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:

White-headed Vulture escaped

At the end of May 2012 the female White-headed Vulture "Wolle" escaped from the ornithological station "Adlerwarte Berlebeck" / Detmold and is circling in the Teutoburg Forest region.

Even laying out some tasty baits did not made her coming back.

Wolle is 90 cm tall and her wingspan is 2 m. She is wearing very special gaudy colours: Dark brown feathers, legs and the underparts of her wings are white, neck and some parts of her head red. Characteristic is her woolen, white head - that's why these vultures are called "White-headed Vultures".

If you see Wolle flying or sitting somewhere, please contact the ornithological station 0049-5231-3081575 or 0049-171-3073410 or send pictures and information to info@adlerwarte-berlebeck.de !

White-headed vultures are living in African savannas, south of the Sahara Desert. Because too many White-headed Vultures died in the past the IUCN changed the status to vulnerable. The colourful vultures like to eat carrion and most of the time they are the first vultures at the carcass. But they are not dominat and have to leave when stronger and bigger vulture arrive. They place their nests on top of acacias or similar trees and lay just one egg per year. Breeding time takes 51 to 56 days and young vulture fledge at the age of 4 months. The breeding success depends on environmental influences: In years with substandard rainfall more than 60 % of all breeding pairs don't lay an egg at all!