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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,…
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a creature that I am at least somewhat familiar with; I see them every day on my drive to work. Whether they're just circling overhead or picking on a deer carcass, turkey vultures don't seem to have any problem inhabiting the landscape with people and are…
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…
A turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), photographed at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware.
I'm not a New Jersey native so it was somewhat shocking at first to see vultures around sub-urbia. A little more used to it now though. Sometimes, in the late winter, you can spot a deer carcass stripped nearly clean with only the skin covering the rib-cage while a vulture pecks away at what's left of the innards. Just like being on the African savanna.
A couple months ago I saw my first turkey vulture in southern CT, in a place where turkeys have become common (miracle!). Vultures a rara avis here.
Favorite bird! My dogs scared one out of one of my pine trees the other morning. It was AWESOME.
I always carry a little shovel when driving, and take any opportunity to stop and move roadkill out of the traffic lane onto the shoulder, to make it safer for the vultures.
After flying a hang glider for years, I love seeing them around.
I think they are cool looking birds and I like to watch them.