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Paragliding Flights Alleged to Hinder Griffon Vulture Reproduction in Gorbeia and Entzia

The Ekologistak Martxan association warns that recreational activities may be impacting the critical breeding cycle of this vulnerable scavenger species.

Generic image of a paraglider flying near bird nesting areas.
IA

Generic image of a paraglider flying near bird nesting areas.

The association Ekologistak Martxan has reported paragliding flights near Griffon Vulture (alimoche) breeding grounds in the Gorbeia Natural Park and the Entzia Special Protection Area (ZEC), potentially hindering the reproduction of this vulnerable species.

The environmental organization has documented a complaint from an ornithologist who observed a paraglider approximately 15 meters from the usual nest of a Griffon Vulture pair in Gorbeia Natural Park. According to the specialist, the pair has not laid eggs this season, possibly due to "disturbances from these types of recreational activities."
Ekologistak Martxan considers these events "extremely serious" and warns that if confirmed to be linked to the lack of reproduction, it would represent "a disturbance to one of the most threatened scavenger birds in Euskadi during a critical moment of its biological cycle."
The association has noted that this is not an isolated incident, as a few weeks prior, collaborators observed up to four paragliders flying over the Entzia Special Conservation Area (ZEC), an area with rocky cliffs where Griffon Vultures and other cliff-dwelling birds of conservation interest also nest.
They recalled that the Griffon Vulture is particularly sensitive to human disturbances during breeding. The proximity of people, aircraft, or sports activities to their nesting cliffs can cause stress, temporary abandonment of territory, or even reproductive failure.
This organization specifies that paragliding and other recreational aerial activities can be compatible with biodiversity conservation, provided they are conducted outside sensitive areas and respect necessary limitations to protect wildlife.
However, they emphasized that flying close to nesting sites poses a risk that cannot be ignored by the administrations responsible for managing protected natural areas. Consequently, they have requested the provincial councils to investigate the incidents and determine if the disturbances caused by paragliding flights contributed to the reproductive failure of this bird pair.
Furthermore, they are calling for a review of the regulations for these activities in areas most sensitive to wildlife, the establishment of temporary exclusion zones during the breeding season, and increased surveillance to ensure effective compliance with conservation measures.

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