The most common and widespread of the New World vultures, this species nests throughout all of the United States except for northern New England. Soaring for hours over woodland and nearby open country, the Turkey Vulture searches for carcasses, locating same at least partly by means of its acute sense of smell. Turkey Vultures are valuable for their removal of garbage and disease causing carrion. At night they often gather in large roosts.

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 I took one of my “Looking for Stuff auto tours” One segment of that tour was a trip up Mount Pleasant Road in Knowlton Township. Hadn’t been up there in a while!! This segment of my trip began, when I turned off of RT 94 in Hainesburg, onto Mount Pleasant Road and began my journey. I had not gone very far when I was approaching the parking area for the Columbia Wildlife Management Area and noticed a large bird on the wooden fence. Stopped my car, lowered the window and as soon as I aimed my camera, this Turkey Vulture started spreading its wings and repositioning itself on the fence!! It was like he was posing for the camera. Took several photos and then another car pulled alongside me and turned into the parking lot, I figured for sure this would scare off the vulture and NO, he just stayed there. I must say, these Turkey Vultures and their Black Vulture relatives are not very skittish when approached, especially when compared to most other birds and wildlife in general! Well, I got some photos and I’m off ready to head uphill to check things out. ***NOTE: When I use the words ‘head uphill’, BELIEVE ME, you become well aware you are going up hill!! A long and steep hill!!*** ***HINT: You might want to keep this trip in mind, if you enjoy taking photos from your car, for both scenic panoramas and/or for potential wildlife sightings!*** This journey as I said, begins at Hainesburg heading up the hill to the top, the road makes a sharp right turn and your journey takes you past the Lakota Wolf Preserve (Great Place to Visit!!) as you continue you are paralleling the ridge in Worthington State Forest with many places to stop and get great views of the mountain, AND, this road is very quiet, not a lot of cars!! When you come to Wishing Well Road, make the right turn and you begin your journey back down hill through a wooded area with sporadic houses!! A nice photo journey!!!

THE TURKEY VULTURE:
(Cathartes aura)

Description: 25-32 inches with a wingspan of 6 feet. The size of a small eagle, this blackish bird is usually seen soaring over the countryside. In flight, the long wings are held upward in a wide, shallow V. Their wings are narrower than those of a Black Vulture. Flight feathers are silvery below; it flaps its wings less frequently than the Black Vulture and rolls and sways sways from side to side. Tail is long; head small, bare and reddish (gray indicates an immature bird)

Voice: Usually silent; when feeding or at the nest, hisses or grunts.

Habitat: Mainly deciduous forests and woodlands; often seen over adjacent farm fields.

Nesting: 2 whitish eggs, heavily marked with dark brown, placed without nest or lining in a crevice in rocks, in a hollow tree, or in a fallen hollow log. NOTE: when checking my Flickr site photos, you will see exactly how bare their non nests are!!

Range: Breeds from southern British Columbia, central Saskatchewan, Great Lakes and New Hampshire southward. Winters in Southwest and in East northward to southern New England.

DID YOU KNOW?
Black Vultures often follow Turkey Vultures to a carcass – Black Vultures depend solely on sight to find food!!
Turkey Vultures only eat carrion, while Black Vultures are scavengers, eating carrion but they also will kill weak, sick or unprotected birds and mammals!


Please go to my Flickr site for more pictures of Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157646172995222


Enjoy Your Open Space


Charlie Fineran


Director Open Space
Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman
Allamuchy Historical Society – President