This post is the second focusing on the raptors seen and photographed at the Giant’s Castle vulture hide. It focuses on Bearded vultures which are always the highlight of our time in the hide in this reserve. This KwaZulu-Natal nature reserve in uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, South Africa. It offers breathtaking views of deep valleys, grassy plateaus and craggy mountains. The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a World Heritage Site. Giants Castle Nature Reserve occupies the central section.

“I am soaring, boundless, and free, and I know living my dreams is never a question of time but one of purpose” ~ Leo Lourdes

The next image was taken from a ridge above and behind the hide and shows the scene across the Bushman’s river valley. The tussock grasslands were green due to the summer rain.

The most-elevated stretch of the Drakensberg, in eastern and southern Lesotho. It is composed of severely eroded basalt capping a sandstone base. The next image of a lone adult Bearded vulture soaring high above the Bushman’s river valley and was taken looking west with the massive sandstone Long Wall on the far side of the valley in the background.

The Central Drakensberg is characterised by pinnacles, and broken and fractured blocks which form a massive steep eastern scarp 3,000 to 3,300 metres high along the length of the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. The southern scarp is 2,400 to 3,000 metres high and lies along the length of the Lesotho–Eastern Cape province border.

The air flow along the Bushman’s river valley generates useful updrafts for the larger raptors. They can soar and glide for hours up and down and along the valley with minimal wing work. The Bearded vultures soar along either side of the valley and high above it. Presumably they collect thermals which enable theme to climb high above the valley floor.

The Bearded vultures continually look below see if there are bones scattered on the ground. Often they will fly past bones that we have put out on the feeding terrace a few times. They are looking at how busy and crowded the feeding terrace is and whether the jackals and baboons are in the area.

“The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.” – Ralph W. Sockman

The Bearded vulture has a high aspect ratio wing, which is well-suited for soaring and gliding flight. This means that the wings are long and narrow relative to their width. The high aspect ratio (wing span^2/wing area), combined with the bird’s light wing loading, allows it to utilise even weak air currents for efficient soaring over mountainous terrain enabling it to stay aloft for extended periods with minimal effort, even in weak updrafts.

The Bearded vultures often fly at low altitude in the Bushman’s river valley. They are continually scouring the valley floor floor for feeding opportunities.

“Soar with wit. Conquer with dignity. Handle with care.” ~ Criss Jami

It is a thrill to watch these large raptors effortly glide past the hide. At times they can be as close as 40 metres from the ridge face.

Bearded vultures have red sclera, the white part of the eye. It is actually a vascularised ring of tissue called the scleral ring that can be flushed with blood to intensify the red colour. This intensification is used in threat displays, where the vulture can make itself look more imposing by increasing blood flow to the ring.

No matter the age colouring of the plumage, once fledged each Bearded vulture is a highly capable rider in the skies.

While the Bearded vultures do spend long periods soaring over the Bushman’s river valley they do land and sit on ledges overlooking the valley. The black eye plumage around the eyes suggest that this feature reduces the glare from the sunlight while they are soaring and gliding. Early in the morning, on the east side of the valley this adult took perceptual advantage of the shade.

“Our intuitions will be our biggest liabilities, and our imaginations will be our greatest assets.” ~ Ed Yong

The adult Bearded vulture is a large raptor with a wingspan of between 230 to 280 centimetres and a body length of 94–125 cm. Birds fly over a large speed range morphing their wings and tail to modulate aerodynamic force production. At slower speed, first the wings extend and sweep forward, spreading laterally, and at even slower speed, the tail spreads, in addition to the wings.

As large as the Bearded vultures are, they do not get it all their own way. The White necked ravens often harass them in flight. Needless to say the ravens are nothing more than an irritation for these gliding giants.

The colour of the facial plumage is a good indicator of age of Bearded vulture. The younger the individual the blacker the face and it gets progressively whiter with age. The adult’s white facial plumage gets progressively rust coloured. This is due to a cosmetic behaviour where they bathe in iron-rich mud. This colouration is thought to be linked to individual dominance and possibly other factors like feather protection or even anti-bacterial properties. 

“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.” ~ Rachel Carson

Although I can get a sense of the size of these Bearded vultures when they fly past, their size becomes even more apparent when they come in to land on the feeding terrace. Whilst I have seen many landing over the years I have not picked up any consistent cue that signals this vulture is coming in to land. There are times when the Bearded vulture flies past the feeding terrace then circles back and flies directly onto the terrace. The direction of arrival is dependent on the direction of the wind which shifts around all time.

Bearded vultures in the Drakensberg are called the “bone eaters of the berg”.

The Bearded vultures, juvenile and adult alike, land at the far end of the feeding terrace. Normally only one Bearded vulture lands at a time but on two occasions I have seen two Bearded vultures feeding on the bones on the flat rocks at the far end of the feeding terrace.

On this occasion, this mature adult landed and picked up a large bone with plenty of flesh and fat on it and flew off with it. Bearded vultures have strong feet which are adapted for carrying bones, and perching and walking on rocky terrain. In contrast to the powerful talons of eagles and hawks, a vulture’s feet are not designed for killing prey. Their talons are relatively blunt compared to those of other raptors, which is an adaptation for their scavenging lifestyle.

Bearded vultures do not hunt live prey. This is the only species of vulture which feeds predominately on bones, which comprise between 70% and 90% of their diet. If the bone is too big to swallow, the Bearded vulture will carry it up to as much as 100 metres above a section of flat rocks, called ossuaries. It then drops the bone onto rocks below to break it down, and in some cases expose the marrow.

A view from behind the vulture hide looking west over the Bushman’s river valley on the steep scarp of the section called the Long Wall. The feeding terrace is the relatively flat section of low grass in front of the hide where we place the bones.

The Bearded vulture is categorised as Critically Endangered with an estimated population of less than 250 individuals according to the South African Red Data list. This species is considered Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data list.

In southern Africa, the majority of Bearded vultures are found in the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho and South Africa. Specifically, they are often seen in the Drakensberg Escarpment and surrounding foothills, but rarely below 1000 meters above sea level.

“Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived. Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity?” ~ Edward O. Wilson

Watching all raptors gliding past the vulture hide is a thrill and it is hard not to be impressed by their effortless soaring. It is a special thrill to watch the large Bearded vulture glide at levels as low as 50 metres above the valley floor and thousands of metres above the feeding terrace, all the while riding the updrafts and thermals. The fascinating aspect is that each time we have spent time in the hide we see and learn something new about these Critical Endangered vultures – a privilege indeed.

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” ~ Rachel Carson

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike