Ruppell's Griffon Vultures

birdfotos.com

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THERE ARE MANY VERY LARGE PHOTOS ON THIS SCREEN,
PLEASE WAIT FOR THEM TO LOAD YOU WON'T BE SORRY

While scoping out the Savanna at the local zoo I spotted some very-very large birds perched on a pile of rocks way off in the distance.

So, digging out my very looooooong lens I decided to take a few photos.

While focusing my camera I was surprised to see that they were
VULTURES
and strange looking ones at that.

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To learn more click here http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Ruppells_Griffon.asp

Ruppell's Griffon Vultures

Map not to any scale nor absolute.

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Rüppell's
Griffon Vulture
Gyps rueppelli
Size: Up to 3 feet tall, and 17-20 lbs.
Voice: the Rüppell's has no actual vocal chords.
Still, they can make a variety of sounds, including screeches and hisses (usually when angry or when fighting over food).
They have also been documented as making clucking sounds like a chicken, (probably a more social and pleasant noise.)
Diet/Feeding: Feeding almost entirely on carrion, this vulture finds fresh meals with its keen eyesight.
In some regions, it is the dominant vulture at a feeding site, though in other areas it is out-bullied by the much larger
Lappet-faced vulture.
Flight: The Rüppell's Griffon vulture is currently on record as the highest-flying bird ever--one of these birds collided with an airplane flying at an altitude of 37000 feet!
This bird can soar for hours on end, searching out fresh carcasses.
Range/Habitat: Central and Northeast Africa, where they roost and nest on steep cliff faces.

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Now that's a mess of Vultures if I ever saw a mess of Vultures.

All that white stuff on those rocks tells me they have been hear many times in the past.

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From time to time I saw them with a rock on their bill.

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Now these two just have to be up to something mischievous.
I think the one on the left heard me. :-))

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Something must be going on that I can't see.
They won't be here very long now.

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OH-OH I knew it, they are going to investigate.

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Looks like it's going to tip-toe up to what ever is going on.

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Maybe I had better check out what's going on too.

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All I need now is a little head wind to get off the ground.

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OK, what's going on over here?

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I think maybe there's a little courtship starting here. Or they are having an argument over something.

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I'm getting outa here, these guys are always disagreeing over something.

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Hey, did you guys see & hear what's going on over there??

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That's about it for the Ruppell's Vultures

Sure hope you have enjoyed viewing them.

Vulture index page - Bird index page - What's on the site page.

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You may contact me at birdfotos@aol.com