Buzzards

[stephen hazelton]

It's pretty common here in Texas to drive through the countryside

and see a couple of buzzards (turkey vultures in the bird book)

circling every couple of miles. Several days back, we came up

through Glen Rose, and saw a whole swarm of buzzards- perhaps a 100

or more. Anyone know if this is common? Or is this an omen for

Glen Rose?<div></div>

[awahlster]

The P Ranch in Frenchglenn Oregon (just South of Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge) has around 50-75 turkey buzzards that spend the night on a lookout tower and a few of the farm structures in the area. In the morning they fight for the best spots on the east and south sides of the tower to warm their wings in the rising sun I have some great photos of them doing this but none scanned. I have seen the tower almost disappear under the birds in the evening when they all come in to roost.

[david_evans]

I lived in central Texas for about 20 years, and every time I saw a

large group of vultures (Texas or elsewhere), I could usually find

either a large dead animal on the ground (cow, horse) or a

decapitated deer thrown in a creek (trophy hunter left-overs).

Something the size of an armadillo or skunk might bring in a

dozen more or less. Vultures are not particularly pleasant, but

very necessary.

[markmuller]

I have seen the same thing for years at a power line tower in soutwest Austin (Texas)

whenever I happen by near sunset. If anyone is interested, the spot is at the south

interesection of Mopac (Loop 1) and 360.

[Two23]

I've always thought they were communal roosters, like crows. Looks like the watertower is the highest thing around for them to roost on, which has advantages.

 

 

Kent in SD

[rich_waite]

Hello,

 

I think David Evans means trophy POACHER leftovers, with regard to the decapitated deer carcuses. Any idiot who does this with deer is a poacher and not a hunter. No hunter I know would do this.

 

Just thought I'd mention it....

 

Rich

[don_baccus]

Hey, the fire lookout tower at the P Ranch is on the Malhuer NWR, in Frenchglen, though Catherine Fine, the elderly woman who used to own that land before selling it to the refuge after her husband died, can sometimes be found in the Buckaroo Room in Frenchglen enjoying a shot or two of whiskey before retiring for the evening ...

 

Turkey vultures are communal roosters, as mentioned above. They like structures like water towers, fire lookout towers, and the like because when roosting they're vulnerable to ground predators like coyotes.