Assessing Preference in a Paired-Stimulus Arrangement with Captive Vultures ().

Vultures play an important role in our ecosystem by filtering out bacteria and viruses harmful to humans (e.g., rabies, botulism).

Functional analysis and treatment of self-injurious feather plucking in a black vulture (Coragyps atratus).

The etiology and maintenance of self-injurious feather plucking (FP) have been attributed to biological and environmental processes, yet a definitive solution has not been found. The current study investigated the application of a functional analysis and function-based treatment to reduce the FP of a black vulture (Coragyps atratus). FP was found to be maintained by positive reinforcement in the form of contingent attention.