“What an amazing sight,” Jaco Beukman Journeys Expedition Leader at National Geographic said after he saw the video of eMalahleni’s visitor that has all birdwatchers holding their breath.

Jaco said Egyptian Vultures are very rare in Southern Africa, but less rare in North Africa, Southern Europe, South Asia, and India.

He agreed that this is a young bird and explained that it can take up to five years before their distinctive white plumage appears as adults. These birds can get up to 21-years-old in the wild.

https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/154852/watch-and-here-it-is-live-footage-of-the-egyptian-vulture-roaming-the-skies-above-bankenveld/

“That means at age four to five years this bird is not helpless and dependent on its parents for food and care. At this age, these birds are strong young adults, males and females that can adequately take care of themselves.”

According to Jaco they have strong wings and sufficient energy making it possible for them to roam anything from 500kms to thousands of kilometres away from their birthplace soaring on overland thermals.

Jaco observed that the vulture is not here to look for a mate, but rather just made a stop-over in eMalahleni along its journey.

“The possibility that the young vulture will make eMalahleni its home is very slim. The Mpumalanga Highveld does not fall in its naturally preferred habitat. The bird will probably fly back northwards to the general area it came from to breed as an adult.”

Mr Herman de Klerk, local wildlife expert is assisting Mr Dick Jacobs from Vikela Game Breeders by making sure the vulture eats the correct food.

Dick was the first person to spot the vulture after he left intestines in the veld for smaller hunters like jackal to feed on. The intestines were leftovers after culling in the reserve had to be done.

Herman has a permit and visits the vulture daily to make sure the visitor is still happy and growing strong while enjoying the serenity of Bankenveld Nature Reserve.

https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/154351/rare-egyptian-vulture-seen-bankenveld-emalahleni/