What can a Trained Vulture do?

[mancoucho]

Hello everybody,

My name is Manu, I'm French and I'm new to this forum: I registered because I have a question that only you specialists can answer :)

I am a (beginner) filmmaker and for my next shortfilm we have a story that would include a vulture.

Neverheless, the vulture would be expected to do some things: press on the keys of a big keyboard with its mouth (I dont know the right word for mouth in English sorry), take a paper in its mouth and keep it during a few seconds, and follow his master who is walking slowly a few meters.

Well, I was wondering if this is possible with a trained vulture or if I am totally dreaming... What do you think?

Thank you very much for your help!
Regards,
Manu

[Coronatus]

With the right conditioning and training these things could well be achieved with the right bird. More likely with a smaller vulture such as a Turkey Vulture or poss a hooded vulture. Unfortunately im not currently working with any vultures so cant really help, unless you wanna buy me one! :yawinkle:
ATB James

[David Rampling]

Just got my first Vulture. Only had her three weeks, but she is as tame as a chicken and a real character. I plan to get her soaring, and tipping over flower pots for food. They are by all accounts incredibly clever and very trainable. A few boys on her have much more experience of them than I do, they should be able to answer your questions.

[Island Lad]

Just got my first Vulture. Only had her three weeks, but she is as tame as a chicken and a real character. I plan to get her soaring, and tipping over flower pots for food. They are by all accounts incredibly clever and very trainable. A few boys on her have much more experience of them than I do, they should be able to answer your questions.

Which species ? We should be getting a turkey (vulture that is) in the next month or so. Haven't worked with vultures before so hope it comes off. Maybe getting chance to work with caracara's in the near future as well :)

[David Rampling]

Which species ? We should be getting a turkey (vulture that is) in the next month or so. Haven't worked with vultures before so hope it comes off. Maybe getting chance to work with caracara's in the near future as well :)

Turkey Vulture, bought it from griff, ex demo, she blushes when she sees me now, which is a great sign. she is incredibly gentle, and very friendly, love her to bits.

[Island Lad]

Turkey Vulture, bought it from griff, ex demo, she blushes when she sees me now, which is a great sign. she is incredibly gentle, and very friendly, love her to bits.

Yeah I think the one my boss is looking at is a demo bird. I just cant wait to see the thing soaring above my head especially when the thermals kick in from late spring time. We're also considering a bateleur eagle this year as well.

See below for gorgeousness :D They don't seem to get much of a mention on the forum but I could watch them all day just soaring about. Their turning ability's for such a large bird just amazes me.

[HawkMom]

Go to the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators. www.iaate.org. They can point you to facilities in your country.

[Island Lad]

Go to the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators. www.iaate.org (http://www.iaate.org). They can point you to facilities in your country.


Thanks Hawk Mom I may have to sign up too expand my very limited knowledge. Cheers:yawinkle:

[RedTail17]

Is that a Bateleur???

[David Rampling]

Is that a Bateleur???

Of course, looks like its had its tail chewed off!:lol:

[Island Lad]

Is that a Bateleur???

It most certainly is. Saw one fly at hawk conservancy 17 years ago, her name was Kate and I was aw struck by how well she could fly in not that great conditions. Amazing birds.

[RedTail17]

Ther only like that as ther Snake killers and a long tail would get in the way. Ther stunnin birds though flown em meself when you get sum dummy snakes out ther amazin to watch.

[David Rampling]

Ther only like that as ther Snake killers and a long tail would get in the way. Ther stunnin birds though flown em meself when you get sum dummy snakes out ther amazin to watch.

Why does tail length make a difference to snake killing ability? just interested..

[Island Lad]

Why does tail length make a difference to snake killing ability? just interested..

I feel a short toed eagle post coming on. :grin::grin:

[RedTail17]

Well wen tackling a snake on the floor the Bateleur puffs up all its feather so if the snake strikes it will hopefully only get feathers. The tail is stubby so that if the bird has to get out the way it can do quickly without havin to get a big tail out the way too. This is wat i was told thers probably otha reasons aswel.
Used to fly one at Sion Hill nice nird just a bit grumpy.

[David Rampling]

Well wen tackling a snake on the floor the Bateleur puffs up all its feather so if the snake strikes it will hopefully only get feathers. The tail is stubby so that if the bird has to get out the way it can do quickly without havin to get a big tail out the way too. This is wat i was told thers probably otha reasons aswel.
Used to fly one at Sion Hill nice nird just a bit grumpy.

Sorry this is off post. You might be right, I was thinking that would be the obvious answer. But I wonder why the tail is not just held at a high angle instead. Redtails kill lots of snakes, their tails are short, but not THAT short. Interesting subject, thanks for the reply

[Island Lad]

Well wen tackling a snake on the floor the Bateleur puffs up all its feather so if the snake strikes it will hopefully only get feathers. The tail is stubby so that if the bird has to get out the way it can do quickly without havin to get a big tail out the way too. This is wat i was told thers probably otha reasons aswel.
Used to fly one at Sion Hill nice nird just a bit grumpy.

Sorry mate but I think this picture prove that theory wrong. Short toed Eagle - expert snake killer. :wink: Bateleur comes from the french word meaning tight rope walker.this is where the short tale comes into its own. The bird in question is very balanced in flight and I can only assume that this is used in full effect in courtship when the breeding season starts. - Just a theory tho - correct me if im wrong. Attached image - short toed eagle.

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

i fly 3 different vultures in demos, a turkey, a white back and a ruppells griffon. the first two just do fist to fist work, but the griffon will go up and soar, in the right conditions he will ring up over the audiance. he also does "hops" along posts at the front of the audiance.

[David Rampling]

How do you find the individual temperaments and learning ability?

[Island Lad]

How do you find the individual temperaments and learning ability?

We have a vulture thread on our hands. Nice to have a break from the norm. :D
I also echo dave's question. How does temperament differ from each species. Thanks for any info.
Man look at them primaries !!

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

the turkey was very nervey when she was first being flown but now is as bold as brass and totaly un phassed by an audiance now. she is extremely nibbly and had removed all the toggles from the zips of my new jacket :lol: she is a bit clingy and impossible to fly on your own.

the white back is a cocky c**t when he wants to be. he has an obsesion for trainers and likes to have a nibble at them if he hops up onto the seating area, which we now discourage as he has frightened people occasionly. he is very suspicious of new things, or changes in his routein. we have to be careful if we change anything in his aviary.

the griffon is a funny ******, he takes fairly well to changes in his environment/routein, but is very wary of certain things. he has a minnor fear of the door to his aviary which has caused problems in the past. he is the least aggressive of the three but can do the damage if he wants to.
the white back uses his beak more often, i have the scars to prove it :lol:

[WagClarke]

I have a hooded vulture and have just got a turkey vulture. The hooded vulture soars, flies fist to fist, follows on, and can do a couple of tricks. Put 3 pots on the floor out of his sight and he will find the correct pot covering the food every time (done with very subtle body language - no one has been able to work it out by watching - so far!!) he also will fly to a dead body (me lying down) and find the food hidden in my pockets etc. Only got him late in the season and he is really, really placid and weight plays only a very small part in how well he flies - more habit and routine. He learned each trick in about 10 minutes. If anything he is probably too clever and his 'vice' if you can call it that is to find absolutely ANYTHING which could be classed as food lying about. Have huge hopes for him this year and already planning lots of new 'tricks' for him. he's really great fun to work with and a real character - you can actually see him thinking. The Turkey vulture is a rehome from a zoo - which you wouldn't think would be promising but he's already showing great signs.

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

the turkey was very nervey when she was first being flown but now is as bold as brass and totaly un phassed by an audiance now. she is extremely nibbly and had removed all the toggles from the zips of my new jacket :lol: she is a bit clingy and impossible to fly on your own.

the white back is a cocky c**t when he wants to be. he has an obsesion for trainers and likes to have a nibble at them if he hops up onto the seating area, which we now discourage as he has frightened people occasionly. he is very suspicious of new things, or changes in his routein. we have to be careful if we change anything in his aviary.

the griffon is a funny ******, he takes fairly well to changes in his environment/routein, but is very wary of certain things. he has a minnor fear of the door to his aviary which has caused problems in the past. he is the least aggressive of the three but can do the damage if he wants to.
the white back uses his beak more often, i have the scars to prove it :lol:

also to add, they are all very very clever, they pick things up very quickly and seldom forget things. although id have to say, the turkey is the "thinker", she will sit and work things out. we have two turkeys, ive flown them both (one moulting just now) and bothe were very similar in temprament. but the older one is still very wary of strangers, but sooo sooo docile with people she knows, i can literaly scoop her up in both my hands and move herout the way if i need to.
at one point i had her "dancing" in a similar manor to the dogs you see at crufts, running uder the owners legs and stuff :lol:

[Island Lad]

This thread just makes me want to work with them all the more. Thanks guy's for all the info. Much appreciated. Fascinating creatures. Keep the thread going !!

[Island Lad]

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/jackal-vs-ostrich-eggs-vs-vulture/12571710/


Amazing. food chain all at once. Lol.
Looking at those wings, you can see why the lapped faced vulture can stay airborne all day.

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

some more

"ozzie" the white back

"gandalph" the griffon

"ariel" the turkey

[Coronatus]

We used to fly a few! Poor quality vid from my day off! Hopefully gives you an idea!

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr352/jbcoronatus/th_Vultures.jpg (http://s499.photobucket.com/albums/rr352/jbcoronatus/?action=view&current=Vultures.flv)

[David Rampling]

Fantastic , thanks for the info. My own new Turkey vulture is a dream! Griff thought it might take a while to transfer her affections to a new owner, but it seems to have happened remarkably quickly.

I was a little worried that she might bite, after what I had heard, but she has shown no signs of that, she seems to get some perverse pleasure from just forcing her beak into the middle of my fist and wiggling her beak around! Must feel like putting her beak into a carcase. She is very gentle, and has a beak like a surgeons knife. She loves to sunbath, cant wait to fly her!

[David Rampling]

We used to fly a few! Poor quality vid from my day off! Hopefully gives you an idea!

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr352/jbcoronatus/th_Vultures.jpg (http://s499.photobucket.com/albums/rr352/jbcoronatus/?action=view&current=Vultures.flv)

Not working mate. Would love to see it.

[SANBoPC]

also to add, they are all very very clever, they pick things up very quickly and seldom forget things. although id have to say, the turkey is the "thinker", she will sit and work things out. we have two turkeys, ive flown them both (one moulting just now) and bothe were very similar in temprament. but the older one is still very wary of strangers, but sooo sooo docile with people she knows, i can literaly scoop her up in both my hands and move herout the way if i need to.
at one point i had her "dancing" in a similar manor to the dogs you see at crufts, running uder the owners legs and stuff :lol:

As you say super bright birds who sit and think things through. I watched Vaulter a White-back bate off her perch, walk to the end of the leash and reach out with her neck and using her beak try to scrape something towards her, it was just out of reach. She stopped, looked around and jumped back onto her perch which she promptly started to bite at. After a few bites she was able to bite off one of the cable ties (holding the astro turf on) and dropped it to the floor. She dropped down picked up the cable tie and used the extra reach to roll a small stone closer to her, which she picked up with her beak, flew back to the perch and spent the next half hour playing with.

[mancoucho]

Hi!

Thanks a lot for all your answers!!

It seems a vulture can do a lot more than what I thought.... I'll keep you updated, cheers! :)

[Harris]

As you say super bright birds who sit and think things through. I watched Vaulter a White-back bate off her perch, walk to the end of the leash and reach out with her neck and using her beak try to scrape something towards her, it was just out of reach. She stopped, looked around and jumped back onto her perch which she promptly started to bite at. After a few bites she was able to bite off one of the cable ties (holding the astro turf on) and dropped it to the floor. She dropped down picked up the cable tie and used the extra reach to roll a small stone closer to her, which she picked up with her beak, flew back to the perch and spent the next half hour playing with.

Now thats intelligence for you.

[Coronatus]

Not working mate. Would love to see it.

Will see what i can do. The vids not uploaded properly! Either way try and get to Banham Zoo for the vulture display, at one point we were flying 5 hooded vultures, 1 A.Whiteback and 4 ruppels griffons, together, and i do mean flying! Not just running and flapping! :yawinkle:
ATB James

[FalconGriff]

Hi!

Thanks a lot for all your answers!!

It seems a vulture can do a lot more than what I thought.... I'll keep you updated, cheers! :)

Your problem sounds easy to me for a vulture, if you want one trained I'm your man! They are super birds every time I train a fresh one I am always surprised by their intelligence, Before everyone rushes out to get one make sure the imprinting is done properly by a "imprint" man as if they are at all aggressive that beak can remove parts of face very quickly and its not pleasant to be vomited over with last weeks meal!!:lol:

[SANBoPC]

Now thats intelligence for you.

Simon they say the sign of intelligence is the ability to use a tool. I rate vultures up there with Chimps in the IQ stakes.

[AKButeo]

My mother's cousin who did a lot of wildlife rehab and demo shows, once trained a vulture to untie his shoe. No idea how he went about it though...

[Horus 361]

Well wen tackling a snake on the floor the Bateleur puffs up all its feather so if the snake strikes it will hopefully only get feathers. The tail is stubby so that if the bird has to get out the way it can do quickly without havin to get a big tail out the way too. This is wat i was told thers probably otha reasons aswel.
Used to fly one at Sion Hill nice nird just a bit grumpy.

True, but the main reason is increased maneuverability they can turn very quickly in flight. They have impressive acrobatic excercises. But also as a result of its short tail it has less balance and stability thats why they tilt from side to side. Its also weight reduction as on average they fly 300 kilometers a day. And juvenile Bateleurs have longer tails which provide extra stability and lift when they are learning to fly. Hope that clears it up for anyone whos wondering why. No wonder its grumpy as we went recently and they were waving their foot in its face to make it attack them.:rolleyes: Sorry to be off post.

[David Rampling]

True, but the main reason is increased maneuverability they can turn very quickly in flight. They have impressive acrobatic excercises. But also as a result of its short tail it has less balance and stability thats why they tilt from side to side. Its also weight reduction as on average they fly 300 kilometers a day. And juvenile Bateleurs have longer tails which provide extra stability and lift when they are learning to fly. Hope that clears it up for anyone whos wondering why. No wonder its grumpy as we went recently and they were waving their foot in its face to make it attack them.:rolleyes: Sorry to be off post.

Who was waving the foot, the falconers? Surely not.

[Horus 361]

Who was waving the foot, the falconers? Surely not.

Yes they said they didn't have a snake and the bird didn't like a particular falconer so they got him to wave his foot in its face as it was sat on the floor and encouraged it to try and latch on to his foot. It was very unprofessional. And the bird obviously wasn't pleased and then tried to fly at him a few times.

[David Rampling]

Yes they said they didn't have a snake and the bird didn't like a particular falconer so they got him to wave his foot in its face as it was sat on the floor and encouraged it to try and latch on to his foot. It was very unprofessional. And the bird obviously wasn't pleased and then tried to fly at him a few times.

I am horrified at that.

[MickSmith]

Yes they said they didn't have a snake and the bird didn't like a particular falconer so they got him to wave his foot in its face as it was sat on the floor and encouraged it to try and latch on to his foot. It was very unprofessional. And the bird obviously wasn't pleased and then tried to fly at him a few times.

No wonder the bird doesn't like that 'falconer'. Lets hope it gets to him one day and then he will stop being a prat.

Mick