WHEN A VULTURE IS A WELCOMED VISITOR

A vulture on your roof doesn’t usually bode well for the day, but for homeowners around the Dallas Zoo, it could mean a little free publicity. An African white-back vulture wiggled her way out into an open-air holding pen (not much of a holding pen for a bird, but I digress) and then flew the coup. She dodged a tranquilizer dart and was last seen perched on the roof of a house near the zoo.

But there’s no need to worry: She’s not an endangered species, has no known predators in North Texas, and is a danger only to dead animals. She does have a wingspan of some 5 feet, though, which can be a little intimidating to the boat-tailed grackles (and the patrons) at the Corner Bakery I like to visit. Let’s hope she doesn’t like bread bowls.