More pictures of Skinner

I'm on a vulture kick! Here are some additional photos of yesterday's Adopt A Bird, Skinner. Skinner is a marvelous turkey vulture, and a handsome one too, as you can see in these photographs by Gay Schroer:

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Skinner (Turkey Vulture)

Skinner's Story

Species: Turkey Vulture
Hatched: 1993

Skinner was hatched at the World Bird Sanctuary and raised by our staff to help educate people about these magnificent birds of prey. As soon as he was old enough for training he learned how to fly from trainer to trainer and was soon thrilling audiences and participating in presentations around the country. He has taught thousands about the necessary role these magnificent birds play in the environment, and helped to dispel many of the myths and superstitions about his species.

Skinner has appeared at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Grant's Farm in St. Louis, and Dogwood Canyon in Branson, MO. For a time he was on display in a free flight enclosure at World Bird Sanctuary headquarters. In May 2006, Skinner joined our Office of Wildlife Learning staff in St. Louis and began traveling to schools, scouting events, sports shows, and even renaissance faires. He is always a hit wherever he appears when he soars just inches over the audience with his magnificent 5-foot wingspan fully extended.

Skinner is a great vulture to work with, and loves to spend time out in our weathering area with his wings spread out, catching the sun. This is a typical posture for a turkey vulture, which you may see if you spot one in the wild. This "sunning behavior" allows a photochemical change in the oils on their feathers that provides them with vitamin D.

Skinner does not work year round, but instead has a six month "vacation" each year when he spends his off time in a large free flight cage.

To adopt Skinner, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: SKINNER. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

turkey vulture
Cathartes aura

Description a large brownish black bird with a long tail and bare head and neck; often has a green or blue iridescence on the chest, shoulders, and back, which appears to turn purple on the wings and tail; wing linings and lower part of the tail are gray; head and neck lack feathers and sports wrinkled, red skin; eyes are a pale grayish-brown; beak is also pale

Sex: both sexes similar in size and color; female may be somewhat larger than male

Age: average in the wild 5 years; in captivity up to 20 years

Length: 24-28 inches

Wingspan: 64-72 inches

Weight: 3-1/2 – 5 lbs.

Habitat: varied; ranges from open plains to deserts, forests and jungles

Status:

Range: throughout the United States and southern Canada during warmer months; migrate to South America during winter months, often as far as Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands

Behavior: the large wingspan allows them to soar on thermals for long periods, covering great distances; small groups have been observed performing ritualistic “dances” near breeding season; actual nest not built; will sometimes create a soft layer under the eggs with rotten wood or leaves; two eggs laid on the ground, in a cave, hollow log, or stump; both birds share all nesting duties; incubation is 38-41 days; chicks fed regurgitated food ; young fledge at 70-80 days;

Diet: almost exclusively carrion; may sometimes eat eggs, rotting fruits and vegetables, or even excrement of sea lions; one of the few birds with a sense of smell, and can detect carrion even under the canopy of forests

Vocalization: low grunts and hisses, audible only at close range

√ If threatened vultures will vomit on potential predators
√ A vulture’s digestive juices are strong enough to kill any type of bacteria known to man
√ Their “sunning” behavior, sitting on the ground with wings extended allows a photochemical change in the oil on the feathers that provides them with Vitamin D

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Soaring vultures

To give you an idea of what our little rescue vulture has to look forward to, here are some beautiful photographs of wild turkey vultures riding the thermals, courtesy of Gay Schroer.

Turkey vulture chick!

Can you believe it? Yes, this is the vulture chick (aka Gladys) I've been posting about this summer!!! She is doing well and will be released when she's old enough to care for herself. We'll release her in an area where turkey vultures commonly roost and boy will she have some stories to tell!

Education Spotlight: Turk!

Okay, it's true that vultures have some questionable social habits by human standards. Yes, they go to the bathroom on their legs to keep cool. And yes, they throw up when they get excited. Maybe they aren't the most beautiful birds on the planet (though I know some folks who'd be glad to debate that with you) and you might not want to date a guy who eats dead stuff he finds on the ground.

But they say there's an exception to every rule, so perhaps you should meet Turk! Turk is a twelve-year-old turkey vulture who is, in my opinion, a fine looking guy. Turk is a favorite in our education programs and he loves to perform. He has his little quirks. For example, Turk loathes the color yellow, particularly when it is bright!

Turkey vultures stand about 2' tall and have those familiar red heads and faces. Many of us have seen them snacking on the side of the road or soaring above us. Vultures love to soar, and you can ID them from the ground by observing their V-shaped wings. They also tip a little back and forth, kind of like a butterfly.

So, if you are wondering if there's a vulture out there who is right for you, drop by and say hello to Turk. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Rescued turkey vulture

Here's another video of the little rescued turkey vulture having his breakfast. This video was taken wearing a "ghost" to disguise the human from the bird and thus avoid imprinting. A bird that has imprinted on humans cannot be released into the wild, and we hope to see this little bird flying free when she's ready!

Parenting: it's not for everyone

Not everyone is a great parent (you try sitting on an egg all day!) and even the best parents sometimes need a little help. This is the case with two of our breeding black vultures. In the past they've "given up" on their eggs after a few days, making it necessary for us to remove the eggs from their nest and foster them with our cochin hens, who are ideal egg moms, to say the least.

In this video, you see the two eggs being taken and replaced with dummy wooden eggs and then put in the coop under a very accommodating chicken:

Little rescued vulture is thriving

The turkey vulture chick we rescued in early June (see June 10th post) is growing up. She's been isolated from humans as much as possible and fed using a ghost (a long fabric sheet draped over the body) and a vulture puppet to simulate mom. You will notice in the videos that we are silent, still, and as inconspicuous as we can be.

She (or he, but she's Gladys to me) is wonderfully healthy and has a big bird appetite. We hope to release this chick back into the wild and so far she is right on track.


This video shows the chick being weighed and having her brooder towels changed.


This one shows the actual feeding. Thanks Jen for the puppet show!

Say what you want about vultures...

This little Turkey Vulture is still the cutest thing I've ever seen!

This chick was rescued and brought to the sanctuary where he (or she!) is being fed and cared for and kept warm and safe. Once she is grown, she'll be released to live as the wild bird she was born to be. Until then I've secretly named her Gladys! Actually, vultures imprint very easily, so once this bird is out of the brooder she'll be restricted from human interaction and fed by WBS propagation specialists behind a blind so that she can't see the humans or know they've named her anything at all.



Did you expect a vulture to be so adorable?

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Osiris (Egyptian Vulture)

Osiris's Story

Species: Egyptian Vulture
Hatched: 1998

Osiris is the only Egyptian Vulture to be hatched by the World Bird Sanctuary. She was named after one of the oldest Egyptian gods, who was believed to be the god of life, death, and fertility.

Osiris is a real trooper with a long list of credits. She has appeared at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Grants Farm, Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island, the Boston Zoo, WBS Office of Wildlife Learning here in Valley Park, the Busch Gardens show in Virginia as their "Halloween Bird," and most recently, the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Her trainers tell us that Osiris is VERY SMART, so smart, in fact, that they sometimes have to be very inventive to keep one step ahead of her when teaching a new behavior. They tell us that she is a great flyer, has a good memory, learns quickly, and likes to chew on her leash.

In our educational programs, Osiris demonstrates an amazing behavior developed by Egyptian vultures in the wild. They use tools! Osiris demonstrates this remarkable accomplishment by picking up stones on stage and dropping them on an ostrich egg to crack it. How her species originally developed this behavior is uncertain, but the use of tools by any animal is considered a landmark accomplishment.

During the off season, Osiris resides in the Education Training Center at the World Bird Sanctuary headquarters in Valley Park, MO. Because she does not live in an area normally open to the public and performs at zoo shows during the summer, adoptive parents will need to call 636-861-3225 to schedule a visit with her.

To adopt Osiris, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: OSIRIS. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents receive:

• A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• Certificate of Adoption
• Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• Sponsorship Card
• One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• Life History and Natural History of the bird
• 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• Discounts on WBS Special Events
• WBS Decal

Natural History

Egyptian vulture
Neophron percnopterus

Description smallest of all the European vultures; adult plumage white with some black feathers in the wings and tail; juvenile plumage is dark brown, gradually turning white by age five; beak long and slender with a blackish tip; facial skin yellow, turning orange during breeding and nesting seasons

Sex: plumage identical; female somewhat larger than male

Age: 37 years

Length: 33”

Wingspan: 5.5’

Weight: 4.5 lbs.

Habitat: plains, wetlands, uplands and mountains

Status: Endangered; Indian population has crashed due to use of NSAID Diclofenac in veterinary medicine, which enters the food chain of the species

Range: Southern Europe, North Africa, Western and Southern Asia

Behavior: Breeding display consists of flying high into the air and diving down, grasping claws on the way: pairs mate for life; nesting sites are rocky ledges and cliffs, preferring well sheltered areas with many cavities as they are colonial nesters; nest, consists of branches and sticks lined with garbage and food remains; 1-3 white eggs with dark brown spots laid between March and April; incubation is 42 days; young fledge at around 90 days

Diet: mainly carrion; also small mammals, insects, rotting vegetation and eggs; only vulture species to use tools; has learned to break ostrich eggs by picking up and flinging rocks and stones in the egg’s general direction until the egg cracks, then the bird enlarges the hole with it’s beak to get to the contents

Vocalization: generally silent

√ First recorded bird ever to be protected by law; one Pharoah felt so strongly that their job as a natural cleaner was so important he declared killing the bird was punishable by death. The vulture was always seen on the front of the pharaoh’s crown.

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

An Egyptian in Boston...

Meet Osiris, our Egyptian Vulture. Osiris was named for the Egyptian god of death and rebirth. Egyptian vultures are the first known protected species in human history. The ancient Egyptians venerated these beautiful birds and made it a crime to kill them.

In the wild, this small vulture can't compete with most other vultures at a carcass. They get a quick bite by being first to arrive at a carcass, but then other birds get most of the meat. Instead they often raid breeding colonies to steal chicks and eggs. They can carry eggs in their beaks and then use rocks to break them open. They are native to most of Africa and southern Europe.


As you can see in these photos, Osiris has perfected the egg-breaking craft of her species and can be seen in action this summer in our programs at the Stone Zoo in Boston. If you are in the area, come on by and see this amazing bird!

Harriet oh Harriet...

This is Harriet, our black vulture. To the untrained eye, Harriet may appear to be unbeautiful, but she has an inner beauty that transcends looks. She also likes to play with fish bones after she's stripped off the meat. Trust me, vulture charm is beyond description. Look at her long beautiful toes!



Black vultures are native to the United States. Perhaps you've seen them dining on roadkill? It's a pretty useful service when you think about it. They are just over 2 feet tall, with a wingspan of 4.5 feet. Although like other vultures they eat mostly carrion, large groups have been known to kill skunks and opossums. They will also use turkey vultures for their better sense of smell by following them to a carcass and then chasing the turkey vultures off the meal.

Who's the best King Vulture in the whole wide world?

However you feel personally about snacking on dead mice, the answer to this question is always "Baton Rouge." If you don't believe me, check out this video of our King Vulture being weighed. Good bird!