Grouped together not by their taxonomy but by their behaviour, raptors survive by preying on other animals. They are apex predators that play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their presence signifies a healthy environment, while their decline warns of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. In India, vultures have faced a catastrophic 95% population drop. Even adaptable species like the Eurasian Kestrel are struggling, as highlighted in the State of India’s Birds (SoIB 2023) report. Such losses underscore the urgent need to monitor and protect raptors, particularly in understudied regions like South Asia’s Trans-Himalaya.

The high-altitude steppes and rangelands of the Trans-Himalaya are home to iconic raptors such as the Golden Eagle, Bearded Vulture, and Himalayan Vulture. These landscapes not only support raptors but also sustain pastoralist communities dependent on livestock grazing, making them particularly vulnerable to human pressures.

Our monitoring efforts

To safeguard these critical habitats, we launched long-term raptor monitoring projects in Spiti Valley in 2021, expanding to Ladakh in 2023. Our teams survey 150 km of road transects in each region twice a year, during early summer and late autumn, to track raptor population trends. In Ladakh, we’ve also begun monitoring cliff-nesting raptors, studying both active and unoccupied nests to better understand breeding dynamics.

What have we learned so far?

In Spiti Valley, scavengers like the Bearded Vulture outnumber prey-hunting raptors like the Golden Eagle. The raptor encounter rates in the valley rival or surpass those of steppe habitats worldwide, underscoring the global importance of these rangelands. Encounter rates are particularly high in autumn, likely due to the presence of young birds and the conclusion of nesting activities. In Ladakh, 60 nests were monitored in 2023, but only 19% were active, signaling potential challenges in breeding success. Studying unoccupied nests alongside active ones will provide critical insights into breeding dynamics.

Looking ahead

We aim to expand nest surveys, analyze long-term trends in nest site selection, and examine how factors like climate change impact raptor populations. This work will guide contextual and adaptive conservation strategies, ensuring the resilience of both raptors and the landscapes they inhabit.