Critically endangered vulture chicks hatched at Hawk Conservancy
Two African White-back Vulture and a Hooded Vulture have hatched at the Trust
Last updated 3rd Aug 2023
The Hawk Conservancy Trust has welcomed three chicks of critically endangered vulture species.
Two African White-backed Vultures have successfully hatched as well as the Conservancy’s first Hooded Vulture Chick.
However, as there has been a spell of unsuccessful hatches over recent times, each chick has ended up with foster parents at the centre.
Dummy eggs and Foster Parents
Because of the run of bad luck with hatches, the decision was taken by experts at the Conservancy to use the proven method of a dummy egg, while the real egg was taken to the incubator at the National Bird of Prey Hospital.
The first African White-backed Vulture chick hatched in April but it’s parents, Etosha and Talavera, had left the dummy egg early, which meant foster parents were required.
Fellow African-White backs Heshima and Ruaha came to the rescue. This experienced pair of parent birds had laid eggs earlier in the season although most had been unsuccessful, but they’d laid one final egg which was placed in the Hospital incubator, although it was thought to be infertile.
Trust staff decided that Heshima and Ruaha could be the new chick’s foster parents and achieved this by placing the 10-day old chick into a “reveal” egg when the adults were out of the nest, meaning the parent pair were more likely to accept it as their own.
This they did, with the foster dad beginning to feed the chick straight away.
But what of the egg belonging to Heshima and Ruaha? Well, that egg – to the surprise of everyone – was fertile and a second pair of foster parents were required!
Step forward Thor and Aldara, a pair of Cinereous Vultures. Their own egg had been in the incubator at the Hospital, but sadly turned out to be infertile. However, this meant they could raise the newest chick.
This second chick was placed into the nest, in a reveal egg, and has been accepted by the pair. Both African White-backed chicks are growing well, with the first chick close to fledging.
Further good news!
And the good news doesn’t stop there, as there’s a first for the Conservancy with the hatching of a Hooded Vulture chick.
Vinnie and Nougat have been getting to know each other over the last couple of years and the pair successfully hatched a chick in April.
“We’re all very excited,” said Deputy Head of Living Collection at the Trust. “The chick is doing very well and is starting to stand up and explore the nest site.”