HOME RANGE USE OF WINTER MIGRATORY VULTURES IN AND AROUND JORBEER, BIKANER (RAJASTHAN) INDIA

The home range characteristics of vultures were examined in winters at Jorbeer and surrounding areas of Bikaner district (Rajasthan). The winter migratory vultures at Jorbeer have occupied 8640 Square Km. area as their home range. Seven species of vulture were recorded during study period October 2006 to March 2011 viz. the King Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis), Long billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) and white Backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis). The home range of each species was overlapped and covering 74 villages between latitude 27035' North to 28030' North and 72052' East to 73049' East longitude. Food availability for vultures appears to be strong factor as they are able to adjust their home ranges and foraging opportunities. The study has established home ranges of different vultures during winter migration.