« The two young vultures are fine, » said national park spokeswoman Carolin Scheiter. « Recka and Dagmar train their flight muscles surprisingly diligently and regularly, often groom their feathers, argue little – well, Recka is sometimes a bit cheeky – and both are good eaters. »
If both animals continue to train like this and the weather is right, one or both of them could try their first flight as early as next week. « The observation team has everything in view and we are all very excited. »
Fans can observe the animals via webcams. Again and again, one of the two spreads its wings, beats its wings a few times, and hops along – it still looks a bit awkward.
On June 9, rangers and employees brought the three-month-old animals in carrying boxes in a one-and-a-half-hour climb to a rock niche that was difficult to access. It was expected that the animals would only try their first excursions after four weeks.
All four animals come from a breeding program in Spain and are related: Recka is Wally’s sister and Dagmar is Bavaria’s cousin. In comparison, the two young vultures looked a little livelier and more eager than Wally and Bavaria last year, said Scheiter.
Until the bearded vultures can take care of themselves, helpers bring them food, meat, and bones about every three days. The birds with a wingspan of up to three meters were wiped out in Germany more than a hundred years ago – they look imposing and menacing.
They were said to fetch lambs and even small children – although they only eat carrion. Their beak and claws are not designed to kill animals.
