We are very privileged to have a pair of Bearded Vultures,the Gypaetus Barbatus (or Lammergeyer) nesting in the valley. Apparently the young should have hatched about 2 weeks ago (i.e. end March) and from their behaviour the adults seem to be feeding their brood. Normally, 2 eggs are laid and the first born will predate the other, so there is just one young bird to rear. Apparently the young bird takes 3-4 months to rear before it is ready to leave the nest.We are lucky enough to be able to see the nest from the balcony of the chalet, so have been able to observe the birds on the nest via telescope and see the adults in flight by naked eye.
Very exciting! For more information click on the title above to follow a link to an article in the Spiegel Online (from where this photo from the Alpenzoo Innsbruck was sourced) or follow: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,435307,00.html .
Another very informative article is at the WWF site: http://www.wwf.or.th/what_we_do/where_we_work/alps/news/?21330/A-close-shave-for-Switzerlands-bearded-vulture
And:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/beardedvulture/beardedvulture.html
Plus:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/science_technology/Bearded_vulture_chick_flies_into_history_books.html?siteSect=514&sid=7703041&cKey=1176281261000&ty=st
N&K
