Migrates to the southern U. Turkey vultures feed on carrion, which they locate by smell or possibly vision. They are often seen feeding in groups on large items but will eat almost anything. Considered common in its range, this bird is afforded no special conservation status.
Lays 2 eggs. What type of program are you interested in booking? They are known to nest in very remote, hard to reach locations. Some of the strangest documented nest sites include the floor of an old neglected barn, 6 ft. Turkey vulture nests are very difficult to find - only one nest has been documented in the Kern Valley. Local researchers suspect that they may use jumbles of boulders for nesting areas.
When you see turkey vultures swarming around in a cluster in the early morning hours of early spring or fall, they are preparing to continue on their migration.
Vultures seen in the evening hours have probably arrived in the area that day and are preparing to roost for the night. Groups of vultures spiraling upward to gain altitude are called "kettles". Turkey vultures have been reported by aircraft pilots to rise to as high as 20, feet and soar for hours without flapping their wings. Researchers have determined that turkey vultures can travel at up to miles in a day. They are known to arrive in the Kern Valley from the Fresno area and continue on the next day south to Tehachapi, Victorville or even farther.
Turkey vultures rarely eat during their migration period. In spite of their large size, they only weigh between pounds! Because of their light weight, turkey vultures can virtually float in the sky using the thermal currents rising columns of air to get around the skies.
We assumed they were drying out after the storm. Such a useful, and much maligned bird. And that wing span? Incredible, and very beautiful. Beautiful pictures Ron. In fact, I have never seen such a beautiful Turkey Buzzard. They are just arriving here. I hope they watch out for those bugs! Like the color and texture contrasts in these shots…the spikey, silver vegetation Rabbitbrush, Sage? I was working for an Outward Bound based program for HS kids and on my way to work when I saw my first Turkey Vulture— feeding on roadkill just ahead of me.
As it rose, I can still remember my excitement!!! Since then, we see many, now a common sight—rocking and rolling, as they ride the thermals…Not so beautiful in grounded closeups, but incredibly so in the air!!! We see Turkey Vultures and now the smaller, more agressivd Black Vultures.
I might not be impartial on that. Black vultures are newer here, too. They are smaller, darker and tend to be more aggressive than the Turkey Vultures, who can look black but tend to be very dark brown …their tails are different,too. Turkey vultures have red heads and usually longer, narrower tails…Black vultures have shorter, more fanned tails and grey heads…they are a little smaller then their Turkey vulture cousins…. Enjoyed these shots Ron.
The newspaper is used to catch her droppings. At first, I thought you were asking about composting, and the answer there is a bit mixed. If you have a hot compost pile, you could put them in there, but you would still be exposing yourself to a lot of diseases carried by birds and contained in their droppings. While hiking by it the other day it sounded like a thousand frogs crowing in it.
I went for a closer look but when I reached the pond all went silent. Was I hearing frogs or could it be some kind of cricket? Hopefully you can help me out here with what it might be.
0コメント