HOME RANGES OF SYMPATRIC BLACK AND TURKEY VULTURES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Travis L. DeVault1,3, Bradley D. Reinhart2, I. Lehr
Brisbin Jr. 2 and Olin E. Rhodes Jr. 1
1Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 195 Marsteller
Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802
ABSTRACT
We examined home-range characteristics of seven Black Vultures (Coragyps
atratus) and four Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) at the
Savannah River Site, South Carolina. Birds were captured at their primary
roost and tracked via aerial telemetry from 11 February 2002 through 29
January 2003. Mean annual home-range sizes (95% fixed kernel) for Black
and Turkey Vultures were 12 399 ± 5199 ha [SE] and 34 053 ±
8567 ha, respectively. Black vultures concentrated their movements around
primary roost, whereas Turkey Vultures demonstrated less site fidelity.
Home-range sizes and time spent soaring for both species were much greater
than reported for vultures residing in an agricultural landscape. We suggest
that food resources at the heavilty forested Savannah River Site were
fewer and less predictable than in agricultural landscapes, requiring
larger home ranges and increased time spent foraging.
Keywords: aerial telemetry, Black Vulture, Cathartes aura, Coragyps atratus, home range, movement patterns, Turkey Vulture
SREL Reprint #2789
DeVault, T. L., B. D. Reinhart, I. L. Brisbin, Jr. and O. E. Rhodes, Jr. 2004. Home ranges of sympatric black and turkey vultures in South Carolina. The Condor 106:706-711.
