Until I moved into my house on the hill, I never saw a turkey vulture before. Or at least I did not pay attention. They love to perch on top of my chimneys. Well, lately they have come to love my house. Since I am on a mountain like hill, my roof is a great vantage point to see where the food is. The dead food.
Turkey vultures are scavengers. They look for dead animals. They are nature’s incinerators. I got to witness turkey vultures in action when we had a dead deer which we had to drag to the curb. (Yes, it was the grossest experience with the deer’s you know what hanging out of its side.)
My oldest son and husband picked it up and put it in a cart. Animal control in my area required you to bring it to the curb if you want to remove it from your property. How did the deer die? It looks like she broke her leg. But how, we have no idea. The deer was laying in the middle of my front yard. Kind of odd.
I should have filmed my husband and son trying to pick the dead deer up. They dropped the deer a couple of times and each time, their expressions were priceless. They grimaced. They muttered words like “gross,” “yuck,” and “disgusting.” Each time they dropped the deer, they both walked away from the area to get their bearing again. I was afraid that my oldest was going to throw up. They both were so grossed out.
I was surprised how my husband reacted since he watched me give birth to four kids while filming the births. In fact, in some instances, he was filming X-rated footage. The doctor had to tell him to film some place else, if you get my drift.
So, there was this little deer laying on the side of the road. As the song, “Circle of Life” from the Lion King was playing in the background, the crows began nibbling at the deer. Then the vultures came. And basically told the crows to buzz off. Not just one but five with male teenager appetites. In less than a few minutes it seems, those vultures picked the deer clean down to its bones. No mess. No scraps. (Well taught by their mama vultures.)
Was this the end of my turkey vulture ordeal?
Just the other day my neighbor’s golden retriever, Charlie, was barking near his fence. Usually he barks to get one of us to come out and pet him. This time he just kept barking and barking. I went outside wondering why he did not get discouraged and return home. As I turned to pet him through the fence, I looked toward the back of the house to see at least 20 cultures lined up on my roof ridge in perfectly spaced formation. Of course I did not have my handy dandy camera. But I will tell you, they looked like they were made of plastic since they were so perfectly aligned on my roof.
I stared at them in amazement. At one point they all lifted their wings as if they were choreographed in some type of dance. Of course, the perfect blue sky as a back drop made the display seem more jaw dropping.
I did catch some of them on top of my chimney. (See picture above.) One graciously lifted his wings for me as I snapped away.
That day with its beautiful sky just reminded me of how perfect Nature is and how much we have disturbed the perfect circle. We have so much to learn from Nature.
So, readers have you had a nature inspiring moment?
John Jeracevich says
February 3, 2010 at 3:17 amUntil recently, biologists based the classification of vultures on empirical characteristics. For example, all vultures have a unique diet (carrion). As an adaptation for this messy diet, the head and neck of vultures from both families are mostly bare except for a thin covering of down.
Mark Daniel@Abs Training says
February 3, 2010 at 3:26 amIn addition to DNA evidence, which is the primary defender of this new classification, there are a number of recognizable differences as well.
Doug@discount men's shoes says
February 3, 2010 at 3:27 amFor example, the Old World vultures have relatively strong feet, like the clutching talons of their raptorial ancestors. New World vultures have weak, chickenlike feet, which are suitable for running on the ground. These vultures cannot lift or carry food with their feet. They can only step on their food to hold it in place while eating. Similarly, the New World vultures have weaker, thinner beaks, unlike the strong beaks of their Old World counterparts.
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Chris@Document scanning says
February 3, 2010 at 3:29 amBuzzard is the correct term for a family of hawks. (ie the European buzzard, Buteo buteo, closely related to the American red tailed hawk). In America, the term is often employed incorrectly to describe vultures. This probably dates back to the arrival of the first English colonists. There are no vultures of any type in England, so these pioneers probably gave the common term “buzzard” to all the soaring figures above the New World.
Document scanning says
July 28, 2010 at 11:52 amThis is very intrusive, I’d imagine they must be causing unrest. it is like a scene from ‘the birds’. Possibly try leaving some pellets in some meat which will make them ill. Interesting write up though.
Jen says
September 27, 2010 at 11:28 pmTurkey vultures are federally protected, so what you’re suggesting is against the law (not to mention cruel to an extremely beneficial animal). There are HUMANE ways to go about discouraging vultures from roosting on houses. Google The Turkey Vulture Society for information.
To the original author of the article – you’re so lucky! I love it when vultures sit with their wings spread out like that, but I’ve never seen more than two at once (except in pictures).
Anna@Green Talk says
September 28, 2010 at 11:59 amJen, they love my house. I wish I could have video-taped them spreading their wings. It was surreal. Anna
abs training says
December 6, 2010 at 12:19 amAlthough it seems intrusive to us, it’s what these birds were meant to do naturally. Who are we to change that?
cheap clothing says
November 12, 2010 at 10:15 amUntil recently, biologists based the classification of vultures on empirical characteristics.
MattocG says
February 10, 2011 at 8:25 amAs long as they only like to eat dead creatures , you’ll be ok!!
Anna@Green Talk says
February 10, 2011 at 9:46 pmMattocG, pretty funny. Thanks goodness they only eat dead creatures. They are huge! Anna
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