Bearded vulture with bone prey

Tuesday morning 05:30, last wind check over coffee. The decision has been made to set off for Valais.

The Gemmi Pass, nestled in the picturesque scenery of the Swiss Alps, is not only known for its breathtaking landscape, but also for the diverse wildlife that lives in this rugged environment. On January 30, 2024, a bearded vulture, an impressive species of bird of prey, caused a sensation when it circled majestically over the snow-covered peaks.

The 20 or so photographers who were with me on the Gemmi Pass witnessed a truly extraordinary moment. The bearded vulture, with its impressive wingspan (2.6 to 2.9m) and the characteristic white plumage around its neck, flew elegantly over the pass, quickly gaining altitude and carrying a large bone with it. It was probably the pelvic bone of a chamois. We photographers were lucky enough to be able to capture this rare event.

Bearded vultures are scavengers. Around 80 percent of their diet consists of bones, which they can digest thanks to their highly concentrated stomach acid. The vultures can eat bones up to 30 centimetres in size, larger bones are crushed. Young bearded vultures are not yet able to digest bones and are dependent on fresh muscle meat in the first few weeks of their lives.

In a world where nature and wildlife are increasingly under threat, the sight of the majestic bearded vulture on the Gemmi Pass reminds me how important it is to protect and preserve these precious habitats. May this encounter with the bearded vulture and its unusual cargo help to sensitize people to the need for nature conservation and to protect the beauty of our environment.

If you would like more information about this impressive bird, you can find it on the website of the Pro Bartgeier Foundation.