Some days have a sort of strange synchronicity. Yesterday morning, when I arose, I spotted 4 or 5 wild turkeys in our back yard. I stood there watching them for a few moments as they slowly walked through the bushes to my neighbor’s yard. I usually see them on our property about 2 or 3 times a year.
Later that day, I was sitting in the den when I spotted a couple of large birds landing on the roof top of my across-the-road neighbor’s house. I grabbed my camera and quietly made my way out on to the porch.
This is a shot of the roof top of the two-story house.
There was another bird hovering in the tree.
How about a closer look?
Turkey Vultures. Soon after this picture was taken, one swooped down to the ground. Then the other followed. The third guy kept watch from the tree.
They eat carrion and I smelled skunk last night and again today… so maybe that’s what they were feasting on.
I don’t want to know.
I did a little research. They are non-aggressive, fairly gentle birds. They come up this way in the spring, which explains why I don’t see them all that often. I was really lucky to get this shot.
Wild Turkeys and Turkey Vultures. All in one day.
Turkey vultures live here year-round. In spite of their, ahem, unusual dining preferences, I sure do love them! Like you said they are gentle birds. . . and provide such an important service. I’d hate to think of life without them – we’d be up to our eyeballs in carion! Long live the vulture!
And btw, great shots!
You would never think they were gentle birds to look at them and/or to hear their name. I have never seen one of them…but BOY do we have a lot of turkeys in this area. xo Diana
Beautiful shots of these creatures. I see wild turkey all the time driving the back roads (well, me driving, not them) but these guys can be aggressive. You have to be careful around them. Deb
We have turkey vultures here year-round. It’s neat to watch them circle.
Hugs,
Meri
Wow, impressive looking birds! We don’t get any of that kind of wildlife over here. Herons and feasants are the biggest birds I see in my garden.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a turkey vulture before – and if the wild turkeys visit again I hope you get a couple of pictures of them to share.
The turkey vultures arrived back in our part of Kansas last week. There is a phone tower 7 feet from our Morton building that they roost on at night. They are fun to watch circle and land (they are so quiet) but they sure make a mess on the back of the building.
Reminds me of the time we spent in
PA, while I was growing up. We used to lie in the sun and watch the “turkey buzzards” circle, hoping that we were fooling them. They never came very close, no matter how still we kept! :)
Well, they’re not the most attractive birds but turkey vultures are an important part of the eco system. I love seeing wild turkeys wandering around like there is no one with a blunderbuss waiting to take them home for dinner! ~ Maureen
I love all animals but I must admit if they were sitting on my roof it would kind of creep me out a little.
We have turkeys here in the burbs too. It’s crazy to see them walking around the neighborhood or in the middle of a busy intersection. The other day my neighbor ran one off– it had pecking at my car!!
Hugs,
Jill
We are lots of wild turkeys here and vultures too. I am trying to get a shot of crows on my white bird bath but cannot do it. They are so smart.
These vultures ride the wind currents above my house. About 15 or so will roust in an old dead tree. One day I came upon a male and female mating on the ground behind my patio. They do think themselves attractive! I have even seen the coolest thing, a mother vulture feeding her baby fledgling. Well, that’s my vulture story down here in Florida where you can’t kick a stone without hittin’ one! Actually that is an exaggeration, but we usually see them every day. So, I guess they have decided it is too crowded here and are riding the wind currents north. Watch the skies.
You have my turkey buzzards and you can keep them. I have been posting about these bad boys alot during the winter. We had around 200 that lived in our trees for 4 months. They are a far cry from gentle in my book. They are impossible to get to leave when they start roosting. I like the wild turkeys better. They are so funny walking all in a row without a care. Good pictures though.
I am totally into birds. Great pictures! Would have been so cool to see. :-)
I think you were very brave to venture out to take pictures of those vultures! They certainly are quite intimidating. We have so many wild turkeys and they leave little packages in the yard which Nellie tries to eat…do you know what I mean? Soon the little chicks will arrive. I have been trying to take their pictures but they are hard to get. The males are huge and I don’t want to get near them, and the moms and aunts guard the chicks. Linda
Goodness Claudia, they’re huge! Sounds like your yard could be a wildlife TV programme all on it’s own … wild turkeys, turkey vultures, skunk, semi-aggressive bees! Life here in the UK countryside is so much tamer!
Claudia,
What great shots! They are such ugly birds.
Have a great week,
xxx Liz
We have a lot of both here in Florida! Great pics! ♥
Ha! such wonderful shots of the Turkey Vultures…
’round these parts we call’em road kill.
They are gentle birds and the swoop over head ALL. DAY. LONG. here. The problem is…they don’t move quick enough when in the road, so often times they become the road kill. Sad. Because like Vera first said– they do provide a service.
– Pat
That is so awesome, Claudia! I’ve heard the same thing about turkey vultures, that they themselves don’t kill their food, and that they are very non-aggressive and travel together. Great photos!! I know many would think they’re ugly, but I think they’re beautiful!… Donna
I’ll take your word for it that they’re friendly but personally I wouldn’t want to meet one face to face!
Yep! Them be Turkey Vultures! We have them here year round, the Northeast Georgia area. I am always awestruck when I see them and in their own way are beautiful!
Neat huh?
Looks like Heckel and Jeckel! WE see them flying over head alot but do not really see them perched anywhere. You wonder what they are thinking while they look down and ponder what’s below.
~Patti
We have a lot of turkey vultures here. There dining habits are definitely not the best, but I guess they provide an important service of cleaning up the carion.