Yesterday on my walk I saw this turkey vulture perched in his tree. It was just after sunrise and he was still in the shade. When I circled back around the small lake he was still there warming in the bright sun. This was the first time I’ve seen one close enough to photograph.
After taking several sunny pictures I walked a while on a nearby path. At one point I heard birds in the area and looked up. Several huge birds were circling the area. When I took a photo and zoomed in, I realized they were turkey vultures.
I looked up a few turkey vulture facts that are always good to know 😊
- Turkey vultures are the only scavenger birds that can’t kill their prey.
- Turkey vultures have an extraordinary sense of smell. They have been known to be able to smell carrion from over a mile away, which is very unique in the bird world. The turkey vulture has the largest olfactory (smelling) system of all birds.
- Turkey vultures average 2 1/2 feet tall with a 6 foot wingspan. In spite of their large size, they only weigh about 3 pounds.
- Turkey vultures have been known to live up to 24 years. The average age is estimated to be around 20 years.
- Vultures help clean up the environment by eating the flesh off dead animals before it rots and causes disease.
- This facts were found on the Chattahoochee Nature Center website
Another cool bird discovery 😎
Let us praise the noble turkey vulture: No one envies him; he harms nobody; and he contemplates our little world from a most serene and noble height.
~ Edward Abbey
peace of life today 
I used to see turkey vultures at the Conowingo Dam in Maryland where people go to watch bald eagles. Fun fact: they like to eat plastic which includes trucks and cars! Windshield wipers, bumpers, antennas, parts of roof racks, etc. Its really something to see as they walk all over a hood scratching the hell out of it and chomping away. There is a video on YouTube called Vultures Destroy Truck by a photographer probably on his way home.
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Oh my goodness! I found the video, glad I didn’t see him actually eating the plastic wiper. Someone was taking the video, I’m guessing it wasn’t the truck owner 😁
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That’s where they park for a walking trail. Some try to cover the vehicle with a tarp and some just come back to a surprise and freak out. The further toward the dam you go the less turkey vultures but when I used to take my motorcycle and take a walk I didn’t go far when they were around and locked up my leather gloves.
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Wow, I might decide to hike in a different place!
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Amazing photos! 🙂
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Thank you! 😊
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Love the close up. They are so ugly, and eloquent in their own way, aren’t they?
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Thank you! …and yes I totally agree on that! 😁
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I was surprised to see such velvet-looking wings on that closeup photo. Good shots, Lisa.
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Thank you! The feathers are pretty in the sunlight 😊
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Wonderful photos!
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Thank you Nora!
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Such an interesting face.
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Thank you! Pretty easy to determine what type bird he was 😊
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Wonderful bird and quote!
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Thank you so much! 😊
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Vultures are fascinating creatures. Many folks think of them as ugly looking and dirty as they mostly scavenge on carcasses. But to me they are magnificent. And their anatomy is so brilliantly designed for their life style. And they play such an important role in the food chain.
I was lucky to have gone to a place where I got observe up-close along with several other raptors. Read my post https://madaboutbirdingandtravel.wordpress.com/2018/08/29/bikaner-and-tal-chhapar/ when you get the chance.
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I do kind of think the face is ugly, but I thought his feathers are quite beautiful! I will check out your post 😊
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