Turkey Vultures

nanny_56 · Post by **nanny_56** » Feb 21, 2008 1:10 pm

I took part in the Great Backyard Bird Count this past weekend. On sunday I did a walk around my 1/2 mile loop to do a count and found 3 Turkey Vultures perched in a tree.

Not really good pics as it was dark and rainy and they were really try to blend in and not be seen!!

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Feb 21, 2008 4:16 pm

Those things are so ugly! First time I saw one, I was shocked, thought it was ill or something!

Did you know, that the reason they are hairless on their heads, is so when they eat the dead and rotting carcasses they don't get the ooies on them? Or at least that's what I've read. It keeps the illness down or some such thing when they dig their heads into the dead!

I guess someone has to work as a trash collector in every environment! Look at cat fish!

Ginger · Post by **Ginger** » Feb 21, 2008 6:27 pm

They are awesome to watch fly though! If you can't see the head they look like eagles. They are big too

I see them often around my house.

Ginger

John · Post by **John** » Feb 21, 2008 7:03 pm

There are lots of these around here in the NJ Pine Barrens; often they are seen feeding on deer killed on the roads. They are evil-looking!

nanny_56 · Post by **nanny_56** » Feb 21, 2008 7:34 pm

They are always flying around , but I never had seen them in the trees or on the ground except at road kill. If I hadn't been sitting on my porch before my walk, and seen one fly out of the tree, I would have never known they were there!

And yes they are UGLY!! I just keep discovering new things out here and love it!

John, thanks for posting yours!

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Feb 22, 2008 8:29 am

The birds in John's picture look like wild turkeys, not turkey vultures, to me anyway.

nanny_56 · Post by **nanny_56** » Feb 22, 2008 9:10 am

I think you are right viktoria.

John · Post by **John** » Feb 22, 2008 10:54 am

Trust me, they are turkey vultures~

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Feb 22, 2008 9:55 pm

This is what happens outside my bedroom window. Katie REALLY wanted this bird! (the photo is double clickable)

He wants to be an eagle! He was looking at a piece of garbage outside on the ground, and looking at me looking at him.

nanny_56 · Post by **nanny_56** » Feb 22, 2008 10:34 pm

That is funny, Spider!

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Feb 25, 2008 2:55 pm

Here's mine...

Sorry they aren't very clear, but it was quite aways away and the old camera.

The pic I didn't have my camera with me is the one that got away....

We were going down a country road and there were 3 Tvuls on top of an old falling down barn. They were perched on the roof top and the one in the middle was spreading his wings like a bat. It looked like a Halloween thriller. Dang...I need to take that camera all the time!

I like yours, too, Spider!

Eagle wannabee...

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Feb 25, 2008 3:29 pm

That's cool! Theyre both doing the same thing! Neet set up of the shot, that's photography there!

nanny_56 · Post by **nanny_56** » Feb 25, 2008 8:09 pm

Hey Charla, how did you get them to pose like that for you??

That is way funny & cool!

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » Feb 26, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks everyone!

Actually they were doing all kinds of cool things - sunning themselves I think - but I couldn't get the old camera to work fast enough! That kind of behaviour was what got it replaced!!!!