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Bolu, northwestern Türkiye, has emerged as one of the rare places in the world where all four vulture species found in the country can be observed together, thanks to a dedicated monitoring and feeding station that sheds light on the birds’ natural life cycle.
At the heart of this unique setting is the “Vulture Station,” set up last year within the Sorkun Ecotourism Area, an initiative launched nearly two years ago by the Association of Bird Photographers and Observers. Supported by the General Directorate of Forestry, the station allows scientists, nature lovers, and photographers to follow the complete feeding and interaction cycle of vultures in the wild.
According to volunteer wildlife guide Mehmet Ali Altunay, the feeding process follows a strict and efficient hierarchy. Ravens first scout the area, signaling safety. The black vulture then tears open the tough hide, enabling griffon vultures to consume the internal organs.
The site hosts the black vulture, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, and bearded vulture. Seeing these four species together is extremely uncommon on a global scale, placing Bolu among a very small number of regions worldwide where such coexistence can be documented in real time.
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