The Sierra de Guadarrama National Park has reached the landmark figure of 2,000 black vulture chicks ringed since the monitoring program began in 1997. This continuous work over nearly thirty years has made the area a benchmark for the conservation of this raptor in Europe.
The Alto Lozoya Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA), in the heart of this Madrid mountain range, hosts 185 breeding pairs, positioning it as one of the most significant colonies in Spain and the world for the species.
The ringing of each marked bird provides vital information for tracking its evolution, movements, and behavior. Thanks to this monitoring, technicians have been able to study changes in their feeding habits and address issues such as diseases, parasites, avian flu, or West Nile virus, and even the presence of microplastics.
Each chick receives an official metal ring and a high-visibility PVC ring for remote identification. During the process, biometric measurements are taken to assess their health and development.
The fieldwork, following a precise calendar from February to September, has allowed for the accumulation of a valuable historical data series, making this area a continental benchmark for black vulture conservation.
The High Altitude Intervention Group (GIAM), part of the Forestry Agents Corps, is the team behind this effort. This unit, specialized in biodiversity, works on trees and rocky cliffs, rescues protected species, and is responsible for nest construction. In 2025, they carried out 144 operations, 80 of them focused on the black vulture, and in the first half of 2026, they have already completed 89 operations.
The GIAM's work extends beyond borders. Last year, it collaborated for the third consecutive time with the Government of Portugal in the Douro International Natural Park and maintains close cooperation with AENA and the State Air Safety Agency (AESA) to ensure safety in its interventions near Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
The nearly three decades of monitoring confirm that the Sierra de Guadarrama is a sanctuary for the black vulture, a species in decline in other parts of Europe. The establishment of 185 pairs and the surpassing of 2,000 ringed individuals demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained work.
