feathers have a purplish sheen.
Habitat
The Hooded vulture lives in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and other countries, in a range of habitats, from semi-deserts to coastal lowlands though to forests and open woodlands. It is most common in savannahs and grassland, especially near human settlements, as villages and towns are a good source of food. In some of Tanzania’s and Kenya’s sparsely populated grasslands, they settle near cattle ranches, picking up carrion and scraps from around farms.
Diet
Hooded vultures are scavengers, they eat insects, bone and carrion.
Breeding
They are monogamous and pairs remain together for life. Courtship displays are not remarkable, however, sometimes the male swoops down to the female, or it dances in circles on the ground with its claws held out. The breeding season varies depending on the location, but the timing is usually such that eggs are laid during or immediately after the local rainy season, so that there will be a reliable supply of food. The nest is built up in a tree (which is often a Baobab), and reused year by year, and is well lined throughout the nesting season with fresh vegetation. A single egg is laid and the mother is very attentive. Incubation is for around 48 to 54 days, by both parents, though mainly by the female, who is fed by the male at the nest. The chick is very weak when it hatches, and needs constant attention from its parents, a lot more than other vultures. The chick will be dependent on its parents for seven months, by when it will have grown all its plumage and taken its first flights.
Population
According to the IUCN Red List, they are classed as Critically Endangered(CR). Given evidence of recent declines in various parts of its range, this species's population is estimated to number a maximum of 197,000 individuals. Recently published data shows that this species's population is declining rapidly with an estimated 83% decline (range 64-93%) over three generations (53 years).
Threats
Major threats to this species include non-target poisoning, capture for traditional medicine and bushmeat, and direct persecution. In Nigeria, a survey of medicinal traders found that Hooded Vulture was the most commonly traded species of vulture, with 90% of all vulture parts traded belonging to the species. And across West and Central Africa the species is one of the most heavily traded, with an estimated 5,850-8,772 individuals traded over a six-year period in West Africa. Hooded Vulture meat is reportedly sold as chicken in some places. Intentional poisoning of vultures may be carried out in some areas by poachers in order to hide the locations of their kills, but in Senegal at least vultures to receive a form of cultural protection from such killing because they are the totem for some families. Secondary poisoning with carbofuran pesticides at livestock baits being used to poison mammalian predators is also an issue in East Africa. Declines have also been attributed to land conversion through development and improvements to abattoir hygiene and rubbish disposal in some areas, and, in Senegal, a decline in the number of their favourite nesting tree species. The species may also be threatened by avian influenza, from which it appears to suffer some mortality and which it probably acquires from feeding on discarded dead poultry, although this is not well substantiated.
Conservation
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. This widespread species occurs in a large number of protected areas. The species is being surveyed in parts of its range, including The Gambia, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa with plans for larger scale monitoring. Movement studies have been undertaken in several countries to assess ranging behavior and impact of commensalism on range size. The Hawk Conservancy along with the Endangered Wildlife Trust are currently working on providing training and equipment for anti-poisoning teams so that field staff will have the skills and equipment to respond to a neutralise poisoned carcasses. It is listed as Critically Endangered in the Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, and Endangered in Namibia and Uganda. A multi-species action plan is in preparation for African-Eurasian vultures.
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Carry out systematic surveys throughout the species's range to acquire a more accurate population estimate and monitor trends. Raise awareness of the species's plight and the impact of hunting and persecution. Monitor rates of land-use change across its range. Monitor effects of poisoning on the species and its use in muti trade and for meat. Reduce human-carnivore conflict that motivates carrion poisoning, and monitor potential impact of lead poisoning from hunting activities on population - particularly targeted at farmers to reduce persecution and people in urban areas where the species can occur. A number of recommendations were produced at the 2012 Pan-Africa Vulture Summit: 1) Regulate import, manufacture and sale of poisons; 2) Legislate and enforce measures to prosecute those involved in illegal killing and trade in vulture species; 3) Protect and effectively manage breeding sites; 4) Ensure new energy infrastructure is 'vulture-friendly' and modify existing unsafe infrastructure; 5) Support activities to conserve vulture populations, including research and outreach activities.