What's up with Turkey Vultures ???

[Mr. Tree]

Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon with a big group of vultures feeding on a carcas. One bird said to the other, "Thank God for ketchup!"

In the 70s while marking timber for harvest in Georgia, I walked up to a very old line shack. Before I could look inside I heard a terrible hissing and banging around then a vulture flew out the back window and landed up in a nearby tree. Inside there were two large speckled eggs on the floor - no nest - that she had been incubating. Almost instantly scads of vultures began circling overhead. I got out of there. Didn't want to get thrown up on! For several days I tried to sneak up on her but she always got out. I did get a series of photos of the eggs. One day there was just one large, pure white, fuzzy chick hissing at me. Got a couple of good photos of the chick but never the mama on the eggs.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Originally posted by 7.62foryou:
He means me Wheelgunner. I never miss a chance to insult someone who insults me on a daily basis. (Me thinks we have a president and a congress that does that also, for different reasons though.) Oh so sensitive!

My mistake. I didn't even catch your comment (even after three scans!

)

It would make a good choice of state bird for the state of DC though. Fits congress (and B.O.) to a Tee. A Buzzard and turkey mix. Taking from a source that they didn't work to gain, and having brains the size of a pea. Not to mention a resemblance to a certain speaker of the house. Perfect!

I should add, (so Mr. Glypnir does not have to), that this pretty much applies to all politicians throughout history, and is not exclusive to the present bunch of buzzards!

WG840

 

[Capt Steve]

"The Turkey Vulture soars above the ground for most of the day, searching for food with its excellent eyesight and highly developed sense of smell."

Half right. Turkey vultures do not have excellent eyesight. They find their dinner using their excellent sense of smell. Birds of prey such as hawks have excellent eyesight as their dinner is always on the move.

 

[Guest]

We don't have any Breed of Vulture on the Western side of this State other than the two legged kind which are commonly referred to as "Liberal and Abusive and Hostile" but we do have our share of Sea Gulls that do very much the same job as the flying Vultures. It's one of Natures ways of keeping our beaches clean and our cars covered with Poop! They are one member of the Bird Family that doesn't taste like Chicken no matter how you cook it!!!

 

[Wheelgunner840]

KKG,
I can honestly say that I have never heard of anyone ever trying to eat a seagull. On this coast, we refer to them as flying rats. I guess everything in the cycle of life has it's purpose, even the scavengers. I am thinking that the world would smell pretty bad if we didn't have them and the insects to take care of dead things!

WG840

 

[starman041]

Mr.Tree - about 50 yards from the gun range is an old pick up bed type camper that has been there for a long time. I knew it was somewhere around, but had not seen it in many years. I recently re-cut a 4-wheeler trail that runs by the old camper and connects two other trails I use. Two vultures have been hanging around the camper. I am pretty sure they have eggs in there, but I don't have the guts to go look. It is pretty thick woods and these are pretty big birds - I want room to run while I am screaming like a little girl.

 

[dennis40x]

We have more than our fair share of vultures both red and black headed. We are at the beginning of tourist season. A lady commented to me do you every get tired of watching the eagles. I replied no but those aren't eagles their vultures. Then some turkeys flew over head. (Some one spooked them from the upper field.) She said turkeys can't fly. I said as a younger child you watched WKRP in Cincinnati. She said how did you know. I replied just a guess on my part.

 

[Al.40cal]

Originally posted by bdGreen:
Turkey buzzards are quite extraordinary. Their sense of smell is the keenest sense they have and it is what brings them to their dinner tables. They can drift in the sky for hours upon hours just by utilizing the updrafts.
They do not kill.
They do not attack.
They don't have talons for picking up their food stuffs.
They just feed off of rotting decaying flesh.
Their featherless head is designed to go into body cavities without gooey stuff sticking to their feathers.
After they induldge in their meals, during flight they urinate on their own legs and feet. The enzymes in the urine aid in killing the bacteria from standing in a body cavity and lunching down.

Amazing creatures. They are well advanced.

bdGreen

Come to Cleveland and you find out that the Turkey Vultures here actually do kill and will attack if you interfere with their meal.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840: KKG, I can honestly say that I have never heard of anyone ever trying to eat a seagull.

Well, I can say it wasn't my first choice but I do tend to "Play by the Rules" and since I was going through part of the Multi-Service Jungle Survival School in Panama at the time and the "Rules" were you ate whatever you caught, well, that pretty much says it all.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

That does explain it!

Any good recipes? Seagull L'orange perhaps?

WG840

 

[armenius]

After my BMW 325 was puked on by a flying buzzard at 70 miles an hour on a back road I have become somewhat an amateur "Buzzardologist"The birds flew up as I approached them at their lunch of dog and as I passed I saw one fly over in my peripheral vision,then a loud "splat" and the right grille,hood,windsheild and roof were covered in a thick pinkish goo with the most terrible odor I ever experienced.I sped up until I got to a hose and had to spray for 5 minutes to get it off the car so my wife could exit.In that amount of time the paint was etched.The odor persisted for 6 weeks and I almost had to give the car away.
When I was younger we had only the Turkey Vulture and they are not aggresive.In the last 25 years we have had an even higher population of Black Buzzards.They don't always wait for something to die and have been known to attack small animals,and reports of atempts on toddlers has been seen.
Several years ago a town in (?) Ohio was taken over by thousands and suffered extensive damage as the love to pull roofing off houses.The problem was compounded by laws protecting these birds from harrassment.
I have had them alight in trees above me when I climbed up deer hunting.I have a way of discouraging that--don't ask and I won't tell.
After my experience I avoid all contact,and
I BRAKE FOR BUZZARDS

 

[wundudnee]

Patience hell, I'm going to kill something.

They are a beautiful bird in flight, but coyote ugly on the ground.

 

[mwtdvm]

and as I passed I saw one fly over in my peripheral vision,then a loud "splat" and the right grille,hood,windsheild and roof were covered in a thick pinkish goo with the most terrible odor I ever experienced.I sped up until I got to a hose and had to spray for 5 minutes to get it off the car so my wife could exit.In that amount of time the paint was etched.The odor persisted for 6 weeks and I almost had to give the car away.

What can I say... I warned ya! Buzzard puke is bad bad stuff.

 

[GST]

While it has never happened to me, they say you haven't lived until a buzzard comes through your windshield. They will puke inside and then you will have to sell the car cause you will never get the funk out of it.
I always slow way down when I see them feasting on something in or near the road. A slow one bounced of my driver side conerpost once.

 

[Guest]

That does explain it!

My Survival Kit contained a bottle of Tabasco and it did help but no where near enough.

 

[$2Ray]

Puking is their means for self-defense. Really.

 

[citizen gary]

Hinckley, Ohio - a vulture celebration.
Every year on March 15 since 1957, the city of Hinckley Ohio has eagerly awaited the return of the buzzards at "Buzzards' Roost" at the Hinckley Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks.

The buzzard, a common name for the "turkey vulture," is a large graceful bird with a bald head and red beak. No relation to the black, Old World vulture family, which includes the eagle, hawk, and kite, the buzzard is native to the Americans from southern Canada to the tip of Cape Horn.
The Return of the Buzzard:

The annual Return of the Buzzard celebration starts early (630am) at the Hinckley Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks. Let by "Official Buzzard Spotter," Dr. Bob Hinkle, early risers raise their binoculars and cameras to compete for the first sighting. It's all in good fun, and a sure sign that spring is on the way. Coffee and treats are customarily served.

The Sunday following March 15 is "Buzzard Sunday" at the Hinckley Reservation, a family fun day celebrating the buzzards
Buzzard Lore:
The buzzard has become a sort of local folk hero. Among other things, he was the mascot and logo for Cleveland rock station, WMMS, "the Home of the Buzzard" for decades.
Contact Information:

"Buzzard Roost"
Hinckley Reservation
State Rd and West Dr
Hinckley Township

and for the kiddies: http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf...0Coloring%20page.pdf

 

[smith revolver cop]

Originally posted by S/W - Lifer:
It's just the Almighty's clean-up crew going about their business, keeping nature fresh and sweet-smelling.

+1. That's why certain species of buzzards and vultures are bald- so the blood and goo doesn't stick to the feathers or hair on their heads when they're picking "goodies" from way inside the carcass. Fascinating birds!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
KKG,
I can honestly say that I have never heard of anyone ever trying to eat a seagull.
WG840

You obviously missed my thread dsecribing the time we shot a seagull, breasted it out and slipped in into the bag of Teal Breasts my brother in law was going ot cook up into a gumbo

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Well Caj, I gotsta know. How'd that work out for him?

WG840

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
Well Caj, I gotsta know. How'd that work out for him?

WG840

It wasn't pretty from what I heard

 

[reerc]

Funniest thread I've read it a looong time.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by CAJUNLAWYER:

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
KKG,
I can honestly say that I have never heard of anyone ever trying to eat a seagull.
WG840

You obviously missed my thread dsecribing the time we shot a seagull, breasted it out and slipped in into the bag of Teal Breasts my brother in law was going ot cook up into a gumbo

You are Oh So right about missing that one but I'm not really sure it was "Missed"!!!