Members of the Middleburg community have been helping George, a young adult vulture grounded with an injured wing—on the QT, because the big bird is still out in the wild. George's dedicated team includes local residents with help from the Safeway, all contributing greatly to George's diet and to keeping an eye on him as best they can. Safeway has been providing meats acceptable to vultures. They may be nature's sanitation crew, cleaning up all manner of decaying flesh, but these picky carnivores prefer to feast on recently demised herbivores. George's team has been careful to protect George from becoming a tourist attraction—you'll be able to visit him when he's safely in sanctuary. George isn't a pretty bird, but he has character and, like all vultures, his beauty is expressed in soaring flight, tracing graceful circles on thermals high in the sky. He can't fly with a broken wing, but he's clever and has evaded every effort to catch him.

However, special equipment, humane and safe and hysterically expensive, is being located. The plan to capture George and examine his injury is firming up, and the rescue team will include Hilleary Bogley. Wildlife veterinarian Belinda Burwell will determine the best treatment for George. He's lucky and plucky to have survived in the wild as long as he has, even with being snarked and bullied by his own kind. He will require sanctuary until he heals; if he's grounded for life or considered too tame to release, he will need safe shelter as long as he lives. Donations for George's treatment and care will be gratefully accepted and details about where to send your gift will be available in the near future via Middleburg Eccentric. A big feature on George and his rescue team is in the works.