As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 8 September 2014

Man to spend weekend with vulture

5th September 2014

A bird trainer is to spend the weekend eating, socialising and sleeping with a movie star vulture.

Mark McAllister will spend 48 hours sharing an aviary with Alex, a 16 year old male Ruppell's griffon vulture.

The 15lb vulture starred alongside Angelina Jolie and Colin Farrell in the 2004 movie Alexander.

Alex has been at the Blair Drummond safari park, near Stirling, since 'retiring' from film work, and is a formidable part of the park's birds of prey flying display.

Mr McAllister, 24, said: "I hope he likes my PJ's and comfort teddy. I dote on Alex, he is one of my favourite birds here. Me and him will hopefully be best friends by the end of the weekend.

The vigil, planned to coincide with International Vulture Awareness Day on Saturday, is to raise awareness of the plight of wild vultures,

Ruppell's griffon vultures are found in North East and Central Africa in the wild, but the species numbers are declining.

Mr McAllister added: "It's a great chance to bond further with Alex, it's strange to think, as things stand his species could go extinct in the wild in my lifetime."

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