Aviculture

Aviculture (the breeding and rearing of birds) is a big part of the work we do to look after the birds at the Horstmann Trust and to contribute to the wider conservation of their species. In order to support their wild counterparts and maintain a sustainable and genetically viable population of birds in captivity, artificial incubation and rearing techniques are important to give the birds the best chance of successful breeding. By breeding from birds at the Horstmann Trust, we are able to work with other breeding programmes and provide support and information to other institutions worldwide.

Vulture are incredibly attentive parents and many species only lay one egg per cycle. They split the incubation and caring duties between both parents and invest a lot of time and energy into giving their one egg the best possible chance. However, they sometimes need a helping hand – particularly if they are living outside of their normal range or they’re inexperienced parents and we don’t want to risk losing their first egg or chick. We will often employ artificial incubation techniques to make sure the eggs hatch and give the chicks a head start in our cosy brooder room, away from the elements. However, the aim is always to get the young reared by their own parents so they can thrive with their own species and don’t risk becoming too familiar with humans.  

Staff at the trust have over a decade of experience breeding various vulture species, along with other birds of prey, and strive to improve techniques and develop new methods and technologies to help with monitoring and data collection both in the incubators and in the nest. We provide courses to share our expertise and if you’re interested in learning more about this work, or seeking advice on aviculture, we are happy to help – don’t hesitate to get in touch.