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Currently, species such as the black vulture (Aegypius monachus) have improved their conservation status from the "Vulnerable" category to being included as a "Near Threatened" species, according to the latest version of the Red Book of Birds published in 2021. However, others, such as the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), maintain their category in "Vulnerable" status.

The projects developed by GREFA for years have had the objective of promoting the conservation of various threatened species, contributing to the recovery of colonies that were extinct, precisely of some species such as the black vulture and the lesser kestrel.

In this context, during 2019 and 2020 GREFA carried out a series of actions aimed at the conservation and detection of threats from which other endangered species have benefited, such as the Egyptian vulture, the red kite and the Montagu's harrier, whose Iberian populations had experienced a sharp decline in recent years. Another of them has been the imperial eagle which, although it has increased its number of specimens, is still threatened, especially for reasons such as the impact with power lines and the use of poisons, according to the entity. This project has aimed to evaluate the causes of the decline of these species in certain areas of Spain, detect the main dangerous points for their survival in their grazing and nesting areas and during their dispersal and migratory routes, and contribute to the mitigation of these threats.

The general objective pursued by the project has been to assess the main threats to the conservation of some of the most endangered birds of prey in the Spanish fauna.

Its specific objectives include:

• To increase the general public's knowledge of the main conservation threats of the black vulture, the imperial eagle, the Egyptian vulture, the red kite, the Montagu's harrier and the lesser kestrel.
• Obtain a minimum of six black vultures recovered at the Wild Animal Recovery Centre (CRAS) for introduction into acclimatisation facilities in the Sierra de la Demanda (Burgos) and release in 2020.
• Obtain a minimum of five black vulture chicks born in captivity for release in the Boumort and Sierra de la Demanda National Game Reserve.
• Release 13 black vultures through acclimatization in the Sierra de la Demanda in 2019.
• Obtain and release a minimum of 80 lesser kestrel chicks in the central area.
• Tagging with a GPS/GSM transmitter and telemetry tracking a minimum of 12 black vultures released by hacking (a free-range release technique, i.e. leaving the chicks of some species in a nest where they are provided with food and can complete their development without the need for adults of their species), four imperial eagles, two Egyptian vultures, four red kites, three Montagu's harriers and seven lesser kestrels.
• Detect the main critical points for the survival of the tagged species in their foraging and nesting areas and in their dispersal and migratory routes.
• Study and assess the incidence of potential threats to the populations of the target species.
• Continue sector-specific awareness programmes.
• Organize three days of dissemination of the project and awareness of the general public towards the conservation of biodiversity.
• Increase the use of Specific Feeding Points (PAEs) by released black vultures, exogenous black vultures, Egyptian vultures, red kites and other scavengers.
• Increase the number of territories and/or colonies controlled by the target species.

• Study and mitigation of the threats identified in the scope of the project. Critical points for the survival of raptors have been identified, especially the target species under study. A study and mitigation of the threats identified in the scope of the project has also been carried out. Based on GREFA's extensive telemetry database and field visits, the impact of threats on the red kite population has been assessed, especially in areas where the species is virtually extinct, such as Andalusia, to lay the groundwork for a possible future conservation project and other target species.
• Obtaining specimens: rehabilitation and breeding in captivity.
• Marking with GPS/GSM transmitter and telemetry tracking of black vulture, imperial eagle, Egyptian vulture, red kite, Montagu's harrier and lesser kestrel.
• Release and terrestrial monitoring of target species.
• Educational and participatory actions. Such as, for example, the organization of the celebration of Vulture Day, Eagle Day and the implementation and organization of the Lesser Kestrel Day in the areas of action with this species.
• Actions aimed at specific sectors. Sectors such as hunting have been informed about the use of lead-free ammunition, especially in areas of action with necrophagous birds.
• Dissemination and communication of the project.

In general, the actions carried out have contributed to maintaining and meeting the objectives of assessing the main threats to the conservation of some of the most endangered birds of prey in the Spanish fauna. In addition, the completion of this project has allowed GREFA to continue the conservation work carried out to date throughout the national territory with the species black vulture, Egyptian vulture, Montagu's harrier, lesser kestrel, imperial eagle and red kite. It has also been a continuation of the Monachus project (an initiative that had the support of the Biodiversity Foundation in previous calls) with the conservation and support of the black vulture colonies in the Sierra de la Demanda (Burgos) and in the Sierra de Boumort (Lleida). The project has allowed the rehabilitation of specimens, their release and monitoring, as well as the breeding in captivity and marking of new chicks, which have made it possible to carry out a study of their dispersal and migration behaviours, being able to analyse the greatest threats to the populations and propose improvements or modifications to the routes of power lines that reduce them.

The main milestones include the release of a total of 106 specimens from captive breeding and recovery centres, in order to contribute to the recovery of their populations through reintroduction and reinforcement techniques. Of those 106, 15 were black vultures, released in two areas of northern Spain where this raptor had become extinct: the Sierra de la Demanda and the Pyrenees. These releases are in addition to those carried out years ago that have allowed the formation of about twenty breeding pairs adding both areas, and also contribute to GREFA's great objective with this species, which is to create a large European population that connects its large colonies in the center and south of the Iberian Peninsula with those that are being created in France and other countries. The remaining 91 specimens rescued were lesser kestrels, a species of which hundreds of pairs have been bred during the execution of the project in twenty agricultural silos in several autonomous communities, where GREFA has built a large number of nests for these birds.

On the other hand, a total of 43 specimens: 17 black vulture, 4 imperial eagle, 4 red kite, 5 Montagu's harrier, 2 Egyptian vultures and 11 lesser kestrels were equipped with GPS technology, making it possible to advance in the knowledge of the areas of grazing, dispersal routes and migration. In addition, this action has made it possible to act on the potential threats that affect these species in a wide territory on an international scale. Likewise, within the framework of the project, a total of 95 dangerous supports have also been corrected in the Sierra de la Demanda.