82 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick

The Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick of the Zoo of Duisburg leaving it's nest.

The separated vultures lazing in the sun:

5 Zoos in 4 days - "Hanoverian" Vultures

During our "5 Zoos in 4 days"-tour from Friday to Monday we visited the Zoo of Hannover, the world largest Birdpark Walsrode, the Zoo of Osnabrück, the Zoo of Rheine and the Zoo of Nordhorn, where my adopted Eurasian Griffon Vultures are living.

First stage of our tour was the Zoo of Hannover with it's beautiful Eurasian Griffon Vultures. Oh, wait a minute, I like to remind you of the dearest Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick called "Einstein", that was born in Hannover on 9th April 2010 and shown in my blog-article (sorry, just German). The zoo told me Einstein is not living in Hannover anymore. I hope he is feeling fine wherever he is living now!

But now let's talk about the vultures who are still living in Hannover... Outside the zoo a cute and funny Marabou was giving us his most adorable smile. What a wonderful poster! Wish I could have this poster for my flat! ;-)

Inside the zoo some nice painted signposts were showing the direction to the enclosures of our feathered, curved beak friends.

At a closed backyard I saw an Eurasian Black Vulture (Cinereous Vulture) signpost. Sorry, Katja, it did not show the way to living Eurasian Black Vultures!

You can reach the smaller vulture's enclosures from two directions: When passing the terrace of a farmhouse-restaurant and from the side of the big Eurasian Griffon Vultures enclosure I was talking about in my last article.
Inside a little but nice enclosure two Andean Condors are living.

The male Andean Condor was proudly showing his fleshy comb and walking around.

The female Andean Condor was lying on her nesting platform, very elegant.

Few minutes later she was flying next to her partner and spent some time sitting on a perch. It was the first time I realized that just the female Andean Condors have those beautiful, dark-red eyes.

The enclosure of the Bearded Vultures is small but nice, like the one of the Andean Condors.

Two Bearded Vultures are living here and what strikes: The Zoo is giving the beloved red colour to the Bearded Vultures to give them the chance colouring their feathers to be attractive to their partner.

Wonderful colour!!! An adult Bearded Vulture has to look perfectly like that!!!

Not a vulture, but also cute: A funny American Eagle chick with a giant beak!!! I don't know a lot about them, but if it's growing as fast as a Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick I would guess it's maybe ten weeks old!?

The proud parents were sitting next to their chick...

... and made us hear their impressive, melodious cry.

I think they are nice neighbours for the vulture's enclosures!

5 Zoos in 4 days - Brekky-Carcass

Back from a wonderful, long weekend with my sisterheart and my littlest niece. I like to bring beautiful vultures to the little girl's attention as soon as possible ;-)

That's why we did our Friday-to-Monday-tour from the Zoo of Hannover to the world largest Birdpark Walsrode, further to the Zoo of Osnabrück, the Zoo of Rheine and lastly to the Zoo of Nordhorn, where my adopted Eurasian Griffon Vultures live: 5 Zoos in 4 days!

We are beginning our tour in the Zoo of Hannover, where I have never been before (just as little as Walsrode, Osnabrück and Rheine). The big vulture's enclosure is located close to the entrance, next to the parking ramp. Brief note for me: When coming to Hannover the next time, parking my car on top of the parking ramp, so I can say hello to the vultures directly after leaving my car!!! And telling them "goodbye" when coming back to my car.

The big Eurasian Griffon Vulture's enclosure is wonderful and in an exemplary manner! Very, very huge with rocks, trees, bushes, pond, waterfall, enough space to fly... And on top of this nice enclosuremates: White Storks.

All in all I counted eight vultures. Two chicks who obviously hatched this year (looking similar old like my chick of the Zoo of Duisburg), one young vulture (maybe a last-year chick?) and five adults.
Chick no. 1 was sitting and lying on the terrace of the nesting site at the nesting rock.

Vulture-parents taking care for their chick on top of the nesting site.

The young vulture was very adventurous, waddling up and down the green hill.

Chick no. 2 was snoozing in his nest on top of another hill and just lifting his head every now and then. Maybe it was afraid of the Storks standing next to his nest? No, there's no need to be afraid! The Storks did a fantastic job bringing two beautiful vulture chicks to the enclosure this year!

Another adult vulture sitting on a trunk and watching what happens inside the enclosure.

Vulture-family of chick no. 1 (left, behind the adult vulture).

Vulure's nesting rock with nesting site of the vulture-family.

Brekky's ready!!! Isn't it an idyllic panorama...

Carrion go!!!

Jump in and put your neck deep inside the carcass.

No worries, enough carrion for everyone!

In conclusion: I rarely saw such a big and wonderful vulture's enclosure!!! Very varied for a vulture colony!!!