Buzzard Yoga

tags: , , , ,

"Cool morning yoga pose"

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura.

Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [larger view].

More like this

tags: Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, Manhattan, Kansas, birds, Image of the Day Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, seen at Fancy Creek and Randolph - North end of Tuttle Creek Reservoir in Kansas. Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU. [larger view].
tags: Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, photographed at Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 28 November 2007 [larger view]. Nikon D200,…
tags: Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii, birds, Kansas, image of the day "Not skulking" Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii. Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [larger view].
tags: Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery birds] Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view]. Nikon D200 1/250s f/8…

I got my first close-up look at turkey vultures a few weeks ago when I rounded a sharp turn on a mountain road and found a flock of them noshing on a deer carcass. I thought they were beautiful with their red heads and white wingtips. I mentioned this encounter to friends who all said, "Ugh, turkey vultures, they're so ugly!" Something about having "naked heads". Go figure.

One day speeding down a straight stretch of highway, I saw a turkey buzzard on the shoulder. At a distance, I could see from its body language that it was puzzled and confused. No wonder, it was trying to figure out how to eat a dead porkypine. I was surprised and impressed that its puzzlment was obvious from a considerable distance.

By Jim Thomerson (not verified) on 11 May 2008 #permalink