Amid public concerns about a possible decline in the local population of John Crows, formally known as turkey vultures, environmental experts say there is currently no scientific evidence to support the claim.

The concern has been raised by several Jamaicans over the years due to what many describe as a decrease in sightings of kettles (a group of John Crows) across parishes. It was further brought to the forefront post-Hurricane Melissa late last year, when carcasses left scattered by the Category 5 storm were undisturbed by the scavengers.

While the observation sparked public interest, conservationists caution that such impressions may not reflect actual population changes.

According to Justin Saunders, president of BirdLife Jamaica, reports of fewer sightings since the hurricane remain largely anecdotal and are not supported by structured scientific monitoring.

“At this time, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that Jamaica’s population of John Crows is in decline,” Saunders told Observer Online. “Turkey vultures are highly mobile and adaptable birds, and changes in their visibility are more likely to reflect shifts in roosting or feeding locations — potentially influenced by storm damage, habitat disturbance or changes in waste-management practices — rather than a true population decrease.”

Saunders noted that confirming any long-term population trend would require consistent monitoring over time.

At present, there is also no official population estimate for the species in Jamaica. This, Saunders said, is because the species is widespread, non-endemic and currently considered stable globally.

Environmental regulators, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), further confirmed that no census has ever been conducted for the species locally but maintained that the population appears “robust and widespread”, with no immediate cause for concern.

The agency, however, acknowledged that changes in where vultures are seen could occur as landscapes evolve.

“It is possible, however, that there have been shifts in their distribution as the landscape has changed, but this is normal. It is important to note that the turkey vulture occupies both rural and urban habitats and that they can travel vast distances in search of food,” NEPA said.

Saunders also noted several factors which could influence where and how often turkey vultures are seen including storm damage to roost trees and forest structure which can cause birds to relocate; changes in livestock disposal, roadkill patterns or refuse access which affect where vultures congregate and impact food availability; and improved landfill remediation which reduces large, predictable feeding sites.

Likewise, NEPA pointed to habitat loss or modification which it says would be the main threat to the turkey vulture population in Jamaica.

“Turkey vultures tend to breed in remote and inaccessible locations and their nests are rarely encountered by people. As such, sites are becoming less likely and, with an expanding human population and resource exploitation, it is expected that turkey vultures would be affected,” the agency explained.

But the agency stressed that there is no present concern regarding the local population status of this species.

Globally, however, the outlook for many vulture species is far more concerning. Nearly 70 per cent of the world’s natural environmental cleaners are now classified as threatened.

For now, Jamaican authorities say the island’s John Crow population does not appear to be part of that trend.

However, NEPA has indicated it has plans to partner with several stakeholders in the near future to conduct studies with respect to several key variables related to the species.

(Photo: Adobe)