Well, yesterday afternoon chickens started making a fuss in the backyard, figured it was nothing...then neighbor called, said there was a big, black bird in the separate orchard...went to check, red chicken got so spooked she flew over 6-foot fence (never did that before) and found a buzzard laying on the ground, it tried to walk away and fell flat on it's face. Was still clinging to life this morning, but I have called local authorities to come get the thing. Avian flu, maybe? Never seen a dead one NOT in the road before...anyone else got a buzzard story?

Poor thing - it probably found a piece of Domino's pizza.

Snuck up and shot one when I was a teen.......
it was on the other side of a levee. Shot was around 20 feet with a 20 Ga.
On a closer look, I noticed "Things" crawling all over it.

At the rifle range there was a sick Pelican walking around......
it also had things crawling all over it.

I don't go near a sick bird any more.

Bugs.......... ugh.

Not trying to be funny.....but everything dies, maybe it was just it's time.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

I don't think it tastes like chicken.

Fried food? Heart attack? Buzzards are a Federally protected migratory species.

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PTLAPTA!

What's the old adage ? "hang a dead buzzard by its feet on your porch to keep the goblins and witches away". And with Halloween coming soon ? Who knows how effective it will be

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John

Had one electrocute itself by one of our barns a few years ago. It lay there a day or so then I noticed a drag trail into some adjacent CRP grass. I followed the trail and noticed whatever dragged it (I assume a coyote), would stop and puke every few yards. Finally the trail stopped about 50 yards in with the buzzard lying there pristine, except a bunch more vomit around it.

I called an 877 number I found on the net, they said it would be tested for Avian Flu or something or other, but they couldn't pick it up until after it died, they don't have a permit for that. The thing is laying where my chickens hang out, I've got them separated but I don't want it hanging around longer than necessary. The lady said bag it and put it out for pickup after it died....like I want to handle the stinking thing. What do we pay these jokers for, anyway? Got a lot of CALTRANs workers standing around with a shovel in their hands...send one over.

Why not in the middle of the road? Instead of my yard? Show some respect, ya buzzard....be part of the circle of life, and the main event at the buffet....should have thrown him over the fence during the night, but that wouldn't be neighborly...

I did not know that buzzards were a federally protected migratory species until Saturday. There was a story in the newspaper about several dozen buzzards taking up residence at the San Antonio zoo. Not much the zoo can do about it. Apparently they are not harming anything.

San Antonio has many buzzards, they are often seen perched on light poles over streets and highways in wooded areas. There is a great deal of wildlife inside the city limits and dead deer, roadkill, etc., make a daily buffet for the buzzards. I guess they help keep the city clean.

Buzzy the Wayward Buzzard has passed away....


Buzzy, well known resident of the Ridge in Butte County, was found dead this morning in an orchard. There was no evidence of fowl play. A renowned aviator, Buzzy was often spotted by local residents flying high above the treetops, or indulging in his work as part of the local Roadkill Disposal Unit. His antics at work encouraged many drivers to honk their horns and call out their personal nicknames for him, including "Get out of the road, idiot" and "dumb-***". Though he had many associates who respected him, others hinted at a darker side of Buzzy; one co-worker anonymously hinted at illegal drug use, stating that "many afternoons, Buzzy was flying higher than a kite", though such rumors remain unsubstantiated. Internment is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19th at the Waste Management Landfill on Neal Road. There will be no memorial service. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Ron M. Foundation in support of the local Native American gambling establishments. 10's and 20's are appreciated.

Prayers sent ....... sorry for your loss.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

Do buzzards eat dead buzzards?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Yeah, from what I hear Buzzard is a little gamier than a spotted owl, but less tough than a Bald Eagle....

Just send the check...it will ease the pain of my loss...

I haven't seen this guy in a while, any resemblance?

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

They must have thought some of the zoo animals were going to die!

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Certified NRA rifle instructor

Possum is greasy . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Put it in a box and mail to to my son's mother.

Find a gut wagon.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I can attest to that.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I think Sea gull fits in there someplace too!

If you leave the dead buzzard alone other buzzards will clean up the mess.

In my area of the Great State of Texas,not including sanctuary areas,there's a black vulture on top of most lamp posts on any given day.

I think they're most fond of road kill venison.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

No idea. I did read somewhere that buzzards will not eat a house cat...imagine that.

terry

Never saw a dead buzzard, but I worked with a bunch of them.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Yummy, needs garlic.

I was testing elevators in Yonkers, ny. In the springtime we used the stair well while the elevator was down. There was a dead pigeon on one of the landings. A few months later it was still there. By the fall it was gone only feathers left. I told my co worker to stay away from the pile of rubbish that was in the corner with it. What ever ate the pigeon might attack you too. Now out side there was a monster sized rat as big as a small dog that was dead. We found what ate that seasoned pigeon. We were a stones throw from the Hudson River in the port authority.

I have no sympathy for buzzards,sick or otherwise. With my wife I was driving to take my mother for an Easter celebration when I spotted buzzards eating roadkill. I decelerated a bit to allow them to clear the shoulder.As I passed I saw something in my peripheral vision just as a buzzard flew over- and puked the worse thick pink mess on my BMW.So much the entire right side of the car from front to back, I couldn't see through the right windshield. Immediately the car filled with a most horrid nauseating odor.My wife was immediately ill , and I wasn't doing so good. Breaking the speed limit I was at my mother's home and straight to her garden hose.I had towas the car before my wife could exit.After a prolonged washing in only 10 minutes half my cars paint was "etched" never to shine again.
For 6 weeks the car smelled like someone had died and remained inside. I thought I would have to give the car away.
I will never report anyone who kills a buzzard that tends to hang around their premises.
My motto ? "I Brake For Buzzards".

Diseased? Take it somewhere get gasoline and burn it and run away.

Granny Clampet on the Hillbillies had a great recipe.

I had a strange experience with buzzards while turkey hunting about 15 years ago. I got two Toms with one shot (they were standing together), and buzzards showed up immediately, by that I mean within about 30 seconds. That struck me as almost supernatural that they could smell death, or maybe blood, so quickly. So I guess they will eat other birds and could be cannibals.

There has to be someone you could package that sucker up and send to.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

A Buzzard taxidermy mount would be unique. Standing over a belly up armadillo would be lifelike. I wonder if a taxidermist could get the smell off them. Lots of Fabreeze maybe?

It may keep those pesty little rug rats from ringing my bell and walking away with all my Reese's Buttercups that my wife will give them.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

When my ordnance folks in Indiana were preparing to detonate some test samples, we all noticed that the lightning rods, which circled the test facility, would be buzzard lookouts...until a storm was brewing, and they would fly off. Guess they could sense the static electricity build-up prior to a thunderstorm. We had to shut down when the buzzards would take off.

Rumor has it that Buzzy left behind a note...

"What to do with a dead buzzard?"

Shouldn't take a whole lot of thought.

Don't forget the breath mints, either.

After reading the reply of Armenius I had to post this .
Years ago I knew three good ole boys who love to deer hunt together.They would drive around in a pickup and watch for deer.One afternoon they were riding the roads and had been sipping on some adult beverages and they saw a wounded buzzard on the dirt road.Well one of the guys decided he was going to catch the buzzard and getting out of the truck he started to chase the bird.What none of them knew was the ole buzzard had a secret weapon!When the hunter got close the bird forcefully threw up all over him!He ran back to the truck but the other guys locked the doors and made him get in the pickup bed.They told me the odor was unbelievable and it stayed with the truck for some time.

Odor from buzzard puke or from their hunting buddy..inquiring minds want to know...

Buzzards do not eat other dead buzzards . Not around here anyway .

We live in a fire zone in the Sierras...maybe explosives?

When I was about 15 I shot a buzzard out of a large tree with my fathers old nickle S&W 32 S&W Long revolver. Center mass hit and he never flinched.That was one of the best pistols I ever shot.
Back a few years when I first began to climb trees to deer hunt I also thought skunk cover scent or strong urine was supposed to be helpful. I stopped this practice after a couple instances of have a flock of buzzards circling and alighting on limbs ABOVE me. Panicked because of my knowledge of buzzard habits and aware of the laws of gravity I whacked a couple with my 9 mm Glock after they refused a wave off. The 9 mm is quite effective in hollow point .No squawk , no flutter.

They'll eat anything dead except a house cat. A cat will just lay there and rot.

Yep, just need some bacon to wrap in it and some jalapenos for stuffing.

Congress is full of them.

We have lots of buzzards around here, and lots of road kill for them to eat. I have noticed their favorite seems to be Armadillo, if there is a dead raccoon or dog maybe a couple or three buzzards will be there. If it is an Armadillo there will be 10 or 12 fighting over the squashed carcass, it seems an armadillo would be harder for them to eat because of the shell.
As I mentioned we have lots of buzzards around here but I have never
seen a buzzard's nest, where do they build their nests? anyone know?
The picture below is a bunch of buzzards in my yard all (20+) there for one dead armadillo in the ditch

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I am posting a retraction regarding the death of Buford (Buzzy) Buzzard. The deceased, originally identified as Buzzy, was positively identified via beak prints to have been Earnest T. Buzzard, a known career criminal who was currently on parole for mugging two snow Egrets in Orland last year, stealing their fish in the process. (Mug shot below). Authorities surmised that "Buzzy" was probably the deceased's latest victim. Buzzy was found yesterday by passing pedestrians, who found Buzzy inside a Domino's Pizza dumpster, aimlessly searching in vain for something edible to eat. He is now recovering at the Kirchner Wildlife Preserve near Oroville, CA, with a broken wing and severe concussion. The Ron M. Family Foundation would like to thank all of you for donations. We have currently raised $1.43, which will be forwarded to the Wildlife preserve...keep those checks coming in!

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Be careful: I did a "pelican rescue" when I first started in Federal service. We would take out airboats and flush a flock of pelicans and catch those unable to fly due to botulism.

One of the guys responded to a call from a farmer and caught a pelican on his lawn. That night, he went into the ER and directly into ICU with pesticide (phosphate) poisoning. It entered the body through his hands! Last I heard, he was recovering.

Re: Avian flu (H5N1) can be picked up from dead birds, as can Nile Virus and (I think) Lhassa Virus and Rift Fever.

BTW: Why would you think Caltrans should be picking it up from your chicken pen?

I have seen maybe a couple buzzards became road kill themselves. I heard you don't even want to hit one with your car because they stink so bad. I can't imagine someone eating one.