European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Claus Fentzloff Speaks to one of his Birds of prey. A vulture walks along the grandstand rail As the crowd watches. One of Guttenberg s residents flaps it wings during the show. Toward pieces of meat tossed into the sky. The Birds begin their training at about 3 months when their feathers have grown out. Initially Fentzloff says they re tame they come when he Calls them and they Perch atop his Gauntlet picking pieces of meat from his leather Clad fingers. Quot they think i m an Eagle too Quot he says. Eventually the Birds innate aggressive nature comes out. Fentzloff handles them less and less As they get older to let them become wild before he sets them Loose. The Birds territorial instinct and the guaranteed food at the Castle keep them from flying away during the training sessions they even protect their territory from other Birds in the area. But once Fentzloff sets them Loose for Good the Birds won t come Buck unlike pigeons they have no homing instincts. Quot vultures have found their Way Back but not the eagles Quot Fentzloff says. Quot generally when the Birds Are More than 30 or 40 Kilometres outside of their visual. Area they won t find their Way  when they re not in training the Birds Are perched in alcoves or inside cages along the inner Castle Walls. Photographic displays at the Castle show Fentzloff at work around the world observing Birds of prey in their natural habitats. Three dimensional showcases demonstrate the plight of endangered species. Sea eagles Are Fentzloff s main project because of polluted Rivers and seas they re most in danger of dying out. But the Falconer has a soft spot for vultures the grisly creatures humans have come to associate with impending death. That morbid reputation is just a fairy tale Fentzloff says. Quot vultures have an excellent reputation among people who know them a among indians africans South americans. But in areas where vultures Don t live people Don t understand them and they have an aversion toward  vultures considered gods of the desert by the ancient egyptians were valued As garbage collectors in 1 7th-Century London when people simply threw their refuse out the1 window. Quot they kept the City clean Quot Fentzloff tells the spectators adding that this was of course before plastic and tin cans were invented. Quot vultures should be our Ideal Quot Fentzloff says. Quot we ire the throw away society they Are the pick up society. They keep the environment clean. We should be More like  handler Jarek Kro Gulec takes a vulture Back to its Cage after a performance.10 visit vultures Burg Guttenberg is located on the Neckar River opposite cd Adelsheim about 30 Miles Southeast of Heidelberg. Follow the River East and then South from Heidelberg or North from Heilbronn to cd Adelsheim. In cd Adelsheim Cross the River at the Bridge where signs to the Castle Are clearly posted. The falconry shows Are daily it 11 . And 3 . From March 1 to nov. 30. The shows last about 40 minutes. Entrance is 6 Marks $3.70 for adults and 3.50 Marks $2.15 for children 614. Fentzloff will give commentaries in English during the show if asked. I he Castle also House s a museum with antique trophies Armor and weapons. 1 he museum is open daily from 10 . To 5 . Tickets to both the falconry show and the museum arc 0 Marks for adults and 4.50 Marks for children. For More information Call the Castle at <>2 it �-3b�.s&s photos by Dave Casey cd Torr 17, i in it stripes Magazine 9