Home range and habitat selection of Cape vultures Gyps coprotheres in relation to supplementary feeding

Abstract

CAPSULE : Supplementary feeding stations provide a useful conservation benefit for vultures, without disrupting their natural movement ecology.

AIMS : To understand the effects of providing supplementary food on the movement ecology of vultures.

METHODS : We used Global Positioning System tracking devices to monitor the movements of 28 Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres using feeding stations in South Africa. We calculated home range values and then performed a habitat selection analysis.

RESULTS : We show that aside from roost sites, vulture feeding stations are the most important environmental variable that explains vulture movements. However, we found that the birds ranged over areas without supplementary food and their mean home range values were comparable to those measured before the inception of feeding stations.

CONCLUSION : Our findings suggest that the use of supplementary feeding sites did not significantly impact on the natural foraging behaviour of the species.