A Vulture Lurks in the Library . . .

This October, the California Vulture (plate 426) perches in the library! The Audubon Society describes this rare bird as huge and notes that it was headed towards extinction in the 1980s, before efforts were undertaken to breed it in captivity for later release into the wild. The vulture shown here is described as an "old male" and their lifespan ranges from from 45 to 80 years, with an average being 60 years. 

Also known as the California Condor, this large bird is a scavenger, soaring about 2000+ feet above ground and up to 250 miles per day in pursuit of dead animals to feed on. They are recognizable by their bald heads that are pink or orange in color, along with their impressive wingspan that reaches 9.5 feet! Read more about these birds on the National Park Service website.

Visit us from October 8 through November 5 to see the vulture on display in our reading room! Each October, we try to display a bird that has a spooky connotation, so if you missed any of our previous displays, you can find them here: Raven and Crow.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian