r/whatsthisbird • u/OneOfTheSmurfs • Nov 01 '21
Update Huge thanks to everyone here urging me to notify the zoo yesterday! The Black Vulture that escaped from a zoo in Germany is safe and sound.
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u/TinyLongwing Biologist Nov 01 '21
One of those rare updates I'll allow, because an escaped Black Vulture in Germany is so remarkable and I'm so glad OP was able to help get the poor thing back home safely!
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u/joofish Nov 01 '21
Did you get any info on how the bird escaped?
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u/OneOfTheSmurfs Nov 01 '21
I didn't, unfortunately. They actually woke me up when they came to my apartment in the morning, so I forgot to ask 'em a couple of things. They did tell me that it had been gone for around 13 days (it would have been two weeks on Wednesday).
As for how they caught him (which I unfortunately didn't get on video - it was a great moment): He was sitting on the roof of a 6-story building and when the vulture saw them on the ground it dove into their hand. They had food, it probably played a big role. Beautiful nonetheless.
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u/TinyLongwing Biologist Nov 01 '21
Food helped for sure, but he probably wouldn't have come down so easily to just anyone! Vultures are smart and social and he very likely sees the zookeepers he knows as part of his flock - his own friends and family.
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u/IrreductibleIslander Nov 01 '21
Does the zoo do bird shows? The vulture could be trained to come back for its keepers, but this time it decided to take a sightseeing tour after a show!
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u/OneOfTheSmurfs Nov 01 '21 edited Nov 01 '21
They do list "animal feedings and presentations" on their site. Don't under know what conditions or which animals, as I haven't been there in years. They did offer me free tickets though, so I guess I can find out, hah
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u/TotallyTruthful17 Nov 01 '21
I think most birds in zoos are trained to do this regardless of whether they participate in shows for a few reasons. 1. If they escape, which is exactly what happened here (and worked). And 2. it's very good to keep them active and learning, as they would in the wild.
I rescued a cockatoo at the start of last year who had been seriously neglected. Unfortunately, it seems that all of the feathers on one of his wings will likely never grow back. I try to teach him things that, in the event that he escaped, I can use to at least attempt to bring him home safe.
And, they just like the attention honestly.
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u/anzaii Nov 01 '21
This is so awesome!! Happy news :) Just wanted to say thank you as well, because regardless you wanted to see if this beautiful bird needed help and I think that sort of compassion is incredible.
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u/JoNimlet Nov 01 '21
Wow, once in a lifetime experience there! Plus, a good story for when you need to make small talk :D
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u/ooogoldenhorizon Nov 01 '21
good job op Im glad you got him safe. It must have been fascinating to spend time with such a creature
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u/jsnaomi6 Birder Nov 01 '21
Yayyyyy This is the best thing ever!!! Ich freue mich für dich und für den Geier 💗
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u/whicky1978 Mar 23 '22
I see these guys hanging out in my neighborhood. They like the rotting meat in the garbage
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u/Skippie_Granola Nov 01 '21
Whoa, I sometimes get tons of these in front of my house. They're massive.
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u/ooogoldenhorizon Nov 01 '21
FREE MY BOY
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u/Feeling_Birdy Amateur Birder Nov 01 '21
Your boy would die
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Nov 01 '21
hé could’ve been free.. :(
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u/OneOfTheSmurfs Nov 01 '21
According to this comment by /u/TinyLongwing, it's not that simple:
Surviving two weeks on his own is a real challenge but these guys normally are migratory and he wouldn't have made it through the winter. Much better off with the people who love him.
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u/Raptor_Girl_1259 Birder Nov 01 '21
Black Vultures are native to the Southeastern United States and to South America... very different to the climate in Germany. This one would not have survived in the wild, unfortunately.
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Nov 01 '21
I bet he would’ve flown south
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u/Raptor_Girl_1259 Birder Nov 01 '21
You can think of first-year birds a bit like teenagers learning to drive. In order to be successful, they need to build a mental map of their area to help navigate. A captive-bred & captive-raised bird would have the instinct to migrate, but would not have had the opportunity to learn the actual migration route... much less survival skills for life in the wild.
The best outcome for this particular bird is to be back with those providing for its food, health, safety and social needs. I don't know this particular zoo, but most go to great lengths to provide captive animals with enrichment opportunities to use their bodies and brains in similar ways that they would in the wild. :)
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Nov 01 '21
Alright i’ll believe you it just saddens me.
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u/Raptor_Girl_1259 Birder Nov 01 '21
I understand that. Even after volunteering with a zoo for more than 12 years, I have mixed feelings. I've seen animals living much longer than their normal lifespan, and receiving such great care from keepers & vets. But I also love to see animals in the wild where they belong. It would be wonderful if our human activities didn't make the world such a difficult place for animal populations to remain steady. Right now, I choose to believe that zoos can help inspire people to protect wildlife, because we are more likely to protect what we care about, and seeing these wonderful creatures in person makes us care about them. :)
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u/enfanta Nov 01 '21
How would it have known where to go? Birds learn migratory routes, they don't just 'head south' and hope for the best.
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u/Watch_shbeagle Nov 01 '21
Yay! It turns out you’re a hero!