29 griffon vultures flew over Kuwait in a rare event, the first of its kind around this time of year. The bird watching and protection team at Kuwait Environment Protection Society monitored the event.

The event registered a new record for Kuwait, with the largest number of griffon vultures crossing over the country under such circumstances. The vultures usually fly at high elevations over Kuwait, but weather fluctuations, increasing cumulus clouds and southeast winds led the vultures to fly at lower elevations to have some rest till the weather is more stable so that they can resume their migration.

The griffon vulture is one of the large vultures that migrate during fall and spring. Like other vultures, it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals, thus preventing the spread of diseases and viruses among various animals and their transfer to humans. Stomachs of griffon vultures release highly concentrated acids that remove bacteria and viruses in dead animals.

Griffon vultures fly above Kuwait at the beginning of October, coming from northern Turkey, Croatia, and western Russia and heading during their fall migration to northeast Africa passing through the Arabian Peninsula. During spring migration, they return to their breeding sites.

It is noteworthy that Kuwait is considered a main cross point for many types of vultures and birds during fall and spring migrations.

Source

KUNA – 19 November 2015

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