The vultures are definitely inside of an exhibit (an abandoned prairie dog enclosure) but there are no animals there now. I also do not recall seeing any kind of sign explaining the purpose of installing metal birds into an empty exhibit, but upon first glance several visitors near me assumed that the vultures were real. From a distance it does look rather unique.
The museum lists this exhibit as eventually being renovated for turkey vultures and caracaras. Interesting...
Exhibit Projects Underway - 2009
Bear exhibit renovation (need plan & funding) — completed Fall 2009
Javelina night holding footers and service pad — completed 2010
Earth-Sciences upgrades — in progress
Dry Cave - Pleistocene Sloth exhibit upgrades
Earth History Room — install horseshoe crab, flatworm and frogamander models
Tortoise Exhibit — in progress Install interactive components (concrete and fiberglass tortoise models)
Install Pleistocene tortoise w/camel print Electrical upgrade of reptile exhibits — in progressElectrical upgrade of Cat Canyon static exhibits — to be complete in FY09
Planned Exhibits
Desert Loop Trail Dome — awaiting funding
Aquatics room exhibits refurbishments — fundraising in progress
Jaguar/puma exhibits — exhibit will proceed when funds are in place
Other Exhibit Options under Consideration
Move burrowing owls in with prairie-dogs
Turn current burrowing owl exhibit into roadrunner exhibit Revamp small P-dogs to be caracara/turkey vulture exhibit
Songbird exhibit over Desert Grassland cienega
Magpie jay near Ironwood complex
Golden eagle near existing aviary
Badger exhibit
Arthropod Hall (cost estimated at ~$2 million) — possible long-term exhibit for DLT dome
