European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A vulture walks among the amused spectators during a performance at Burg Guttenberg near Germany s Neckar River Burg Gutto Bergby Anita Gosch staff writer High above the Castle Walls a pair of vultures Circle in the sky. Gliding on almost motionless wings soaring in Ever widening arcs the giant Birds search for prey a dead mouse or Rabbit a scrap of food thrown out by Man a anything As Long As it s not alive. Far below on the ramparts of Burg Guttenberg in Central Germany Falconer Claus Fentzloff tosses a piece of raw meat to the ground. Quot Lukas Quot he yells. Quot come Here  Lukas takes his Cue. The vulture plummets from the sky like a falling meteorite then swoops across the Castle courtyard Landing within inches of the meat. Flapping its enormous wings the repulsive looking creature tears and slashes at its prey until there s nothing left. Satisfied Lukas struts toward the grandstand. Showing no fear the beast mingles with the spectators craning its arched neck peering a Beady Eye inside purses and camera bags prompting giggles from the crowd. Quot i m glad you laugh about the vultures Quot Fentzloff tells the spectators. Quot so Many people say boy Are they ugly with their Bare necks and naked faces but what do you suppose the vulture thinks when he looks at you Quot Fentzloff an ornithologist has been involved with Birds of prey Fornore than 30 years Breeding and preserving such endangered species As eagles Hawks vultures and owls. V the Falconer and his Birds a some 100 of them a make their Home at Burg Guttenberg a 1 2th-Century cattle along the Neckar River. The Castle is considered Europe s largest and most important research and Breeding station for Birds of prey. Fentzloff Breeds trains and releases the Birds into the wilderness. Since 1963, he has released More than 1,000, reintroducing such species As eagles and Falcons to areas in Europe where they had been extinct since the last Century. He is credited with repopulating regions of Germany France Sweden and Czechoslovakia with the european sea Eagle and in August he shipped two pairs of sea eagles to Ireland to begin natural Breeding there. Since the Birds Are bred in Captivity Fentzloff must teach them Basic survival skills before he sets them free How to Fly How to Hunt and How to catch food. The twice daily training sessions open to the Public provide spectators with a fascinating a and sometimes hair raising a air show As Fentzloff takes his Birds through their moves preparing them for life in the wild. The Falconer teaches the Birds skills inherent to their species. Sea eagles for instance snatch up fish from Rivers and lakes. In training they learn to swoop Down a Over a Small Pool and grab a piece of raw meat from the water. Bald and Golden eagles rely on Small animals on the ground for their meals. Fentzloff teaches them to go after rabbits by tossing Down Rabbit pelts with meat attached. Fentzloff also teaches eagles a skill that does t come naturally to them How to clutch and kill their prey while in the air. Quot normally an Eagle can t catch a Bird in the air because All other Birds Are smaller faster and much More nimble Quot he says. The eagles swoop Low Over spectators Heads the. Breeze from flapping wings stirring their hair As they soar 8 stripes Magazine october 17, 1991