Tag Archives: Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vultures On The Ground

January 12, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

It was very windy, the kind of wind that makes your eyes water, as I walked around the recently burned rice field pond on Monday. At the first corner a number of Turkey Vultures were hunkered down.

Turkey Vultures — Turkey Vulture On Unburned Clump of Dried Cattails

At first I thought they might have found something dead to snack on, but as I got closer I could see they were resting.

Some of the reeds on the edge of the pond did burn, although not all the way to the ground.

A wider view, with the Vultures blending in to the brown vegetation. Oddly, I got no odiferous hint that there had recently been a fire here.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2023

Juvenile Birds, Raptor

Turkey Vulture Chicks

August 7, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

I mentioned in a previous post that the Center for Birds of Prey has hosted two wild Black Vulture nests this year.

The Vulture parents picked spots in between the captive birds’ enclosures, which mimic the dark recess they might find in the wild. The female lays her eggs on the ground.

The juveniles’ feathers were transitioning from chick fluff, making them look a bit scruffy.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC
June 24, 2021

Raptor

Turkey Vulture, Flying Low

July 25, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

This is the same Turkey Vulture I’ve featured in recent posts as part of the the educational and flight demonstration program at the Center for Birds of Prey, this time showing off his flight skills.

Turkey Vultures are impressive with their flight skills, easily making sharp turns, using their wings to full advantage.

It was very cool to see this one glide just above the ground, with seemingly little effort.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC
June 24, 2021

Previous Posts:

Turkey Vulture, Wings Out

Turkey Vulture, Up Close

Raptor

Turkey Vulture, Up Close

July 22, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

I know, not the most attractive bird up close with the bald head, but check out the feather colors.

The blues and browns shown in the morning sun.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC
June 24, 2021

Raptor

Turkey Vulture, Wings Out

July 18, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Another un-releasable bird that is part of the educational and flight demonstration program at the Center for Birds of Prey is this Turkey Vulture. He was “rescued” when a passerby spotted him on the ground, the normal nesting spot for Turkey Vultures, and took him home. The bird subsequently imprinted on the human and now cannot live in the wild on his own.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC
June 24, 2021

Raptor

Turkey Vulture Flying Over

September 9, 2020 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

A Turkey Vulture swooped right over me with his distinctive “wing fingers” fully extended. I love to see these vultures in flight, they are exceptionally graceful and agile in the air.

Raptor

Bad Light, Dead Tree

December 20, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Vultures made a good fit for a silhouette image with those lifeless branches against the grey sky.

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures in Dead Tree

And when Eagles appear I absolutely have to take the shot!

Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center
November 5, 2019

Birds, South Carolina

Turkey Vulture at the River

February 3, 2016 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

I startled this vulture as he was feeding on a dead fish washed up at a boat landing on the Wando River. This, of course, startled me. Vultures are abundant near Charleston, SC, but this is the first one I’ve seen with his toes in the water.

Similar to the Black Vultures, the Turkey Vulture is elegant in flight.

He swooped up to a nearby dock waiting for me to move on.