Home Range, Movement and Activity Patterns of Six vulture Species Using Satellite Telemetry in Saurashtra landscape, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The information on the ranging behaviour and migration pattern of vultures is of critical conservation importance. Vultures’ range over vast areas in human-dominated landscapes where anthropogenic activities may influence their long-term survival. This paper uses the satellite telemetry of 11 individuals of six vulture species to assess their home ranges and seasonal movement patterns. The study aimed to find daily and monthly distances covered by vultures, their home range size, and the influence of breeding season on resource utilisation and activity rates. A total of 114,820 locations were collected between October 2020 and November 2021. The results indicate that the size of the core area is smaller during the breeding season of the resident species, such as the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), and red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) than the non-breeding season. vulture’s daily and monthly movement (mean) also decreased in the breeding season. The annual home range and core areas, calculated as 95% and 50%Utilisation Distribution differed between breeding and non-breeding seasons. The migratory vultures moved significantly longer distances across days and months than the resident species. Their annual migration patterns also differed with respect to time and migration routes.