‘It’s kind of cliché, but it’s magical’: Baby vultures captivate community at Waco assisted living center

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A local independent and assisted living center has some temporary residents that are the talk of the facility; baby vultures.

The two baby birds, named Tex and Tina, were born last month in open view in a courtyard in the middle of Ridgecrest Retirement and Healthcare Community in Waco.

“It’s kind of cliché, but it’s magical,” said the facility’s director Collin Wood.

Wood said the mom, dad and another juvenile vulture appeared to be migrating South when they stopped right on the other side of windows to have their babies.

“They were in the perfect position, right in the corner by the glass and we have glass windows at a 90-degree angle, and you could see each side,” Wood said. “We have four big courtyards. They could have laid anywhere, but they just happened to put it in the most trafficked area.”

Residents haven’t been able to get enough of the vultures, some standing on the other side of the glass and others sitting in their wheelchairs observing.

The family of birds arrived in mid-February and that’s when the eggs were laid. Employees then closed the courtyard space so no one would bother the birds.

The eggs hatched last month and residents including 84-year-old Mary Jane Cotharn watched it all go down.

“We have two that laid two eggs right here in the corner so we can see them,” Cotharn said. “We watched these eggs until they hatched. They finally hatched two days apart and now they’re just full of fur and have grown like you wouldn’t believe here they are right here.”

Wood said the favorite daily activities such as Bingo have since shifted to vulture watching.

One resident, a retired English teacher, has even written a story for her neighbors about the birds.

Everyone especially enjoys seeing the mom feed the babies.

“We get a front row view for the mom feeding the babies every day,” Wood said. “She feeds the babies right out of her mouth and the residents are right there. They get to watch all of it.”

Wood said he’s surprised how much the wildlife appear to like the attention.

“They don’t mind the residents coming up and being right there at the glass,” he said. “They talk to them, hang out with them. The vultures will spread their wings for them. It’s been a different experience.  Usually, birds are very shy. They fly off and take off, but they have really loved the attention there.”

Wood spoke to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department who told him, based on their age, the birds will likely fly away in the coming weeks and that will be a sad day for the many who live there.

“They really enjoy that vultures mean new beginnings, start of a life,” Wood said. “That boosts morale around here because that’s not usually the talking points of independent and assisting livings.”

“I don’t know if we’re going to have to get new vultures or open the courtyard to other critters,” he smiled.

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