Three weeks ago a man's doggie brought him something in his mouth, which he was holding very gently. The man was quite surprised to see an unusually large egg -- cream colored with a few spots -- and something was trying to poke it's way out! He rushed it to his vet, a vet who happened to know one of the women who runs the Rehab Center I volunteer for. The kindly vet dropped the egg off at the rehab woman's home. At this point, all she could see was a little beak through the cracks in the shell.
Well, the baby bird spent an exhausting night trying to get out, which was accomplished by 5 AM. What a night that must have been! While the Rehabber discerned by the color of the egg and it's markings that it was a ground nesting bird, she was delighted and surprised to discover the wet little chick that appeared was a baby black vulture. Cute as could be! She brought it in and we've been feeding it rat pups in spades, which he gobbles up with great glee!
Thanks to a long line of caring humans, not to mention one remarkable dog, this little life was protected and now he's thriving.
Here is a top view... he's dozing as it's early in the morning. But once he's up, he's literally bright eyed, eager and just plain adorable.
And yes, his "nest" is a little soiled... 'Twas first thing in the morning and I was opening the top precisely so I could clean it out for him when I snapped this picture. It was squeaky clean moments after, as I am a good housekeeper, if not for myself, for these little animals we care for. When he's awake, he sits up and is very attentive, following our every movements with his eyes. And he's quite responsive -- when I open the tank, all he wants is FOOD FOOD FOOD! I took this on Sunday and when I was back in on Tuesday it seemed he'd grown a third more.
What I think is funny is the little guy in the tank next to him, who appears as a ghostly (if not a little startled) apparition in the window!I always think of a vulture as big, black menacing, not so pretty bird. They look more like a pet of the Adams Family that this little one. Who knew they started out in life to be so fuzzy, sweet and cute?
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Boy our pet Bearded Dragon, "Harry", would be very happy with his diet. I just can't do it. So it is crickets and meal worms. Thanks for the story
I rehabbed for 10 years and never saw a baby vulture. And certainly never saw a half-hatched bird! I wish him/her all the best.
"Rat pups in spaded"...what the heck is that?
How amazing! The things you get to do!! That must be one special dog that brought this baby in.
Oh sooo fLuFFy! X:-)
HI Jain --- I didn't realize you did rehabbing and for that long!
Ellen -- thanks for catching the typo -- I mean in spades, as in, a lot, lol.
Miss Kilpy -- I completely understand. I m trying to get with it because it's what I need to do to be a pro... you have no reason to and the dragon seems to be thriving on what you can stomach feeding him, so not to worry!
Hi Nolly -- hugs and <3 to you!
And bindu, it was a special dog... really, I was so captivated by that part of the story!
Vultures used to be considered divine. They were honoured for recycling death.
Wow, quite a story and trail of events that lead this vulture to you...I have never seen a baby one before and as adults, are a bit scary to me, seen at the site of a roadkill or in a field with a dead dear...but part of the cycle and revered in some cultures, yes
Oh, my, Sydney…what a neat story and such a treat to see. I'm so glad you posted this as I'm a vulture fan, as you well know!
My backyard (well, the wooded island across the stream from the cottage—maybe 150 feet) vulture roost is the bedroom for several dozen turkey vultures nightly. Of course they come soaring in well before dark, and sit in the big sycamores come morning, wings held outspread, before flying off on their day's meal-searching adventures. I don't know where they nest, but it's not on the island.
We have black vultures around, too, though they tend to be more common a few miles southeast of here, toward the hill country.
Again, thank you for posting this. It's just special.
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