Population status

Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)

The Turkey Vulture is best monitored in Canada by examining results of two surveys, the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, which covers the core of the species' range in Ontario. These provide strong evidence that the population and its distribution have increased markedly in Canada. Although not ideally suited to the monitoring of this species, results from the BBS suggest a large increase in population. The Atlas, which provides a good monitoring methodology for approximately 70% of the Canadian population, indicates an increase in occurrence of over 4% per year between Atlas periods. Although detection rate does not equate directly to abundance, a change of this magnitude likely indicates a significant increase in population. BBS results from throughout North America (which pool the larger American population with the smaller Canadian population) also show a dramatic increase in the population at the continental level.

 

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Additional information on: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual trend (%) Table 1 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
Ontario1981/85 - 2001/054.13.25
 

References