
tract.
Article: Vultures Remarkably Tolerant to Deadly Bacteria, Study Reveals By John Barrat in Conservation Biology, Research News, Zoology, November 25, 2014
http://smithsonianscience.org/2014/11/vultures-remarkably-tolerant-to-deadly-bacteria-study-reveals/
PHOTO Copyright: iano50 IAN'S OBSERVATIONS: These 3, a Raven and 2 Turkey Vultures struck it rich when they came upon this small deer half eaten in a farmers field in British Columbia's interior. The Turkey Vultures usually show up after the predator eats all he can and leaves. Cougars, coyote and possibly wild dogs are in the area.
![]() Turkey vultures have bald heads to keep blood, flesh, and parasites from sticking to their heads.
Above image: NECK FEATHERS PULLED DOWN FOR FEEDING. PHOTO: LINDA TANNER CC BY 2.0 www.flickr.com/photos/goingslo/8312173085 LINDA'S OBSERVATIONS: Turkey Vulture On Carcass: It is salmon season and fishermen are cleaning their catches on the side of the river, tossing heads and skeletons for the birds to devour. I missed a picture of the Bald Eagle who swooped down to see if there was any meat left on these bones Some experts believe that New World vultures (vultures that live in the American continents) are more closely related to storks than to raptors.
The vulture lacks a syrinx, the vocal organ of birds. It can only grunt and hiss. Its hiss is loud and sounds like the suction of a vacuum. Listen to the sounds of chicks, juveniles and adults at: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/sounds Watch & Hear Chicks Hiss at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCc8ZJhAIn8 Video from Raptor Resource Project's Vulture Cam. It urinates and defecates on its legs to cool itself in hot temperatures because it does not have sweat glands. If threatened, turkey vultures will vomit and play dead. They cannot projectile vomit because they have weak jaw muscles. But the stench of their vomit works to deter predators. They also vomit to lighten their loads so it's easier to flee danger. The vulture has weak muscles in its jaw and feet so it cannot carry off prey in its beak or talons. Its beak is not designed to stab prey. It can tear small pieces from carrion that has been softened by decomposition, crushed by a vehicle, or opened by other scavengers. Turkey vultures are social. They form large roosts, except during breeding season. |
![]() NECK FEATHERS PULLED UP FOR WARMTH. Photo: RACHID H CC BY-NC 2.0 Sparta, New Jersey www.flickr.com/photos/rachidh/ 6948026280 ![]() Turkey vultures angle their wings in a V when soaring to help stabilize their flight on wind currents. They teeter when they soar because their wings are large for their body size.
![]() Turkey Vultures pose with wings spread out to dry feathers to get them flight ready. The heat from the sun can also straighten bent feathers. |