Somethng I didn't know about vultures

I kinda thought vultures saw a carcass, and landed to eat. But I read that they smell.

Researchers proved fairly long ago that Turkey Vultures can smell. In 1938, the Union Oil Company discovered that by injecting a strong-smelling organic chemical called mercaptan into gas lines, they could readily find leaks by monitoring vulture activity above the pipelines. Some mercaptans smell like rotting cabbage or eggs. They and related chemicals are released as carcasses decompose. To us, mercaptans smell horrible, but for vultures they are associated with fine dining.

Source: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1277

Hack

What a neat idea, using the Vultures to detect leaks. ;)

nifty! thanks for sharing that

That's really interesting Hack. I got endlessly sidetracked with other fascinating stuff, including the information Thomas Jefferson had a pet Northern Mockingbird he named Dick. He had this Mockingbird at the White House.

I wanted to bring a dead carcass to the backyard so I could get some good pics of the TV's but DH said a very loud "NO". What a kill joy!

I love finding out little things like that!

Margaret, I too get sidetracked from time to time, but this tid-bit fascinated me. I never knew about Jefferson's Dick. I'll bet he had a lot of fun asking folks if they wanted to see his bird.

Shame on me, I couldn't resist, though - what a play on words.


nanny, I'll bet your neighbors would have enjoyed it, too --:)

Hack

Luckily I am some what rural. So the TV's getting a meal ia a pretty common sight. Just usually on the roadside! I am pretty sure I have sealed the deal that I am the the "nutty birdlady" in the neighborhood!

We get visits from them on a regular basis. It's too frequently on or along side the road, but sometimes we still find them circling the hills, waiting to catch that special scent that signals corruption to us and a gourmet meal to them. They used to nest out back on the big hill, but since the big game have gone, they've moved further east for the most part, where it is still largely agricultural. They do have an incredible sense of smell.
Always nice to learn some thing new, Hack. Good play on words too, I can just see the sense of humor in that "innocent" remark. (Twinkle and a smile)
Thank you!
WIB!
SW

Nanny, I'm certainly one of those "nutty birdladies" too!

This is really interesting. I cropped one of my Turkey Vultures pictures in the past and thought it was interesting that their nose is completely open from side to side.

Yes I had photos where you could see the sky looking through their nose while flying lol. Where the range of the Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture cross the B. Vultures will many times follow the TV's since they find food so easily.

Margaret, this is for you ................ a photo of Thomas Jefferson and his Mockingbird . I took this photo of Thomas Jefferson and also the photo of the Northern Mockingbird, sitting on his shoulder, just not at the same time.

I had the distinct privilege to personally meet Thomas Jefferson a few years back (quite a few). After all these years, I am still overwhelmed by my visit to Williamsburg, VA and to hear Mr. Jefferson address the people in attendance. Fortunately, I had my camera with me. Unfortunately, I did not have my video camera to capture his speech.

Following his speech under a large oak tree, I attempted to privately question him as to what he did besides posing as Thomas Jefferson. He refused to acknowledge that he might be someone other than our third president of the United States. He appeared a little indignant that I was questioning his real identity. Nonetheless, as we parted ways, I was still in awe of this Mr. Thomas Jefferson. But for the previous 45 minutes, I truly felt as though it was 200 years earlier.

Bill Barker has been portraying Thomas Jefferson in Williamsburg for the past 15 years. He is just incredible. I have attached a link that shows one of his performances but I preferred the one under the old Oak tree. Hope you don't mind me going back in time and sharing my personal experience with Thomas Jefferson.

http://sandefur.typepad.com/freespace/2008/11/bill-barker-as-thomas-jefferson.html

I love places like that!!

linth, now that is so cool. I wonder why he took to a Mockingbird. I'd think a parrot would have been the "in-thing". maybe he just wanted to be different.

Thanks for the story.

Hack

Thanks for that, Linth. What a superb idea. It was obviously an unforgettable experience.

Returning to the subject of Turkey vultures, or buzzards as we used to call them. A couple of months ago a squirrel was repeatedly getting into one of the seed feeders I had out for the cardinals and I threw something at him to make him leave. I didn't think I hit him because he ran. After he had gone about 20 feet (around the corner and out of my sight), he died.

Less than two hours later there was a turkey vulture in the yard, working on him. He stayed until he was finished and left only skin and bones, literally. I had never seen a buzzard attracted to anything that wasn't rotting and it is hard to imagine the squirrel would so quickly have begun to decompose or have given off enough odor that it could be detected from several hundred feet up. But maybe so. You're right Hack. There is a lot we don't know about these amazing creatures.

Here is a close shot showing his see-through nasal area. In this particular shot I cought him blinking his eyes. I noticed that the one Duc posted was not nearly so red as the variety we have here in the East.

Dave

Great photos, and great story!
I love history re-enactors. Yours certainly believes in staying character. Thanks for sharing that link, linthicum. : - )
I've noticed the same feature on some other birds, but not as large or open as the nasal cavities on the vultures. My Chinese geese also have large nasal openings, but not that large! And they have bigger heads!
WIB!
SW

There's a house near me that the Turkey Vultures love to roost on, in the morning as you go by there must be 30-40 on the house and trees. It looks like a horror film. Needless to say the roof looks terrible.

How about taking a photo and posting it? It sounds like it would be an amazing sight.

Are we preparing for Holloween's pictures contest? I've some on those amazing vultures to share.

Dave, I used to hog hunt in the Arbuckle Mountains of central OK. Almost every time I would shoot a pig and begin field dressing it, the buzzards would begin to circle. It was obvious they knew what was going on. I recall shooting a 200-pound sow one morning and cutting off the hams and backstraps. I came back by the spot in late afternoon and the carcass was completely stripped clean.

My wife and I birded Lake Overholser in OK County yesterday and saw a lot of turkey vultures. This shot behind the dam has me worried about a NASCAR fan.

Another shot from the shore of Lake Overholser. The black-headed bird in the pic is a juvenile Turkey Vulture. They don't acquire the red head until they are about a year old.

HA!!! :)

Dave,

I have to say that I like your Titmouse and Bluebird pictures a lot better than that Vulture one!

Here's a few Black Vultures just sitting around absorbing the sun's rays.

You wouldn't want to cough or stagger if you were in their vicinity. Incredible, Linth.

Great photo Linth!
Dave, love that blinking eye!

Interesting thread. Educational even. To say nothing of the humour,Margaret and Red.

Very interesting comment,about the hogs, Red. Seems the buzzards have keen senses of smell rather like the bloodhound. But maybe they also are just smart. Are those old stories true about buzzards circling above someone lost in the desert?

Linth, your photo reminds me it won't be long until you'll be seeing eagles among those vultures, eh?

Dave

I suspect the old stories are true, Dave. They will circle a sick cow or a cow that is calving and feed on the after-birth. Almost every creature has its niche in nature, although it's sometimes difficult for us to interpret that niche or agree with an animal's role in the scheme of things. Vultures seem repulsive on the surface, but serve a valuable role as scavengers.

Notice the eyelids on your vulture close-up. They are specialized for protecting the eye while the bird sticks its head into carrion.

A couple more of these handsome red-heads.

Very cool Linth!

There is an old barn we pass coming in & out of where I live. This summer a family of TV's seems to have moved in. I just love it when I seen 2 or 3 of them perched on top of the barn or watching them coming in to land!

Dave, I read your message early this morning and I ultimately decided to make an early scouting trip for Bald Eagles. I don't normally go this early in the Fall even though there are always a few Bald Eagles around. The only ones there were resident birds and the action was slow. The lighting as well was a challenge. And, juvenile eagles don't photograph as well as adults.

Shortly after arrival, right above the parking lot, this juvenile Bald Eagle was sitting among a number of Black Vultures. There were more vultures around then eagles.

Oh...goood one Resin...HA!

LOL

You're right Resin. It comes with experience. Last year, I took a photo of this migrating adult Bald Eagle carrying his equipment on his back. I was impressed !!!

There is a myth (?) around Gettysburg, Pa. that some of the vultures there now were there when the civil war battle took place. I learned this from my best friend who grew up there many years ago.
I was kayaking an obscure river into Alabama from Tennessee a few years ago, all alone, when I rounded a bend in the river and there on a small island in the river under nearly a complete tree canopy, was at least 150 black vultures. It was very dark under there. Now I'm quite at home with nature, but as I floated past, they all watched me pass by, None flew away. I was maybe 10 yards away. They were about 2' apart. Incredible. I talked to them as I went by, but nobody said anything but me. What was I expecting: "Nevermore?". (I think I was whistling past the graveyard)

LOL!

The vultures out here in CA, do circle dead and dying critters. Just like they do in OK. Dad grew up there, and said that when one of their critters went missing, the vultures would show them where it was. : - (
They do seem to like larger game than we usually have anymore. Sometimes we see them over the hill where they still raise cattle, near the butterfly preserve. Don't see them as often these days. Seems like the crows are filling that niche these days around our place.
Nice photos and loved the stories.
WIB,
SW