The Reid Park Zoo has a new addition to its family. Pip, now 2 1/2 months old, is the first American king vulture to be born at the facility.
"It was a nice surprise to see the egg," said zoo Director Susan Basford. "We thought his parents were too old."
The male hatchling is covered in white down, needed to keep his internal temperature constant, though he'll shed the fluff later. Zoo staff members helped the newborn get through the early stages of life.
After he was discovered in his parents' enclosure, the 3 1/2-ounce chick was taken to a special area so he could be given extra care. He also needed a warmer environment, so he was placed inside a brooder — a machine that regulates humidity and temperature.
"The king vulture's native habitat is tropical Central and South America, where it is much more humid than Tucson," said Scott Barton, the zoo's general curator. "The brooder helps him along in the early days, when he would normally get warmth from his parents."
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Pip now weighs in at 5 pounds, and his feathers are beginning to show. He's expected to fledge at 5 months.
He'll grow to around 32 inches in length, with a wingspan of 4 to 5 feet, when he's fully mature in five years.
Wild vultures feast on carrion, or dead flesh, but zoo vultures such as Pip eat dead mice and commercially prepared meals for birds of prey.
Zookeeper Tracy Boerner, who cares for Pip, said she wants the bird to get used to people as much as possible. Pip will become part of the zoo's education and outreach programs.
The zoo staff hopes to train Pip to fly around for visitors. The bird will receive instruction in a special covered area, and his handlers will use cables like those used with falcons.
"We want him to be comfortable around people and not get distracted easily," Boerner said.
Pip's caged area inside the zoo's back office is surrounded by stuffed animals, balloons and other objects commonly found at the zoo. The aim is to teach the small creature not to excite easily, Boerner said.
While vultures are typically thought of as ugly, dirty scavengers, Pip comes from an exotic-looking species. Adult king vultures have a yellow, fleshy crest and an orange bill with yellow, orange, red and blue skin on their heads.
"Who could not love this guy?" Barton asked. "Vultures play an important role in the cycle of life we teach about at the zoo."
â—Ź Celebrate Tucson's birthday at Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way, with free admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
One of Tucson's most popular attractions, the zoo is the 17-acre home of more than 500 animals, including mammals, fish, reptiles and birds from around the world.
For more information, call 791-4022 or go to www.tucsonaz.gov/ parksandrec/Zoo/zoo.html
Mayor Bob Walkup has proclaimed the month of August as a celebration of Tucson's 231st birthday — Aug. 20.