Persephone

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

This Turkey Vulture was rescued by the University of Minnesota Raptor Center in 2012. She was a young, hatch-year bird that still had a black head! Turkey Vultures have a black head until they reach maturity, when their heads turn vibrant red.

She suffered from a fractured left radius and ulna close to the elbow (forearm in humans) and a detached retina in her right eye. The University deemed her non-releasable and transferred her to Nature’s Educators where she lived as an ambassador for many years. Our friends at Nature’s Educators asked us if we would like to have her as an Educational Ambassador, as they knew we had been looking for a Turkey Vulture for a long time. We, of course, said yes! We are so grateful to them for their wonderful support of our Educational Program.

She was transferred to us in December of 2023 and went right to work! We’re so excited to bring this beautiful Turkey Vulture to our outreach and education events!

She was named after the Greek Goddess Persephone, the Queen of Spring. In Colorado, spring heralds the return of Turkey Vultures to breed and spend the summer. They return south for the winter.