The case summarized Bird watchers Atle Ivar Olsen and Magnhild Johnsen discovered a monk vulture in Nordland, a species that has never before been seen in Norway. The monk vulture, one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey, normally breeds in more southerly areas. A previously observed vulture in Norway was part of a research project and is therefore not considered a wild species. The Norwegian Rarities Committee for Birds (NSKF) will decide whether the find can be approved as a new official species in Norway. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – This is what we bird watchers hope for and dream about, says Atle Ivar Olsen. The dream he talks about is to observe and document a completely new species in the country they live in. And that is exactly what happened to the birdwatchers Olsen and Magnhild Johnsen. They were on a mountain trip above the fjord Skjomen in Nordland, when they spotted the special bird. – We were only a couple of kilometers from the Swedish border and were looking for common mountain birds. Atle Ivar Olsen is well above average interested in birds. He has previously been head of BirdLife Nordland, and teaches about birds in science. Photo: Hans Petter Sørensen Then they discovered a large, black bird with a long wingspan, a kilometer and a half away. Then the two bird enthusiasts began to discuss what they had seen. – We saw a dark bird, and therefore assumed it was a bird of prey. But at first we thought it was either a sea eagle or a golden eagle. But it didn’t look like much, says Olsen. Therefore, he was quickly up with the camera and took a picture of the bird in order to study it more closely. Despite the fact that the picture was taken from a long distance, the bird experts have concluded that it is a vulture that is depicted. Photo: Alf Ivar Olsen – When we looked at the pictures, it didn’t fit with sea eagles either. So then the vultures were the closest, and then the monk vulture is the darkest. Then they quickly realized that the discovery was quite spectacular. Monk vulture The monk vulture is a large broad-winged scavenger vulture that measures approximately 100–120 cm and has a wingspan of 250–295 cm. Males weigh 7–11.5 kg, females 7.5–12.5 kg. It is therefore significantly larger than both the golden eagle and the white-tailed eagle. The species is mainly distributed in the Palearctic, from the Iberian Peninsula and south-eastern France, the Balearic Islands and the Balkans eastwards through Turkey, the Caucasus. Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and possibly also southwestern Kashmir, to southern Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern China. In winter, some birds migrate as far south as northern Africa. There are around 7,800–10,500 breeding pairs in the world, of which at least 2,300–2,500 pairs are in Europe. Source: Wikipedia (excerpt) New official species in Norway For the monk vulture does not breed in the Nordic region, and prefers to live in more southerly areas. It is also one of the rarest birds of prey in Europe. Only one vulture has been observed in Norway before, but this was part of a research project and had GPS tracking attached to the wing. A monk vulture flies with GPS tracking attached to its wing. This vulture is part of a research project to find out where the birds move. Photo: AP The vulture, however, had an unpleasant encounter with a wind turbine, broke its wing and eventually had to be euthanized. Both Olsen and Johnsen have held leadership positions in BirdLife Nordland, and were both co-authors of the book Birds in Nordland, which the organization published last year. – We checked and became aware that the monk vulture would become a new official wild species for Norway. It is very exciting and fun, and something that most bird watchers are interested in. Olsen says that the monk vulture flew in the direction of Sweden before they lost sight of it. They were back in the area the next day, but then without seeing the bird anywhere. The bird watchers Olsen and Johnsen were on a mountain trip over the Skjomen fjord, not far from Narvik in Nordland and the Swedish border. A separate committee decides whether species are new But it is not just about registering a new bird species in Norway. It is actually a separate committee that decides that: Norwegian Rarity Committee for Birds (NSKF), under BirdLife Norge. One of the six members of the committee is Andreas Gullberg. He has caught the observation of the monk vulture when news calls. – Yes, it is certainly a vulture, says Gullberg. Andreas Gullberg sits on the Norwegian Rarity Committee for Birds (NSKF), and helps to approve or disapprove observations of new bird species in Norway. Photo: Privat Especially the fact that the plumage is so dark makes the bird species recognisable. – The monk vulture is the only one that is very dark and that occurs in this part of the world. Gullberg explains that monk vultures, like many other vultures, are scavengers. But the stocks have been at full speed down in Europe for a long time. But that is about to turn around. – In recent years there have been many reintroduction programs in Europe, so now the number of vultures is increasing again. – Very sensational But the fact that a vulture has been observed as far north as the Narvik area surprises even an experienced bird expert. – It is very startling. Only one monk vulture has previously been recorded in Norway, but this was part of a reintroduction program from Spain, so it was not considered spontaneous and thus a discovery for Norway. – This is potentially the first spontaneous discovery in Norway, so it is extremely rare. This is what the vulture looks like up close. The species can weigh up to 12–14 kilograms (female and male), and has a wingspan of nearly three metres. Photo: AP He says that NSKF has not had time to discuss the monk vulture discovery yet, but Gullberg says that the observation will most likely be approved. – We have certain criteria that must be met for it to be approved as an official discovery from Norway. Although the picture from Olsen was taken from a long distance, and thus has poor resolution, it is probably more than good enough. – Now a treatment will take place here at NSKF, so it has not been approved yet, but it most likely will be, says Gullberg. Published 21.07.2024, at 15.47 Updated 21.07.2024, at 17.15
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New species of bird, monk vulture, found in Nordland – news Nordland
