Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Turkey Vultures




My camera went on vacation without me, my daughter took it and wouldn't you know, last evening, I was just a few feet away from a Turkey Vulture sitting on a fencepost. 

Since I don't have my camera, these pictures were taken by a local person in the same area.  His website is: http://www.andytheflyguy.ca/pages/wildlife.htm  Thank you Andy for the pictures. 

It's kind of exciting because I didn't even  know these birds were here until this spring when I saw huge black birds circling  above the hills and I was high enough to see what they were.

After some online investigation, I discovered that we do have what the old western movies used to call "buzzards". 
But if you check out this link below, apparently http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html#anchor_13248 buzzard is not used correctly when referring to Turkey Vultures.

9 comments:

  1. I just recently fond out we had turkey vultures in my area too. A woman that works for the nature parks here told me about them. I was a little luckier than you though. I was able to get pictures and some video of the very first turkey vultures I've ever seen. It's great just to be able to see these big birds though. I never imagined I would.

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  2. It looks completely different from the buzzards we see around here! I just found this really helpful bird-identification website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/buzzard/index.aspx - for British birds, that is! You might like to have a look at the British robin that we were discussing a while ago?

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  3. Nice bird site, I will look. Your buzzard looks like one of our hawks.

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  4. These are very nice pictures of the Vultures.In spite og being somewhat ugly,they have a grace while in flight.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  5. A buzzard is a slow moving hawk in Europe.These vultures show up to announce spring, with wings that make a "V" and a lighter stripe on the underside.When they leave, I know the cold is near. They trade places with bald eagles in my area, cool shots it is hard to get.

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  6. I see vultures often here in the SE. They are ugly but play an important part in cleaning up road kill, etc. Your friend got some really great shots!

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  7. Wow, wouldn't want to get to close those vultures. Great photos!

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  8. The vultures are usually necrophyles, buzzards prey on small rodents and they are brownish.

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  9. I love turkey vultures. They, along with their cousins, California Condors, are among my favorite birds. Such a terrific chance to see them up close and personal.

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