Animal social relationships emerge from interactions in multiple
ecological situations. However, we seldom ask how each situation
contributes to the structure of a population or to the social position
of individuals. Griffon vultures interact in multiple situations,
including when roosting, flying, and feeding. These social interactions
can influence population-level outcomes such as disease transmission and
information sharing. We examined the contribution of each ecological
situation to the social structure of the population and to individuals'
social positions using GPS-tracking. We found that the number of
individuals each vulture interacted with was best predicted by diurnal
interactions. However, the strength of social bonds was best predicted
by interactions on the ground -- both during the day and at night but
not by interactions while flying. Thus, social situations differ in
their impact on the relationships that individuals form. Given the
conservation importance of vultures, these findings can inform wildlife
management actions.