We are back at Kirkleatham Owl Centre and we thought we would introduce you to one of our boldest characters, especially because he has just celebrated his fifth birthday a few weeks ago, and that is Boris the black vulture.

Vultures don’t have the best public image. They are seen as smelly and dirty, in fact they are sweet, sensitive, highly intelligent, and play a vital role clearing up dead stuff.

Boris is all of the above, and is a real gentleman of a bird – he likes nothing more than to sit on your knee and have his head scratched, which is more small dog than vulture.

He wasn’t always so well behaved.

When he turned four he definitely matured, until then he was somewhat rowdy. He would happily steal food from people, nibble the toes of sandal-wearing visitors, and then there was handbags, he really liked handbags

He has destroyed a fair few handbags over the years, one or two of which were still on their owners’ shoulder when he started destroying them.

Newcomer on the block, Fraggle

Newcomer on the block, Fraggle

These days he is much better behaved. He is involved in almost all of the centre’s flying displays, alongside the pelicans and kites, and if you have been to one of our experience days chances are it was Boris you had flying to the glove.

This past year he has been a brilliant mentor to our young black vulture Fraggle, teaching him how to be a vulture – from how to eat a rack of ribs to disciplining him when needed.

Boris was not that keen on Fraggle to start with, but the two have become good friends, and Boris (along with staff) is currently teaching Fraggle what he needs to know to take part in flying displays ready for the day we can finally reopen when Covid restrictions allow.