A Look at Vultures From a distance, I spotted a large bird perching about 100 feet above ground on the water tower on Taylor Farms Road. Standing with outspread wings, the large black bird gracefully bathed in the sunshine, casting a shadow that danced across the utilitarian support structure. I felt like I was witness to some sort of grand gesture of sun worship. This magnificent creature is a Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus), a bird not generally admired. Unfortunately, vultures have gotten a bad rap from humans. We toss out the word “vulture” to describe someone who is contemptible, who exploits others, is greedy and unscrupulous. This does not describe these birds which are in fact gentle, quiet, graceful, and beneficial to humans. Black Vulture Despite the drab plumage of the bird, it’s easy to envy a vulture as the master of soaring and gliding effortlessly on wind currents. They spend long periods circling high in the sky, rarely flapping their huge wings, enjoying the ride like a surfer on a breaking wave. Turkey Vultures have a distinctive form of gliding along with their wings forming a “V” shape, often rocking from side to side. When flying, Black Vultures are the ones that are all black with silvery feathers on the underside of their wings compared to Turkey Vultures that are not all black… Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Vultures are not generally known for their good looks! Due to having featherless heads and necks, they would never be considered cute and cuddly like penguins or puffins. Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Turkey Vulture Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) do resemble a Wild Turkey superficially … Turkey Vulture Wild Turkey Vultures are scavengers, not predators, so they are often seen along roadsides eating animals that have been hit by cars… Black Vulture with roadkill Unlike birds of prey such as hawks and eagles, vultures are harmless, lacking sharp talons and beaks used for killing. Instead, they rely on their excellent eyesight and strong sense of smell to locate rotting carcases. Their senses are so keen that they can detect a meal that’s more than five miles away. Baldness on the head and neck is another adaptation for a life of scavenging. As they insert their heads inside decaying meat, they won’t get infected by toxic bacteria attaching to feathers… The blood red head of a Turkey Vulture. You rarely see just a single vulture. These highly social creatures fly in patterns together and and also roost in communal groups… Most likely, relatives roost together, indicating strong family ties between vultures. Vultures also gather together on the ground to rest during the day when not feeding. Despite their sociability, vultures are not able to vocalize. The only sounds they can emit are grunts and hisses, but maybe that’s enough for minimal communication. There’s a lot to admire about vultures… Because they feed on the dead, we tend to scorn the presence of vultures. In reality, these birds serve as nature’s garbage disposers, performing a service by recycling dead material. We owe them big-time for controlling the spread of disease. Because of these efficient scavengers, our world is cleaner and healthier. Next time you see a vulture, be sure to say THANK YOU! In ancient times, this magnificent bird was a god. The Mayans considered the vulture to be a symbol of cleanliness and renewal. They believed that these “death eaters” could change dead material into energy for life. The people admired vultures for not being afraid of death. Here are some other photo-blogs featuring vultures … Dumpster Divers (turkey vultures)>> Yucatan Raptors (black vulture) >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation Fishing Drama (Great Blue Heron)Common Loons in Winter