The territory of Serbia is inhabited by about 350 species of birds, and more than 100 species stay in our country during migration or wintering. The fastest bird that breeds in Serbia is the peregrine falcon, a strictly protected species, which can reach a speed of 380 kilometers per hour when swooping down on its prey. According to the length of the flight, one bird stands out, the griffon vulture Rajka, which set a record for the length of the journey.
Rajka is the employees' goddaughter. Raiffeisen Bank which, participating in the USAID project "Together for Nature" and in cooperation with the Foundation for the Protection of Birds of Prey, helped mark that bird in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of protecting endangered species. This initiative was launched by the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham) and aims to preserve the wealth of biodiversity and promote examples of good practice.
Griffon vulture Rajka, it is a typical member of a species specific for its keel span of almost three meters, its way of feeding and finding prey, its keen eyesight and its participation in the so-called heavenly funerals (incarnation) in certain parts of the world.
The kingfisher, however, differs from its species by a specific record. It is the first griffon bird that is reliably known to have reached Africa from Uvac.
Rajka's journey from Uvac to Sudan was full of twists and turns, as we learn about thanks to the satellite tracking transmitter "installed" on her back.
Since she started her journey, the transmitter showed the routes she flew, from Uvac through Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Sudan, until November 27 last year.
That day it stops sending a signal, somewhere in southern Egypt. The assumption was that she died and that she hit a transmission line, which often happens to griffon vultures during their journey.
At the beginning of March 2026, however, the signal from the satellite transmitter suddenly starts delivering all the routes she was flying.
Rajka – map April 2026The path that Rajka traveled
It is assumed that she was "invisible" because there was no stable network in the areas of Sudan where she was flying.
A video showing her being caught also appeared on social platforms. A translator from the Foundation for the Protection of Birds of Prey confirmed that the people were saying that they would feed it and release it. That happened, after which Rajka continued his journey.
She flew over 10 countries and the entire Arabian Peninsula. He is the only vulture that we know of that flew so many kilometers and loved traveling so much.
The kingfisher is now returning home, along with thousands of white storks and cranes. We expect her return to Uvac.
