The Egyptian Vulture is a relatively rare bird at the best of times but there have alone always been two recorded, confirmed, sightings within the british Isles ever ! The first was at Bridgewater Bay in Somerset in the southwest of England in 1825 and the second base at Peldon in the County of Essex in 1868. It is therefore easy to comprehend the excitation these sightings have caused to bird enthusiasts across Britain. The egyptian Vulture, sometimes called ‘ Pharaoh ’ s Chicken ’, is the smallest vulture found within Europe with a wingspan of up to 175cm ( 5 ’ 9 ” ) and a maximal torso duration of 70cm ( 2 ’ 4 ” ). It is distinctive in looks with a yellow face and beak and a predominantly dirty ashen body with darkness brown to black tiptoe primary and secondary fledge feathers and white forewings. The crown, throat, nape and lower neck are covered in what is well described as an untidy mess of peaky feathers .
egyptian Vulture in flight
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There are three sub-species of the egyptian vulture with the appoint occupying the largest stove which encompasses Spain, Portugal and southern France, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The second sub-species occupies a range across sub-saharan Africa into Saudi Arabia, and the coastal regions of Yemen and Oman and the final group are restricted to the amerind sub-continent. Many of the birds who breed within the european and central asian range ( nominate ) migrate south during the winter months returning to their breeding grounds in the jump. It is believed that the vulture spotted in the Isles of Scilly had in all probability arrived from its home in either southern Spain or France and may have been blown off class whilst riding senior high school thermals, although it is possible that the bird became lost during an earlier migration northwards due to weather or navigational mistake. Within ornithological circles, birds who appear in regions outside their normal geographic range are listed as ‘ Vagrants ’. Rare dame alerts which are posted for birders within the UK are classed into four categories ; uncommon, scarcity, rarity and mega rarity. suffice to say the mobile egyptian Vulture of the Isles of Scilly rates as a Mega Rarity ( a once in a life receive ) and is probable to attract huge numbers of enthusiastic birdwatchers to this small group of islands until it decides to move on !
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
