Changes

Lammergeiers often build massive nests in inaccessible rocky mountains, beginning in autumn. The nests are used again and again by the lammergeiers living in solid partnerships. Older nestss can reach a size of about six square feet.  The nests is also padded with feathers and animal hair, rags and paper.

Lammergeiers often build massive nests in inaccessible rocky mountains, beginning in autumn. The nests are used again and again by the lammergeiers living in solid partnerships. Older nestss can reach a size of about six square feet.  The nests is also padded with feathers and animal hair, rags and paper.

The eggs are laid in late December or January, when there is a special harsh weather in their favorite habitats.  Lammergeiers usually lay two eggs, the second egg following about a week after the first.  The incubation period is 52 to 58 days.  The second hatching young bird is usually not in a position to assert itself against the older bird in the fight for the feed, and dies by neglect within a few days. In rare exceptional cases, the older juvenile even kills its weaker sibling.  The nesting time is 110 to 120 days.  Lammergeiers reach sexual maturity at 5-7 years.

The eggs are laid in late December or January, when there is a special harsh weather in their favorite habitats.  Lammergeiers usually lay two eggs, the second egg following about a week after the first.  The incubation period is 52 to 58 days.  The second hatching young bird is usually not in a position to assert itself against the older bird in the fight for the feed, and dies by neglect within a few days. In rare exceptional cases, the older juvenile even kills its weaker sibling.  The nesting time is 110 to 120 days.  Lammergeiers reach sexual maturity at 5–7 years.

==Threats==

==Threats==

Lammergeiers were once classified as "least concern" in the IUCN Red List, due to the extremely large range the bird has in Eurasia and Africa; this has since been upgraded to "near threatened".  Although increasing in numbers in Spain, the population of the birds in the remaining parts of the range has seen significant drops, with the blame falling on the use of an anti-inflammatory drug used on livestock, diclofenac.  The drug is responsible for a significant drop in the numbers of several vulture species throughout central and southern Asia<ref>http://www.nature.com/news/cattle-drug-threatens-thousands-of-vultures-1.19839</ref>, and although primarily a bone eater, lammergeiers will also consume carrion flesh when available; the absence of ''Gyps'' vultures at a carcass means a lammergeier has unrestricted access to the remains rather than wait for the others as they normally would.  Additionally, persecution in areas where sheep and goat herders drive their flocks have caused a regional extinction of lammergeiers within the southern Balkans of Europe, Syria, and Jordan;<ref>http://www.ebd.csic.es/carnivoros/personal/donazar/joseadonazar/s_p_pdfs/26_High%20frequency%20of%20polyandrous%20trios%20in%20an%20endangered%20population%20of%20lammergeiers%20Gypaetus%20barbatus%20in.pdf</ref> they have been recently reintroduced to the Alps of Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.

Lammergeiers were once classified as "least concern" in the IUCN Red List, due to the extremely large range the bird has in Eurasia and Africa; this has since been upgraded to "near threatened".  Although increasing in numbers in Spain, the population of the birds in the remaining parts of the range has seen significant drops, with the blame falling on the use of an anti-inflammatory drug used on livestock, diclofenac.  The drug is responsible for a significant drop in the numbers of several vulture species throughout central and southern Asia,<ref>http://www.nature.com/news/cattle-drug-threatens-thousands-of-vultures-1.19839</ref> and although primarily a bone eater, lammergeiers will also consume carrion flesh when available; the absence of ''Gyps'' vultures at a carcass means a lammergeier has unrestricted access to the remains rather than wait for the others as they normally would.  Additionally, persecution in areas where sheep and goat herders drive their flocks have caused a regional extinction of lammergeiers within the southern Balkans of Europe, Syria, and Jordan;<ref>http://www.ebd.csic.es/carnivoros/personal/donazar/joseadonazar/s_p_pdfs/26_High%20frequency%20of%20polyandrous%20trios%20in%20an%20endangered%20population%20of%20lammergeiers%20Gypaetus%20barbatus%20in.pdf</ref> they have been recently reintroduced to the Alps of Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.

==References==

==References==