Vultures of Nagar Parker

Nagar Parker is the only colony of the long-billed vulture in Pakistan and Karoonjhar hills are important because these are used for nesting by this species. The trees nearby these hills are nesting trees of the other critically endangered species, the white-backed vulture. The trees are on private land therefore are not protected and community regularly chops them off to meet their fuel and fodder needs. WWF-Pakistan is now working with these communities to protect the remaining habitat of these birds.

A chick of the critically endangered long-billed vulture, still in its nest, in Karoonjhar hills, probably waiting for its parents to return with the food. The parents regurgitate food for chicks which adds stomach enzymes to ease digest. A chick is unable to synthesize these stomach enzyme when hatched.

A pair of long-billed vulture on Karoonjhar hills, Nagar Parker, Sindh. These critically endangered birds nest on the cliffs.

A long-billed vulture landing in its nest in Karoonjhar hills.

Chick of the white-backed vulture.

The white-back vulture is also critically endangered and prefers to nest on tall trees.

A chick of the white-back vulture, nearing fledgling, still in its nest in Nagar Parker.

A nest of the long-billed vulture in Karoonjhar hills, one can notice the white wash on the cliff which is basically created on the excreta of birds and indicates that it is a regular nesting site of the birds.

Birds of prey such as vultures have white feces because they can absorb most of the contents of their food. Mammals excrete harmful urea out of the body dissolved in water as urine, however, for birds it is excreted in the form of uric acid giving white apperance to the faeces, birds dont have a separate opening for urination but one opening referred as cloaca.

All photos copy rights belong to WWF-Pakistan.

Dr Uzma Khan is Director Biodiversity, WWF-Pakistan. She has been working on vultures since 2004.