A case of nest predation on Turkey vulture nesting in Argentina.

SARASOLA, J.H., SOSA, R.A. AND J.J. MACEDA

Journal of Raptor Research

Año: 2000 vol. 34 p. 60 - 60

0892-1016

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is widely distributed along the American continent but its breeding range in Argentina is not well-known and only three records on Turkey Vulture nesting have been published up to now. We found a Turkey Vulture nest in Lihue Calel National Park, La Pampa province, Argentina in 21 November 1998. The nest was on the north side of a hill of approximately 40-m high and near the top of the hill on the ground in a circular patch of bushes. On 26 December we revisited the nest and found two young that we weighed and measured. On 12 January 1999, the young were not found in the nest and the remains of one of their wings was about 6 m from the nest. No signs or footprints of predators were found at the nest site but the nest may have been depredated by a felid, fox or reptile.