Bearded Vultures and Their Astonishing Comeback

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) or lammergeier has a wingspan up to 2.8 meters! It’s without a doubt the most impressive bird you can see while hiking in the Alps. However, not that long ago, these magnificent birds totally disappeared from our mountains. Fortunately, a successful re-introduction program brought change.

The perfect place for a bearded vulture

Thirty years ago, the Bargy in the Haute-Savoie was chosen as the perfect place to release the first bearded vultures. First of all, in this part of the French Alps there are many alpine ibexes and chamois whose carcasses – the bones to be precise – serve as food for the birds. Secondly, the immense cliffs provide perfect breeding spots, and last but not least, it is a very quiet area.

The first nesting couple, and their first egg!

Every year a couple of bearded vultures were released, but it took ten years before the first couple settled in the Bargy. Balthazar and Assignat were the first love birds to make their nest on the steep limestone cliffs. Shortly thereafter, an even more memorable event followed: in 1997 the very first chick emerged from an egg. And today, in the year 2019, mum and dad still have their nest in the Bargy.

Success

After Balthazar and Assignat’s success, the reintroduction project was moved to the Aravis. Today six breeding pairs have settled in the Haute-Savoie, making the area “full”. The project has finished, leaving us with these magnificent birds as an integral part of our beautiful mountain landscape!

Where to see bearded vultures

You might see bearded vultures on any hiking trip in the Alps, but the best place to see them is on the Col de la Colombière (1613 m) in the Bargy where you have a very good chance of seeing Balthazar and Assignat flying around.

Also keep your eyes on the sky when hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc; our guides at Alpenwild often report sightings of bearded vultures on the Col du Bonhomme (2329 m).  

Would you like to read more about bearded vultures?

Wildlife in the Alps – Spotlight on the Bearded Vulture – March 2, 2019

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Simone van Velzen

In her work as an alpine naturalist Simone adds an exciting new dimension to your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with insights into the incredibly rich flora and fauna of the Alps. Simone studied Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands. After her studies she left her home country (which is flatter than a pancake) and moved to British Columbia. In the Canadian Rockies, she discovered the astonishing richness of mountain environments. Her passion for mountain nature was born. And when she returned to Europe, she based herself in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the perfect setting for exploring and studying the natural history of mountain environments. As an alpine naturalist she writes for outdoor magazines and leads excursions in the natural world.

If you step into the natural world with Simone, her passion for all living things—wild flowers to lichen, birds to mammals—can’t help but rub off on you. She’s excited to meet you on your Tour du Mont Blanc and share the amazing natural wonders in the Alps.

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