Bearded vulture born in Albacete after 50-year hiatus

A male bearded vulture, named ‘Cardaor’, has been born in the municipality of Yeste within the Sierra del Segura, marking the first confirmed reproduction of the species in the province of Albacete in over 50 years.

The chick is the offspring of a pair known as Génave and Bwindi, who were first detected in the province in February 2023. Due to the difficult terrain and inaccessible nest, monitoring was initially conducted via drones. In May, environmental agents used high-altitude equipment to perform a health check, attach a GPS transmitter, and apply rings. To facilitate identification during flight, some feathers were controlledly discolored.

The name ‘Cardaor’ honors a traditional local trade related to wool processing, a material the birds use to line their nests. This event is considered a significant milestone for biodiversity conservation in Castilla-La Mancha. Authorities and the University of Granada are also examining historical nests from the 1950s and 1960s to better understand the species' historical presence in the region.