58 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick

Unbelievable, how fast the Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick in the Zoo of Duisburg is growing! Every day there is something new to observe, like today! First the chick was playing inside the nest with it's vulture-parents...

... until the chick made an excursion outside the nest, around the tree and a big stone. The first time I saw the chick walking so far! Vulture-daddy was lying in the grass next to the nest and vulture-mommy was lying inside the nest, so the chick was walking in between. The chick bravely and carefully pitter-ptattered, one by one step, and it's claws were shaking all the time.

Standing still works perfect now, but walking is still matter of practise.

It was easy to see that the chick followed his natural instinct and tried to fly! With lively flaps it was using his impressive wings, enjoying the soft, warm breeze. It won't be long until the chick takes off ;-) I guess two more month, but when the chick is still growing so fast, I would not be surprised if the zoo keeper have to clip the chick's wings soon!

Yes, Sweetheart, after such an impressive flying lesson you can be very proud of yourself!!!

Finally some stretching exercises to avoid aching muscles.

Funny sight, isn't it!? The chick is sitting on the left of the tree while vulture-mommy is lying in the nest as if she is still breeding. Unfortunately that's not true...

Vulture-mommy is looking very melancholy! Her chick is leaving the nest and slowly but surely she has to say goodbye to the little, helpless chick of the first weeks. Already after 58 days.... while humans even get sad after 30 years, when their "chick is going to fledge"...

55 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick

Giant Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick in Zoo of Duisburg.

Hehe, let me quote Katja: "Congratulations, we have mastered standing still without falling over!!!"

Because of the blazing heat the chick was panting for breath all the time.

Almost at the same height.

"Air, I need some air!"

Majestic vulture-daddy.

Today Katja explained me this pose is called: "Unihemispheric Sleep". The hemisphere behind the OPEN eye is sleeping. In general the complete side of the animals body is sleeping, too, and the wing of this side is going slack. Very interesting! I remember I saw this phenomena when being in Croatia in 2010 and 2011. But at this time I thought the side of the closed eye is the sleeping one...

53 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick

Because of a bad thunder-storm I was not able to visit the Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick in the Zoo of Duisburg earlier... but it grew very fast the last four days!

At the beginning it was hiding behind vulture-daddy.

When the sun got lower it was shining very hot - that's why vulture-daddy hurried up to protect his chick by standing between sun and chick. Wonderful, how caring vultures are!

Vulture-daddy in the spot-light. Great illumination!

When the chick fell asleep I went to the second vultures enclosure. The seperated Eurasian Griffon Vultures had a big and tasty carcass inside their enclosure. And no other animals how could steal it! Enjoy your meal!

Bloated with food they had a little rest, but dinner in reaching area of their beaks ;-)

Back at the nest the vulture-parents changed their position. And although the chick's crop was full it was begging for food as if he did not eat for many days!!!

Few minutes later the chick was still desperately begging for food, almost screaming. Vulture-mommy started regurgitating her own dinner by shaking her long neck.

Cause vulture-mommy needed too much time the hungry chick was pecking his mom two or three times! Unbelievable, I never saw it cheeky like that!

When vulture-mommy regurgitated enough food the chick devoured flesh and fluid very fast.

At the same time vulture-daddy was relaxing in the sun one metre next to the nest and tryed to ignore his cheeky, hungry chick.

After a big portion of meat the chick had to realize that no more meat fits into his full to bursting crop! Sated and happy the chick lay down in the nest and kept it's beak shut.

Vulture-mommy became completely exhausted and lay down in the sun next to vulture-daddy outside the nest... while the chick was proudly posing inside the nest.

Every few minutes it rotated through 90 degrees in the wonderuful sun and showed me his beautiful body! Sweetheart!

Later the long-awaited moment: Standing up...

... and spreading it's wings! Awesome!

Giant chick!

Vulture-family inside and next to the nest. Nearly no size difference anymore!

Still a rare sight when the chick tries to stand on his small feet. Very clumsy and shaky, but soooo cute!