MOVEMENTS OF TURKEY VULTURES PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF NONMIGRATORY BEHAVIOR AND NATAL PHILOPATRY IN A POPULATION BREEDING IN SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA | |||
| Peter H Bloom; Bloom Research Inc; petebloom@bloombiological.com; Nicollet Overby, Miguel D. Saggese, Alexandra Eagleton, Alexandria B. Koedel, Harold Batzloff, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Alexandra M Eagleton | |||
Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) are typically partial migrants but are believed to reside year-round in southwestern California. However, little is known about their movements and breeding biology in the region. We report initial findings on the movements of 23 Turkey Vultures fledged from six nests in southwestern California and patagial-tagged between 2017 and 2023. We hypothesized that resightings would show that vultures fledged from this region are (1) present year-round in southwestern California and (2) found near their natal nest area during the breeding season when sexually mature. To test this, we analyzed resighting locations in relation to age and season. These vultures were resighted 102 times between 2018 and 2024, at an average distance of 23 km ± 25 km ([SD]; median = 17 km) from their natal nest. Few observations were >100 km away, and none were farther north than Ventura County or farther south than San Diego County, California. All sightings occurred in landscapes and climates similar to the natal study area. Distance from the natal nest varied with age and season: in spring, adult birds were closer to natal nests than younger birds. These data suggest year-round residency and provide preliminary evidence of natal philopatry, especially among adults during the breeding season. | |||
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