HELP IRVINE NAME OUR BLACK VULTURE
One of Irvine’s most popular ambassadors is our Black Vulture. When this curious Black Vulture was just a chick, she was mistaken for a Common Raven by some local football fans and raised in their garage. It didn’t take long for them to realize their error – Black Vultures are much larger than ravens, with wingspans ranging between 4.5 to 5 feet. They are also messy birds.
Vultures have long endured a reputation of being repulsive and ominous creatures. But in reality, they are intelligent, communicative, and social. They perform a vital environmental service by eating dead animals before the carcasses rot and spread disease.
Unable to care for her, this female vulture was released to a wildlife rehabilitator, where she stayed for a few months before being transferred to Irvine in 2020. Because this vulture was raised in captivity, she doesn’t understand proper vulture “etiquette,” which is important for a species that often scavenges in groups. She is considered non-releasable, but she is a curious and playful bird. She loves people and will get as close to the screen as she can to people-watch.
