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The Adventures of Gypi www.uniges3.net/cazorla
This Didactic Guide has been completed thanks to the effort and devotion of a group of teachers and the staff of the Rural Development Association Sierra de Cazorla. Intended to serve pupils, teachers and other interested people, so as to achieve a better understanding and respect for nature around us, and especially for the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura and Villas Natural Park. The Rural Development Association Sierra de Cazorla is a non-profit organization made up by the nine municipalities of the Comarca Sierra de Cazorla, by public and privative representatives and all the relevant economic and social agents, whose main objective is the social and economic development of our region through various programs, Rural Development (LEADER program), cooperation between regions, employment (AndalucĂa Orienta, EPES: internships at companies, training), Sociocultural (Sports, Culture, Cities against Drugs)‌
Peal de Becerro en la C/La Nava s/n www.comarcasierracazorla.es ceder@comarcasierracazorla.com
Tlf: 953 73 14 89
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http://www.uniges3.net/cazorla
Texts:
THE STORY OF GYPI: THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL VULTURE.
3Âş
It‛s been already twenty years, without disrespecting the majestic figure of the Griffon Vulture, since we were not lucky enough to enjoy the spectacular image of the Bearded Vulture flying over the skies of our beloved mountain range. This spring, after much work and effort on the part of biologists and veterinarians, keepers and forest agents, the prettiest, fastest and the most elegant of the vultures has returned to the sky from where it should never had disappeared.
This is the story of Gypi, The Prodigal Vulture. Go with it along its journeys over the region of Sierra de Cazorla, where it must know this new territory to survive. 1
CHAPTER I
3º
“In the cave”
Spring has just begun, and since the good weather already seems stable, many biologists run to set up one observation post in front of a little cave in the middle of a mountainslide. From there they watch what Gypi and his other two companions do; in all, three young and gangly Bearded Vultures are about to start flying. The adventures of the new friends will begin with this learning, but also the dangers, some of them fatal. (Gypi) Ha ha ha, how curious those beings are, a few weeks ago they looked at me inside a cage and now they look at me from the distance, will they believe that I don‛t see them? Well, I don‛t know why but I feel it‛s better this way. Behind our friend are the other two young Bearded Vultures, with a stern look on their faces, at these ages they are somewhat troublemakers and are always fighting for anything: a piece of food, the best place for sleep, a place where it does not rain, etc. Gypi doesn‛t know it yet, but it‛s because of this aggressiveness that he is being watched day and night. 2
From the cave there is a great view, the wind hits gently, but at the same time, strongly enough to shake the feathers of our friend and his two companions. This had already been though by biologists and that‛s why they are in the cave, the young Bearded Vultures that reintroduce themselves in nature, develope in 3
an artificial way at this stage of their lives, far from protective parents who teach them everything they need. That‛s why it is very important that before flying they know the land and relate it to what could be their home in the future. From the cave they see rivers, mountains, people and other animals, elements of the landscape that they will need to remember when they return to form a family.
After several days in the cave, a new day begins for our young Bearded Vulture. Today there is a different atmosphere: for days, young Bearded Vultures have felt the need to take flight. This desire is mixed with a warm wind stronger than normal and with the strength of its wings that have been trained day by day, that‛s it, the Bearded Vultures have made their first flight! When experts detect that the Bearded Vultures pull away from the cave and expand their flight field, they will change the feeding protocol, and they will no longer be supplying daily food as usual. 4
(Gypi) What a day! I‛m hungry and these two don‛t leave me alone.
5
Gypi uses a gust of wind and open its wings like it were playing. It doesn‛t know but wind and inexperience are going to lead its great adventures throughout the region of the Sierra de Cazorla. 6
CHAPTER II.
“The Comarca Sierra de Cazorla. History and monuments”.
3º
Our young friend has taken off, it has abandoned the safety of the cave and everything it knew. It feels fear and emotion at the same time, and as it moves away from what it knows, it broadens its field of vision and the landscapes it observes. It feels the sensation that every rapacious bird is proper of its nature: to dominate everything that happens in the land from the heights, being helped by the hot wind and air that the sun makes rise from the ground. (Gypi) OOOOOH! What happened? I have just opened my wings and in a moment, look how far I have gone. Well, I‛m going to try not to fall and I‛ll go down when the wind drops. From above, Gypi is realizing that the Comarca Sierra de Cazorla has a wide variety of environments: forests and deserts, mountains, countryside and… What‛s that? From the skies, Gypi observes small spots in the landscape formed by houses and buildings where other animals live: humans. These spots are the nine villages that make the Comarca Sierra de Cazorla. 7
1. Santo Tomé
1 2
2. Chilluévar
3
3. La Iruela
4
5
4. Cazorla
6
5. Peal de Becerro
6. Quesada
7
7. Hinojares
8 8. Huesa
9. Pozo Alcón
8
9
At first glance, a town with a castle on a rock with a large tower catches its eye. It‛s Cazorla. Gypi cannot hold back and its curiosity takes it there. It manages to stop with difficulty on one of the battlements in the tower of homage of the Castle of La Yedra. It observes everything that appears before its eyes, listens to the sounds of a village, sees people walking through a square…,thinks it is alone, but suddenly hears a voice at its side:
(Bubo) It‛s the Plaza Vieja, with the ruins of the Santa María church. Humans challenged nature, building the church and the square on the Cerezuelo river, for which they made a large vaulted tunnel, through which the water passes. But one day the worst happened… (Gypi) But… Who are you?- Gypi said surprised when it saw a bird with enormous eyes at its side. (Bubo) I am Bubo, a Royal Owl that lives in this region since many years ago. (Gypi) And what happened that day? 9
(Bubo) Come on, I‛ll show you- and both of them flew together to the last tower that remains standing in the Santa MarĂa church. Do you see that arch through which water of the river is entering? (Gypi) Yes.
(Bubo) Many years ago, a great storm made rocks fall down over the church and broke part of the vaults. A very large stone came rolling down from the mountain and stopped just there, covering that arch. Then the river, which had a lot of water because it rained a lot and it had to follow its course, entered the church, dragging benches, shrines, ornaments‌ It was a pity. 10
(Gypi) That‛s the reason for being broken? (Bubo) Ruined, it is said ruined. Also a long time ago there was a war and the church was occupied by the French army. Before leaving, the soldiers set fire. Since then his condition went from bad to worse until they closed it, and little by little some of its walls fell. (Gypi) What a pity, it must have been beautiful! (Bubo) Yes, you can still see figures represented where the shrine used to be, capitals with human figures in their pilasters and in the window of their facade. Look, the one that holds a column symbolizes the Fortress, and the one that holds a sword, Justice. Follow me, let‛s drink water at the Fuente de las Cadenas. After cooling off, Bubo proposes Gypi to take a trip to other villages in the region. They followed the course of the Cerezuelo river to the Guadalquivir, to see Santo Tomé and Chilluévar. They passed through a place were there was an important battle, the battle of Baecula, in which Romans and Carthaginians fought to control these fertile valleys. 11
Flying over the fields of Santo Tomé, Gypi sees something very bright on the ground that dazzles it. Gypi asks his travel companion:
Foto: ADR Sierra de Cazorla
(Gypi) What is so bright? It shines like the sun! (Bubo) They are solar panels, humans do good things from time to time. It‛s an invention to take advantage of the sun‛s energy and do not pollute so much. (Gypi) Energy? Do humans eat energy? (Bubo) No they don‛t, but they use it for almost everything: heat their houses, light the streets, move from one village to another, etc. In this region many of these structures are being made to obtain energy without polluting: hotels, residences, indoor pools, and also schools where they use olive bones and wood waste for heating. 12
From here they went to La Iruela where they saw a beautiful castle and a church in ruins. (Gypi) The French again? (Bubo) Yes, again. But look, the castle keeps the remains of the Arab construction within its walls. (Gypi) How do you know? (Bubo) Because the Christians used the stone, and the Muslims the tapial, which is a material made up of sand, small edges, lime and water. Foto: Juan A. Bautista Fuentes
Look at these walls, they are Muslims while that tower so high, the Tower of Homage, is already stone in Christian times. 13
Then it showed it Peal de Becerro, where there is a big grave built by the Iberians before our era: the Sepulchral Chamber of Toya. (Gypi) Were humans buried this way? (Bubo) Not all of them. It was during the age of the Iberians. At that time, they hadn‛t the habit to bury the bodies in graves. They burnt them and then kept their ashes inside stone boxes or ceramic pots as those found in here. The family which kept its ashes in this chamber should be very important since they found a prince carriage wheel and pots painted by the Greeks there.
14
Foto: ADR Sierra de Cazorla
So close from here is Quesada. (Gypi) What are we going to see here? (Bubo) We could see many things…. There are Roman ruins with nice mosaics, Bruñel‛s Villa, and other monuments, but I want to show you a museum, that of the painter Rafael Zabaleta. (Gypi) What is that? (Bubo) A museum is a place where humans keep works of art and it is open so people could visit them. We are going to see Zabaleta‛s paintings. He was an important Spanish painter during the first half of the XX century. They access the museum and Gypi got surprised before one of the works: (Gypi) Oh… What many nice colors! How many portraits! (Bubo) Look, Zabaleta painted many women, and many peasants from his town, Quesada. Look, he always stressed the figures with very wide black lines and the colors are really flashy. 15
Foto: Diego Navarrete
16
(Gypi) What about these other paintings? They do not seem to belong to the same artist. (Bubo) They don‛t. They are from other famous painters that were friends of Zabaleta. Look at this Picasso, one of the main artists in the world. After visiting the museum, they flew again over the Guadiana Menor meadow. They went to Huesa, other of the region villages. On the way to Hinojares, Gypi observed a kind of sheer stone needles, and it asked Bubo: (Gypi) What‛s that? (Bubo) They are the Picos del Guadiana (Guadiana Peaks).
17
Foto: ADR Sierra de Cazorla
Foto: ADR Sierra de Cazorla
Their flight brought them to Hinojares, where they observe houses that go under the ground.
Foto: Carolina Linares
(Bubo) They are new houses, they have the adventage of keeping the same temperature both in summer and winter.
They also saw under their wings the rests of an important Iberian settlement: Castellones de Ceal. Finally, they flew over Pozo Alcón until they reached the Bolera reservoir. (Bubo) Look, do you see all that water? That‛s the Bolera reservoir. The humans build these dams to have water supllies during drought times, so when it doesn‛t rain, they can keep on watering their crops and drinking water at home. (Gypi) Then, they never run out of water? 18
Foto: Diego Navarrete
(Bubo) Yes, althought they have these reserves, humans spend more water than they need. They waste it when they leave taps open, fill swimming pools all year and irrigate the dry land. (Bubo) These are the nine villages that conform the region- said Bubo. Now you must find your own place in the mountains. It would be complicated for a bird like you find shelter in these villages of humans. (Gypi) Thank you Bubo, I have learned a lot with you. I‛ll listen to you and fly to the mountains. (Bubo) Goodbye, it has been a pleasure to meet you. Anytime you want to see me, come to the castle of La Yedra in Cazorla. 19
CHAPTER III.
“Geology and water of the Sierra de Cazorla”.
3º
The stacked stones that make up the castles and the big houses that Gypi has seen in the mountains, are pieces of limestone rock and calcareous tuff. They are materials that exist in the mountain range, very resistant natural materials. Humans knew them very well and used them to build their shelters. Gypi has noticed that the wind is blowing with less force now. Although the towns of the region do not dislike him, it prefer to see humans from the distance as it goes to the mountains. There, it sees the same rocks of human constructions that form great mountains, peaks, crests, caves and valleys through which many streams and rivers flow in which high waterfalls fall. 20
(Gypi) How is it possible that something like this does exist? What immensity! Great rock struts on which to rest, Walls with holes and cornices to build a nest, as well as a large space to walk, find friends and adventures. I think I would like to live here. 21
In the distance, in the same direction as the Bearded Vulture, there is a group of eleven people. One of them is larger and wears uniform. He is a forest agent, a watchman who takes care of the mountains, flora and fauna. The man accompanies a group of children from a school in the region on a trip. Gypi decides to stop with stealthily on high rocks close enough to hear what they say, but without attracting attention. The agent gives them a talk about the geology of the mountain range and its richness in rivers and water sources of the territory.
(Agent) Look at these mountains that surround us. They are so steep and tall for a simple reason: although what I am going to say may sound strange, the mountains also have an age –they are years old- they get old and wear out. These mountains look so abrupt because they are some of the youngest on the planet. They are the last ones that have formed, but please, do not think like humans –hehehethink like rocks. 22
Children are a bit puzzled and don‛t know what to think: How do the rocks think? The agent continues with his explanation. (Agent) “I mean that the rocks take a long time to form, these are also limestones, a type of rocks formed at the bottom of the sea, and after being subjected to the enormous forces exerted by the Earth, they have risen until reaching these heights”. (One of the children) Haha, at the bottom of the sea. The sea is hundreds of kilometers from here. The agent smiles and looks at the ground before replying. He briefly observe the pebbles and take one. (Agent) I understand that you do not believe, but if what I say is a lie, how could you explain this? – then he gives him the pebble – Know what it is? It is a fossil, a conch, an animal that only lived in the sea and is now here. 23
The boy is surprised and shows more attention to what the forest ranger says. (Agent) Limestone rocks are very hard but at the same time they are very sensitive to the action of water, ice and air. The mixture of water and air can dissolve the limestone. Do not think that this is a fast process, as I said before, you have to think like rocks. This teamwork of air and water takes place every day, without rest, at all hours and little by little, the rock gives way causing gaps and cracks in which enters air and water, land and small seeds. All this process ends up wearing down a rock that seemed indestructible.
Children are surprised with this explanation, and ask the agent to continue telling them about the rocks. A child points to the side of a mountain where there are heaps of stone in the shape of a fan.
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(Agent) Look, that‛s hillside fans. It‛s formation is related to the cracks caused by water and air. Sometimes, when it rains, water accumulates. If after the rain the days are cold, the water in the cracks freezes, the ice breaks up fragments of rock that accumulate at the foot of the mountains forming those fans.
(Previous boy) I do not believe that: Can ice breaks the rocks? It is even more incredible that these rocks are formed at the bottom of the sea. 25
Foto: Diego Navarrete
The agent asks smiling. (Agent) Have you ever forgotten a bottle of juice or water in the home freezer? A girl in the group answers: (Girl) Yes, it‛s true, once my mother forgot to take a bottle of water out of the freezer. When she realized it was broken. (Another boy intervenes) And my older brother fixed me a dented canteen. He filled it with water and put it in the freezer. The agent explains the following: “when the water freezes, it occupies more space than when it is liquid and that‛s why it grows and breaks the rock fragments”. -10º
26
Suddenly, the whole group sets off and turns to the rocks where Gypi was listening the explanation. At the beginning it gets scared a bit, but then it sees that the group remains at the entrance of a little cave at the bottom of the rock. The agent follows the explanation talking about the caves and wonderful forms that we can find in them. (Agent) Look, in the caves we can find everything that I have explained to you gathered. It´s a museum of what water, air the trace of time can cause in rocks. The caves are hollows in the rock like those that we could see outside but are larger, and they go under the surface. They are also formed by the dissolution of limestone and that‛s why it is common to find them in these mountains. 27
The agent, to finish the tour, talks about the rivers of the region. (Agent) Listen to me guys, before continuing I want to ask you a question, do you know which is the main river that is born in our region? (One of the children) Yes, I know, it is the river Guadalquivir. (Agent) Great, indeed. The river Guadalquivir is the most important in Andalusia and we are lucky that it is born in our Natural Park. It´s born exactly at 1350 meters of altitude in the area of the Cañada de las Fuentes. However, there are other many rivers and streams that emerge and run through this region: the Guadiana Menor, Guadalentín, Borosa, Toya, La Vega, Cerezuelo, Cañamares, Guazalamanco, etc. In the neighboring region, the river Segura that gives name to this mountain range is born. 28
Foto: Diego Navarrete
(Agent) On the other hand, if some day you make a trip, for example to the source of the river Guadalquivir, pay attention because in the area, upon rocks, you can find one of the most beautiful endemisms of the Natural Park, the Violeta de Cazorla or Viola Cazorlensis. You can also see other species that are really beatiful. Children and Gypi listen to him amazed.
29
Violeta de Cazorla, Viola cazorlensis. Foto: Diego Navarrete.
Gypi has listened to the whole explanation and knows that the information will come very well to find the most suitable place to build the nest, its home. At the end of the explanation, our friend take the flight. It passes over the children who observe it surprised by its spectacular size and the lightness and elegance of its flight. The agent tells them with great enthusiasm that he was looking forward to seeing it again. He tells us with nostalgia his memory of the last Bearded Vultures flying over the Sierra de la Cabrilla in 1986. Many children were not born yet and it seemed very distant to them, but the agent tells them how to use poisoned baits caused its disappearance at that time and still today it kills a large number of animals, and that this problema should be solved among all. Gypi loses sight of the group and heads to a wooded area where it hopes to find food. 30
CHAPTER IV.
3º
“The vegetation (or forests)”.
Our friend is invaded by a sensation yet unknown: it had had frequent food in cave, but now it has not eaten for a few days, the excitement of going through so many places had made it forget about the food, but now it is so hungry that can not ignore it.
(Gypi) Puufff what I would give for a few bones, I had forgotten, but now I am very hungry and I don‛t know where I can find something to eat.
31
Gypi flies towards a slope covered with vegetation, it can see trees of different heights, with leaves of various shapes. It learns to cope on the mountain in every moment, without knowing that it is facing one of the most important lessons.
Hunger makes our friend sharpen its eyes in search of something to eat, some abandoned bone, the old skeleton of a dead animal. It observes the skeleton of a dead sheep in the lower part of the valley, among the trees. But trying to go down, it realizes that it is very difficul to reach its goal. There are many branches that complicate the landing. Youth and hunger make it look for a solution to reach the bones, without thinking about the dangers. 32
(Gypi) Wow! It will not be so easy, so many trees and branches will not let me go down. Well, there is a clear. I will go down and approach walking. Gypi uses the hollow of a dead tree to land and reach its food; when it reaches, eats a couple of bones quickly to satisfy hunger. It entertains more with the third. It pecks before eating it.
When our young friend was relaxed and calm, it hears a loud sound that it had never heard before: it‛s a shot, poachers. Gypi will not forget something so dangerous. Scared, try to fly away, but it doesn‛t remember tree branches. Therefore, when taking off, it hits its head and a wing. It falls to the ground unconscious. 33
Later, Gypi wakes up in pain and doesn‛t know what happened, although healthy. If a predator had passed by at that moment, it would have eaten it in situations such as this. It‛s not cruelty, animals don‛t have our possibilities to get food and they should take advantage of any opportunity that is presented to them to eat and survive. Once recovered, it remembers the clearing of the dead tree and returns to take off. Once in the sky, it observes the forest and realizes that everything is planned in the mountains and the trees also look for the most suitable place to survive: Poplars grow in the bottoms of the valleys near the rivers, oaks on the slopes of fertile soils, pines on the steepest and rockiest slopes, and finally, on top of the mountain, cleared areas with pastures and glasslands with rocks in sight.
(Gypi) I‛ve had a big scare!, that sound… and that hit… Next time I‛ll try not to neglect the food and search high in the mountains where there is only grass, or in the clearest areas near the crops of humans, where I remember seeing sheep.
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CHAPTER V.
“Gypi‛s fellows in the Sierra de Cazorla”.
3º
It is toward evening and our Bearde Vulture is tired and sleepy. Look a suitable place to rest and find a large rock not too high in the center of a large clearing, in a dark pine forest with tall trees. Gypi perches and close its eyes slowly, thinks that it will enjoy a quiet moment and slumbers. However, the mountain has eyes and ears. The wind and the echo carry smells and sounds to all corners, and hundreds of eyes hidden in the rocks and vegetation see everything. In addition, Gypi‛s adventures have not been very discreet. All the animals of the forest know of its existence.
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Almost asleep, it hears a little noise behind it, and then again and again. It is so afraid that it doesn‛t dare to open its eyes. Suddenly it listens: (Vulture) Hey Lammergeier, we have not come here so that you ignore us. It‛s the harsh voice of a Griffon Vulture, a distant relative of our friend, it knows all the rocky walls in which to nest in the mountains. It is also able to find carrion in the most remote places of the mountain range. The Griffon Vulture is not alone. When Gypi opens its eyes sees a deer, a mountain goat, a squirrel and a fox around it. They are neighbours of the mountain which have left their shelters to welcome the “Prodigal Vulture”.
36
During the conversation, each of the animals explains to Gypi things it should know: (Griffon Vulture) Young, I am the oldest and I recommend you to find soon a territory with a good place where to build your nest. A place where it‛s easy for you to find food. El Tranco del Lobo, Los Poyos de la Mesa or El Chorro are good places. (Cervus) I am the king of the forest, I watch what happens in it, and I am always very alert. Do you remember the great noise that scared you? He was a poacher, trying to hunt me or Mr. Mountain, but be careful because they could fail and you would be hurt, or even die. (Vulpes) I am Vulpes, the most rascal of the forest. If you learn from me you will not miss anything, good fruit, fresh meat; hehehe… I get anything, most I take it from humans, so sometimes they get mad at me and do something very dangerous for all the animals and for themselves. They put baits with poison in the bush!, they don‛t know that not only it could kill me but also other animals. For all this, listen to Mr. Cervus, it tells the truth and you must be careful what some humans do. 37
(Gypi) Why do they get angry with you? You just look for food to survive. (Vulpes) That‛s what I say, but they think the rabbits or the partridges that I eat are only theirs. Gypi pays attention to what its new neighbours tell it. This will help it to live much safer. The new neighbours of Gypi giving it a lot of knowledge to our friend. These knowledge will help it to survive in the mountain, its new home. Gypi is learning it can be a wonderful and dangerous place at the same time. Gypi has listened for a long time to all the animals of the group less than one. A little animal, reddish and very nervous. It seems to be very worried. Gypi ask: (Gypi) And you friend have nothing to tell me? I am interested in all you can teach me. 38
(Squirrel) I guess so, but if you had noticed when you were flying throug the region, you would know what I have to tell you. Having those wings and not taking advantage of them. If I could! Gypi is surprised about squirrel‛s bad tempered. It seems angry and worried at the same time, but Gypi doesn‛t understand why. (Gypi) Ok I just wondered, I‛m new here and I like to learn from the experts of the place. (Squirrel) Forgive me friend, my situation is getting harder and harder. I can‛t fly like you or Mr. Griffon Vulture and I can not run as fast as deer of fox either. I just move from one place to another without anyone seeing me from one tree to another, and that is increasingly difficult. (Gypi) Well, in these mountains you have many trees to run. (Squirrel) Of course, it‛s always the same, the squirrels have to stay in the mountains. I can not even go to visit my relatives in the mountains of Mágina or Sierra Morena.
39
Squirrel tells Gypi that not many years ago there were trees in the areas of the countryside, outside the mountains, but humans cut them to cultivate and build roads. Many animals try to cross the roads and some of them die mowed down. In crops like the olive grove, animals could find shelter and food, but since toxic products are now used and the grass doesn‛t grow, they can not find anything healthy to eat. These products also destroy the roots that hold and protect the soil. The rain drags it creating a desert where even humans cannot live.
40
(Squirrel) Uff, you know what I mean now, you can get where you want to fly, but I have to walk and those other mountains are too far away for me. Also, if I‛m taking the risk, I could run over the road or starving without finishing the trip. In that long journey it would be very difficult to find food. Gypi is a little worried, it have been told many bad things about humans, but it has other memories; the days in the cave, when they put it food and watched it so that there would be no problems. When Gypi tells this to its friends, they are not surprised. (Mountain Goat) Yes, it is, not all of humans are bad, sometimes, some realized what they are doing bad and work hard to help nature and all which live in it. Mountain Goat explains to Gypi many things that humans have done to help and also how they could help even more: saving water, recycling paper, glass and packaging, not polluting so much with cars, walking more, etc. 41
(Mountain Goat) We still hope that children, like the ones you saw with the forest agent, will change with respect to what their parents do and help us take care of nature. Gypi is very surprised and worried with everything that has been learned. It knows the difficulty of surviving in the mountains, but it‛s going to try it with all its strength. Gypi has spent the night chatting with the new neighbours. I dawns and everyone leaves to take refuge in their burrows, shelters or nests, and our friend takes off to find a place to rest.
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3º
CHAPTER VI.
“A new feeling”.
It‛s been a long time since Gypi left the cave, it has flown almost every corner of the mountain range, and it‛s no longer that clumsy young vulture which let itself be dragged by the wind. Now it knows that it‛s better to look for food in clear spaces and to know the places where it‛s most likely to be found. It has also learned that Vultures work as a team to find dead animals they feed on, so watching their movements can benefit. It still remembers the old Vulture‛s lesson, when told it to find a place to make its nest. Today it lives in a safe cave where it has built its nest with sticks and sheep‛s wool. It is sheltered from the heavy snow of winter and the relentless summer sun. It feels confortable in the Sierra, but at the same time its plumage has been changing, becoming increasingly white, it has a new sensation, it feels lonely.
43
Since it left the cave it has not seen the other two Bearded Vultures again, and now it needs to be near one of its own species.
It would like to have a family equal to those of other animals it has known. In the spring it sees them leave with the good weather, accompanied by their puppies and chicks.
One day, in a carrion, waiting for the vultures to remove the animal‛s flesh and skin, Gypi sees something amazing. Another Bearded Vulture has located the food and lands to catch its ration. Gypi gets angry. It is in its territory and cannot allow anyone to to steal its food. When the other Bearded Vulture lands, Gypi approaches defiantly, but suddenly‌
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(Female Asderú) Hello, I hope not to bother you, can I take a bone from this carrion?, I have not eaten for days and I‛m very hungry. (Gypi) We We We Well, Ta Ta Ta Take what you need. También ha aprendido que los buitres trabajan como un equipo para encontrar los animales muertos de los que se alimentan y que vigilando sus movimientos puede también beneficiarse. Aún recuerda la lección del viejo buitre, cuando le dijo que buscase un lugar donde hacer su nido. Hoy vive en una segura cueva en la que ha construido un confortable nido con palos y lana de ovejas, donde guarecerse de las fuertes nevadas del invierno y del implacable sol del verano. Se siente a gusto en su Sierra y su plumaje ha ido cambiando, haciéndose cada vez mas blanco, le ha ido creciendo una sensación nueva, se siente solo.
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Gypi was preparing for a fight, but now it‛s frozen, it loves what it sees. It wanted a friend of its species, and there it was. Gypi is very kind and lets it eat. Then offers a tour through the mountains of the region to show it everything it has learned in this time. It shows it caves, cliffs, forests and rivers. The places where to find food and places to take refuge. Finally after starting to rain, Gypi takes its friend to its nest to take refuge from the water.
(Female Asderú) Thanks for your help, I didn‛t know these mountain ranges, but know that I know them, it seems more pleasant to me than in the ones I‛ve been in recent years. Here there is more shelter and more food and besides I will not be alone. Gypi loves the idea of it staying. It offers its cave and its nest. 46
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Foto: Fundaciรณn Gypaetus
During the winter Gypi and AsderĂş are reluctant to leave the nest both at once. They have not been flying together for a while in the skies of the Sierra de Cazorla and that is for an important reason. They are incubating their first egg. The couple hopes that it will be their first child and the first Bearded Vulture born in freedom since the species disappeared from our mountains.
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The Prodigal Vulture has returned to the Sierra de Cazorla. After 20 years we can all enjoy it again, do not stop looking at the sky when you go out to the mountain, you may be lucky to see it and enjoy with your presence. From now on and more than ever it needs your help. Don‛t let poachers and poisoners make it disappear again and if you find out that something is being forbidden, tell your parents to call the forest agents or the civil guard. 49
Foto: FundaciĂłn Gypaetus
On behalf of the Sierra de Cazorla region: thank you.
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Foto: Pakillo RodrĂguez, FundaciĂłn Gypaetus
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What is the A.D.R.?
It‛s a non-profit association made of the nine villages of the Sierra de Cazorla region, public and private representative from all the social and economic agents, whose main aim is the economic and social development of our region, working to avoid our inhabitants have to emigrate to look for a job in other areas, with different programs: Rural Development (LEADER program), inter-regional cooperation, employment (Andalucia Orienta, EPES, internship, training), social and cultural (Sports, Culture, Cities against Drugs), etc.
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What do we do at A.D.R.? We also develop other type of initiatives: Cultural initiatives to make our neighbours and those visiting us easier to know the rich historic, artistic and cultural heritage we have in our region. Sports initiatives to organize and perform sports competitions, as well as activities in nature and recovery of traditional games from our region, such as Andalusian bowling. Environmental activities focused on the environmental education and people‛s sensitivity about the main environmental problems affecting our region. We do promote tourims, so as to people from other places come and visit us and know all the nice things we got in our region and in our natural park. 52
Moreover, in our Association also start important initiatives to improve our society, such as actions to avoid drug use, as well as those to achieve gender equality. Where could you find us? Our office is in Peal de Becerro, at street La Nava S/N, Telephone (0034) 953 731 489. Come visit us, we can do many things together. Our webpage is www.comarcasierracazorla.es and our email address is ceder@comarcasierracazorla.com
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Park Use Regulations 1) Respect the nature of the park, its cultural and natural values, plants, animals and fossils. Any activity modifying the current state of the ground, flora or fauna are not allowed.
2) The collection of fauna, flora and fossils species is not allowed either. Take a picture of them instead. This park is everyone‛s heritage, and that‛s why we all must keep it, so as to future generations could enjoy it too. 3) Throwing trash or residues is not allowed. Please use bins and trash cans for garbage. Do not abandon nor bury any waste. 4) Leave wasted batteries in proper places, do not leave them in the country. 5) Starting a fire or throwing lit cigarettes is not allowed. Do not smoke in the woods. A fire may destroy in a few hours what nature took many years to create. 54
6) Respect the silence of nature. Do not cause noises that could disturb other visitors or the animals. 7) Washing up belongings, cars, etc, is not allowed, as well as throwing elements that could pollute natural water. Do avoid spill any kind of waste. 8) Free camping is not allowed. Please use existing infrastructures around or inside the Natural Park. 9) Try not to go out the usual roads or paths, it could disturb flora and fauna species, or even modify their behaviour. 10) Do not introduce new species of wild fauna and flora. Bring your domestic animals under control. 11) Please respect the signs. For further information, contact the visitor centres and tourist information spots.
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12) Respect the inhabitants of the environment we are in. 13) Identity papres could be required at any time by the Park surveillance service. 14) Anytime you require information or have any doubt, ask the Environmental Agents or the Nature Guides of the company guiding you. 15) Always follow the instructions of the Environmental Agents. Take into account they could fine anyone not observing the public use regulations of the Natural Park.
SOME ADVICE External factors: 1) Before starting the visit, it is advisable to visit the Visitor Centres to obtain the first contact with what we are about to see.
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2) Check the weather forecast. The sudden changes of the mountain weather are common: storm, fog, snow and hail could make the situation changes from having a good time to having a bad time. 3) Always bring proper equipment and material, clothing, shoes and food suitable for the activity. It is advisable to bring simple binoculars, 7X or 8X, to observe the animal species. If you bring a telescope, the best hours of light are before ten hours in the morning during springtime and summertime. Bring the proper personal documents, as well as your identity card, social security card, credit cards, and also bring some cash. 4) Choose journays that fit your possibilities. Collect some information in advance about your stages and possibilities to leave them. Always bring a map of the area you are going to visit. 5) The Backpack. It is advisable to bring a raincoat, a small first-aid kit (a small rubbing could ruin a trip), food, chocolates, candies and other sweets to avoid the effects of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), water, torch, matches or a lighter, Swiss army knife, notebook, needle, thread, compass, whistle, magnifying glass. 57
6) Take notes in a field notebook 7) To observe fauna, it is advisable to stay quiet some time without making any noise when you reach some place. This way, animals will recover their activity. Birds could be localized through their trill. Internal factors: 8) Consider your strength and capacity. Never overvalue yourself. Get some train during your week. 9) Adapt to the possibilities of the weakest person. Every mountaineer is responsible for themselves and their mates. Be supportive. Security: 10) Avoid going out alone, and otherwise, tell some relatives, friends, shelter, etc., where you are going and when you are going to be back. Do not change your route on the way to avoid undesirable effects. 58
11) In the mountain, knowing when to quit is a victory. “The top of the montains in the valley�. 12) In case of accident, stay calm, do not hurry and ask for help.
REMEMBER: In the mountain, the lack of foresight, ignorance, insecurity and ineptitude may entail fatal consequences.
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