Vultures
The winter is a good time to talk about vultures. Some people think that vultures are an indication that bad luck is about to befall them, so they keep a low profile when vultures are noted. All of our vultures here in the Quoddy Region have gone south for the winter, so it’s safe to talk about them. We have two types of vultures that visit us in the summer; the Turkey Vulture, Cathardes aura, and the Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus. Vultures are often called ‘buzzards’. I’m not sure if they like that name or not, but it’s OK to mention it because they are not here now.
Vultures are a relatively new arrival in the Maine skies. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the Turkey vulture was first seen here in reasonable numbers, and the Black vulture is still pretty rare in Maine. Our vultures are native to North America but not closely related to our hawks and eagles or even the vultures of the old world. They are apparently more closely related to the storks.
Both of our vultures are big, dark birds and the adult Turkey vulture does look something like a turkey with its essentially bald, reddish head. The Black vulture also has little noticeable feathers on its dark gray head. This feature apparently evolved for sanitation purposes, as these birds tend to eat larger prey and as they stick their heads into any perforations and access holes, they can clean their heads easier if there are no feathers. However, I have seen a Bald eagle getting his dinner pretty far inside an old dead seal. I guess an eagle gets cleaned up trying to catch a fish. Vultures do not have strong beaks relative to the size of the bird. They can handle flesh, but they can’t penetrate the tough hide of something like an adult white-tailed deer. In cases like that they may have to wait for an eagle or coyote to open up the carcass. Vultures have been known to prey upon very young livestock like lambs, piglets and calves, which in some parts of the country have generated animosity with the farmers, however the number of these instances is small. In the wild vultures occasionally prey on unprotected heron chicks and small mammals, but by far they get their nutrients by scavenging road kills and garbage dumps.
Both of our vultures have very good eyesight, but the Turkey vulture also has an acute sense of smell that it uses to find its prey. Tests with this bird have indicated that a dead animal can be best sensed if it is only slightly decayed- typically about one day- and any times longer or shorter will reduce their success. Turkey vultures are very adept at soaring with their wings in a shallow V pattern and will cruise for miles at about a 200 foot altitude continually rocking back and forth looking and smelling for prey. Another pretty unique but sort of disgusting behavior that these birds have developed is called ‘Urohidrosis’. Birds, especially big, dark birds, have problems cooling themselves on hot summer days. Our vultures, and some storks, alleviate this problem by defecating a watery poop on their legs and this provides necessary cooling. So, think summer, but remember if you must sit in the shade under a tree with a large, dark brown bird in it, don’t look up.
