March came in like a LION & unfortunately we haven’t seen any signs of the Lamb, yet!!  But, think about this, “Spring, IS HERE, whether it feels like it to us or not!!  Out in the wild, there has been a lot of hustle and bustle, preparing for and awaiting on, a brand new generation of Wildlife!!”

Charlie Fineran’s Photo of the Week, a Vulture chick in its nest, gave him and a friend pause.

We really have it pretty GOOD/EASY!!  It was a short drive through the woods in my friend’s four-wheel all-terrain vehicle and I am looking at a rock out-crop amid the woods.  “He is in that little hole in the rocks.”  We are carefully getting through the rocky area, covered with brush, towards a small opening into the rocks!  Standing near the opening, I hear this fairly loud raspy hiss!!  “That is him making that noise”  Ladies and gentleman, I have to say, THAT is a rather unpleasant sound!! I am trying to figure the best way to get a photo, I can just barely see part of his white coat!  This is one of those situations where I was ‘a little uncomfortable’ with laying down and sticking my head near the opening, I will just hold my camera into the hole and start clicking away!  I had to adjust the camera and activate the flash!  Ok got a few photos!!  One is your Photo of the Week.

This small adventure got me to thinking or shall I say, I had a debriefing with myself!!  First, I couldn’t remember ever seeing a vulture nest!!!!!  Not one in all my travels!!  I don’t ever remember reading anything about their nesting habits!   Second,  I didn’t see anything in that small hole except the vulture chick, no nesting material AT ALL, just rock!!  I am going to have to read up on vultures a little!!

As soon as I got home, the nature books were out and Google was activated!!  The information I obtained, matched exactly what I had observed!!  Vultures use small rock crevices and openings in dead trees for their nests.  When I say nest, to a vulture, it just means a place, they really don’t build anything!!   The hissing is to scare aware would be predators!!  Looking back, if I had come across that rock opening by myself, AND not been aware what was in there, I do believe a form of self-questioning would have been initiated,  “How great is my need to know what is in there??  Does this feel like a potentially wonderful photo moment??  Can you think of some other things or places that might be more enjoyable and maybe safer to photograph??  Answers:  None – No – YES!!

One more observation before closing.  Most baby animals are cute, adorable and usually even sound that way!!  There was nothing cute or any other pleasant description applicable to this scene!!  I will give it credit for a nice white coat, it goes downhill fast after that, just look at that head, then those feet!!! Last but not least that hissing!!  The books were correct when they advised the hissing was to scare away stuff – would have worked just fine on me!!!

When you visit my Flickr site, I have also included some other photos of vultures, photos depicting these birds doing what they do best, soaring in flight, congregating while having a meal or just waiting around on a roof or tree!  These birds get a bad rap, because of their looks and what they do – But, their looks, bald head etc., play a vital role for them and actually protect them during their role as Nature’s Sanitation Team!!

Please visit my Flickr site for photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157646172995222

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran