En Lorraine, les cadavres n’attirent pas que des Milans royaux

In the last 30 years, owing to legal protection and reintroduction schemes, Griffon and Black Vultures populations have increased in France and Spain. Increasing numbers of existing populations and establishment of new colonies in the Southern part of the Massif central, in the French Alps and in varius regions of Italy have favoured contacts and exchanges between these populations, leading to more sightings outside the regions usually occupied by vultures. In Spring, Spanish birds arrive in France through the Eastern Pyrénées and reach the southern part of Massif central and, later, the Southern Alps. They follow mountain ranges and may even fly as far as northern and eastern France, reaching sometimes Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
On June 21-23 rd 2011, Vincent Perrin, who is doing his civil service in the LOrraine Association NAture (LOANA) association, counted up to 57 Griffon Vultures and one Black Vulture near Saulxures-lès-Vannes, Lorraine, France. He attracted and he photographed them by laying a dead lamb in a feeding station initially installed for the Red Kite.
After a chapter about the movements of Vultures in Europe, we propose you the description of this unusual vision of vultures feeding on a dead animal in Eastern France.