Click here to watch the vultures nest live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujaca…
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) and the Charter Group of Wildlife Ecology (comprising the Shamir Research Institute and the University of Haifa) cordially invite you to observe a live 24/7 webcam of a very special Griffon Vulture nest, which is home to a disabled vulture pair. The live camera is part of the ongoing monitoring and research efforts aimed at restoring locally-endangered vulture populations in Israel.
The vulture couple was born in the early 2000s in the Gamla Nature Reserve but suffered from rickets, a bone disease that weakens bones and causes deformities. Despite their handicap, the vulture pair bonded and began laying eggs. They were subsequently included in the “Opening Wing” vulture conservation project, which is a joint effort led by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the Israel Electric Company, and the Israel Society for the Protection of Nature, aimed at increasing vulture populations.
The INPA constructed a nest in a specially-designed structure that is accessible for birds with disabilities, allowing the parents to easily climb up to the location. Vultures continue to face serious threats in the Middle East, including electrocution, poisoning, habitat loss, and hunting. However, it is hoped that this handicapped pair will contribute to increasing vulture populations in the future.
The camera was installed and maintained by the Charter Group of Wildlife Ecology (comprising the Shamir Research Institute and the Department of Geography and Environmental Science of the University of Haifa) with funding from a private donor. It was placed in full cooperation with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, led by Ygal Miller.