Turkey Vultures

Do turkey vultures take live birds? I always thought they only ate carion. However, I've seen a bird circling my and my neighbor's yards. Today I just saw one come in for a landing two doors down. I didn't get a picture though (wasn't for lack of trying-gone by the time I got the camera and outside). I've never seen these birds in the area, much less in town or at my house. I was just wondering what is going on.

Very curious.

Mrs_Ed, there are so many helpful info. here. Now, my curiosity is about 'black vulture'. The one that believe to capture live preys.

OOOoops! Forgot the link:
http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html

Thank Lily. No live prey. Hmmmm, maybe there is something dead in my neighbor's yard! Ha. I haven't smelled anything yet.

My neighbor 3 doors down has cats that patrol the neighborhood and kill the mice/rats/possums that eat our birdseed at night. They just kill them and leave them laying there. The vultures come and do the cleanup on the opossums. They usually only lay there for 2 days before the vultures show up. I have the opossums living under some sheds at the wood line behind my house and the vultures are always there to clean up the day before they might start stinking and I would have to bury them. (I love the vultures for this!)

Great link....I learned new stuff today!!

You wouldn't believe it. I was meant to learn more of the 'black vultures' today. I was heading onto town. Found a black vulture on the middle of the road doing its 'road cleanup' duty. I couldn't believe my eyes!

Everything for a reason... :)

They do a great service. It's a shame that some of them get killed while doing it.

I can see how that happens, GP. The bird is very slow and deliberate in its movement. It walked off the road as my car approached, I stopped, reached for the camera. It saw me, but walked right back to the sight and goes about its business.
I slowly pulled away without intefering. But other coming traffics? One never knows.

Yes, some people don't slow down for anything. In fact, I saw someone swerve in order to hit a turtle.

This message was edited Apr 17, 2009 8:17 AM

Good thought, though I checked my rear view mirror for on coming traffic. So the rescueing wasn't feasible even if I have thought of it at the time. A busy 2 lanes road. Dangerous!

carry you a little shovel in the trunk...

Tehehehe, will that certifies me as a true gardener-birder? lol.

ick you guys. I think I have to unwatch my own thread! ;-)

I'm sorry I hijack your thread Mrs_Ed. My bad.

LOL!!

HA Lily! I don't think you hijacked, but it has definitely taken a gruesome turn. LOL.

I guess that's what happens when we talk about vultures.

I tell you what! We can close this if you like. lol, I'd never seen a vulture that close up before. Let's alone one that's actively doing its job.

You ought to see them on a dead cow!:)

I used to hog hunt down in the Arbuckles. Lots of buzzards down there. When I would start dressing a hog they would begin to circle. Amazing they knew what was going on. One time a shot a hog in the morning, just cut off the hams and the backstraps and left the rest. I came back by there that afternoon and it was picked clean. They serve their purpose well in nature's scheme.

OMG, Red. gross.

y'all are killin me! don't send vultures.

*think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts*

:-)

And here I am praying that they show up to clean up the dead stuff before it starts stinking and I have to bury it.

wish I could interest them in dog pooooooooo!

To get the best vulture shots one must play dead.

OMG...Frank!!!!

LOL, Frank will you do the honor, and play dead for us, if we show up?

Sure, just come on down to the buzzard roost on pipeline road.