Vultures in the En Avdat Nature Reserve
(Video: Nature and Parks Authority)
A Nature and Parks Authority volunteer documented two vultures mating in the En Avdat Nature Reserve in the Negev.
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"As a photographer and nature enthusiast, I decided to go out for a hike and photograph vultures," said Yehiam Dahan. "I traveled to the En Avdat Nature Reserve and saw several vultures on the cliffs. After about half an hour, during which I couldn't take my eyes off this marvelous bird, the mating ritual began."
Dahan continued to describe: "It's hard to put into words the excitement of witnessing such an event. I've been volunteering with the Nature and Parks Authority for several years, and the connection to the world of photography integrates very well for me. The goal of documenting and photographing is to encourage people to open their eyes and see how beautiful and magical our nature is and how important it is to preserve it."
Orly Gilad, manager of the Zin Nature Reserve, shared insights about the vultures in the area: "In the last count, we observed 79 vultures in the Zin Valley, and we already have three vultures in En Avdat. We are surveying the reserve to assess the condition of the vultures and their nests."
For vultures, the breeding season typically begins in December-January with courtship flights along the cliffs. The bond between mates remains stable for many years. Together, they construct a nest made of branches and some padding, often distinguishable from a distance by the gleaming white of the vultures against the cliffs. The female lays only one egg usually in January-February. The incubation period lasts about two months, with both parents participating.