Post-fledging Dependence Period and Onset of Natal Dispersal in Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus): New Insights from GPS Satellite Telemetry

The time period between the first flight from the nest and the onset of dispersal is one of the most critical stages in the life history of birds (Weathers and Sullivan 1989). This time span, referred to as the post-fledging dependence period, is critical for the development of young birds because during this time juveniles must learn to become self-sufficient, acquire flight skills, find food resources and exploit them efficiently (Bustamante and Hiraldo 1989, Bustamante and Negro 1994, Soutullo et al. 2006a, Delgado et al. 2009). As a consequence, the post-fledging dependence period is of particular importance for the conservation of species with delayed breeding (Ferrer 1993, Soutullo et al. 2006a, Cadahía et al. 2008, López-López et al. 2013). However, despite the high risk of mortality during this stage (Lack 1954), our knowledge about the length of...