Guest contribution: Vultures of Zoo Berlin

One week ago my sis visited the vultures of the Zoo Berlin. To get to the vultures as soon as possible she asked the ticket saleswoman for the way to the vulture-enclosure. The saleswomans seemed to be very surprisend and my sis thought she would not even know what vultures are. But suddenly the woman answered my sis's question with another question: "Which species of vultures would you like to see first?" Haha, great answer! And a good question, 'cause there are so many different species of vultures living in Berlin. Enjoy:

Cute, young Andean Condor:

Andean Condor daddy:

Bearded Vulture:

Eurasian Griffon Vulture "Fritz":

Another Eurasian Griffon Vulture:

Special Guest White-necked Raven:

Hooded Vulture:

King Vulture:

Palm-nut Vulture:

Egyptian Vulture:

White-headed Vulture:

174 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture fledgling

Slowly but surely it's time to say goodbye. Just 3 more weeks before departure to my sabbatical year "On vulture's wings around the world"!

That's why I like to visit my favourite Eurasian Griffon Vultures in the Zoo of Duisburg some more time. And today I saw them having a tasty carrion go!

Especially the 174 days old Eurasian Griffon Vulture girl gorged on carrion as if she did not eat for some weeks!

Some magpies tried to steal some little pieces of meat.

Vulture-daddy on the left seemed to be very weak. It's so sad to see him more and more decrepit. And I badly fear he will not be here anymore when I will come home next year :-(((

Beautiful Griffon girl.

Vulture-daddy.

What an amazing beauty! Not even half a year old...

A big surprise was waiting for me at the enclosure of the separated vultures...

...they were very busy collecting the best nesting material!!!

All the time they were collecting clumps of grass or breaking off little bamboo branches. Did they start building their first nest???

In the meantime vulture-mommy mixed with the Marabou colony.

Marabous...

And for once I would like to present a new "Special Guest" I never saw before: A cute Pelican chick!!!

So white and fluffy...

Very cute: Loudly yawning to the camera!