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Local Birds In The News
Black Vultures at Dutch Gap Boat Ramp Area
Vultures being baited at Dutch Gap.
Photos by Bob Schamerhorn
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On December 22, 2007 the Richmond Times Dispach reported that the Black Vulture numbers had been greatly reduced at Dutch Gap, most likely due to the recent rounds of harrasment technequies employed. However some of the group has merely moved to the Rivers Bend subdivision, just across the James River from the Dutch Gap boat launch area. Officials continue to track the birds and think about long-term solutions.
ISSUE HISTORY - SEE: IN THE PAST
Most Recently
Since the last trapping and euthanizing of vultures at Dutch Gap, the birds have returned in substantial numbers. Observations have been recently made of consistent use of the site by 400+ black vultures roosting in the immediate area, but no significant satellite roosts were detected from such distant areas. Given the eighteen to twenty-four months of relief provided through past harassment and lethal take projects at Dutch Gap, the cooperating agencies are working together to develop a long-term management strategy for vulture management at Dutch Gap.
These activities have been carried out under a federal migratory bird depredation/damage permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), the Center for Conservation Biology at The College of William and Mary (CCB), Chesterfield County, and Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion) are working cooperatively with Virginia Wildlife Services office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to resolve the Black Vulture problem at Dutch Gap. In November, 2007 Black Vultures were baited into a large funnel trap situated on Dominion property adjacent to the Dutch Gap boat ramp. One hundred vultures have been marked with three-digit code numbered orange wing tags and released, plus another fourteen days of extensive harassment was implemented. These birds are to be monitored through surveys and through public reports. Report sightings of tag number, time, day, location and activity to: dgifweb@dgif.virginia.gov. This is a great opportunity for birders to participate in a very important study.
In the Past
Historically Black Vultures are known to roost and hang around the Dutch Gap area for over twenty-five years. During the 1990's, vulture use of the area increased significantly, possibly due to loss of other roosting sites due to human development. In 1999, Black Vultures at the Dutch Gap boat ramp were documented damaging cars and leaving excrement on vehicles. Even Audubon members have reported similar damages. Similar conditions have been reported on Dominion Power power station facilities where excrement on walkways and other equipment are creating a safety hazard. Around the year 2000, handheld lasers, flares and limited shooting were use to hound the vultures off the site. After repeated harassment attempts failed to disperse the vultures, in August 2002, the Virginia Wildlife Services office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture trapped and euthanized 375 black vultures at Dutch Gap. In spring 2003, Chesterfield County implemented an extensive harassment program to disperse the vultures. Vultures were harassed in the evenings on the towers and at the landing in the mornings. Pyrotechnics and electronic bird calls were used to harass vultures at the affected roosting areas on both sides of the river. The number of vultures roosting on the towers was reduced significantly after approximately two weeks but, after the devices were removed, the vultures resumed use of the site within a few weeks. Then around December, 2003 to January 2004 another 365 black vultures were euthanized from Dutch Gap. In mid 2004, another extensive vulture harassment program was carried out, but the birds returned to the site very quickly if the harassment stopped. In January 2005, Dominion reported that the vultures eventually began to ignore the continued efforts. In June and July of 2005 pyrotechnics, paintball guns, shooting, and effigies were used, but the birds only dispersed temporarily. Then from December, 2005 to February, 2006 another 540 birds were trapped and euthanized and twenty vultures were tagged and released. Three of these tagged vultures continue to be seen regularly at Dutch Gap.
What Next?
If funding allows, forty additional vultures will be fitted with transmitters and be monitored for 12 months. RAS will be discussing the proposal of a partnership with the involved parties that might help find a manageable solution to this persistent situation. Such a collaboration might include data collection and gathering census information. Help us find a solution to this problem. To get involved and make a difference contact the Richmond Audubon Society to volunteer to help with this issue.
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