111 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture fledgeling

After three weeks of withdrawal I visited the Eurasian Griffon Vulture chick in the Zoo of Duisburg today. Well, what can I say!? It's not a chick anymore, it's a fledgeling!!! This time I never saw the cute vulture-girl inside the nest, but anywhere else. Next to the pond, next to the Marabou colony, lying in the grass, sitting on trunks...

Carefully cleaning her feathers and arranging them after a morning swim.

Oh, what a beauty!!!

Even if the vulture-girl looked very small and shy next to the big Marabou, she's a deep me! Just few minutes later she turned around, shooing away the whole Marabou colony!!!

Poo...

It's so cute, when she's shaking and ruffling her plumage:

Short rest, thinking up new pranks.

Sad view: Her wings have to be cut, because she's able to fly and could escape from the open enclosure.

Vulture-mommy prefers the warm metal support for a rest.

Vulture-daddy snoozing in the grass.

Even if her wing-feathers are cut she tries to fly. Maybe she will move to another zoo with a big enclosure one day, where she can enjoy her ability to fly.

Unusual view: The vulture-girl is protecting her mommy against the big porcupine.

Vulture-mommy.

Vulture-daddy.

Vulture-girl.

Family getaway to the "lake" ;o) Vulture-daddy infront, vulture-mommy in the middle and vulture-girl on the right.

Vulture-girl behind, vulture-mommy infront.

Vulture-daddy infront, vulture-mommy in the middle and vulture-girl sitting on a perch.

And here some pictures of my "Special Guests", Marabous:

Please, bring me the little stick.