Brief Report on the Breeding Characteristics of Himalayan Vulture(Gyps himalayensis) in Tianshan Mountains via Telecraft Monitoring

Himalayan griffon or Himalayan vulture(Gyps himalayensis) is almost endemic to China and it is relatively rare in neighboring nations. It is known to people as a mysterious highland raptor species. Few were known about their living cycle. The Vulture is preference to nest on the cliffs(elevation from 2 400 m to 4 800 m), it is very dangerous to climb the cliff to observe the reproductive process. From April to September, 2014, we tried to find and monitor the nest with domestic micro air vehicle(MAV or UAV monitoring) in the middle of Tianshan Mountains. We also used the route search method and behavioral scanning method, conducted habitat surveys, nest number statistics, analysis of nest material, egg or young number count, nestling growth and development, reproduction cycles, diet and food analysis. Most of vultures built their nests on the southern slope facing the sun(78.6%, n = 112). The nest materials were consisted of mainly fine reeds such as Poa spp., Stipa spp., Agropyron cristatum, Elymus sibiricus and that was rather different from that of other raptors. The clutch size is only one(n = 21). Breeding cycle included nest building from January to March, egg laying from January to April(different times), egg sitting from January to June, and nestling leaving the nests from July to October. Chick raising lasted as long as 3﹣5 months, and the longest being 6 months(hatching in March, leaving nest in September). That was relatively long indeed.