5 EURO SILVER COIN PROOF BLACK VULTURE (AEGYPIUS MONACHUS)

Περιγραφή

The cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a true giant of the skies, with a wingspan that reaches nearly three meters. It is one of the rarest and most endangered birds of prey in Greece. The only population in the country (and one of just two in the Balkans) is found in Evros, centered in the Dadia Forest, where 29–35 pairs nest. It builds its enormous nest in the crowns of large, mature pine trees, and each pair raises one single chick each year. It is one of the four vulture species found in Europe and feeds exclusively on animal carcasses, mainly those of large mammals. The most significant threats to the cinereous vulture are poisoning (due to the illegal use of poisoned baits), collisions and loss of vital habitat resulting from the development of energy infrastructure (wind turbines, power transmission lines), as well as forest fires.