Chapter 18

Years ago, I had read a children’s nature book on the Turkey Vulture, aka, Buzzard. It was a good book, and made me like the bird. This book pointed out that the Vulture is like the garbage collector of the natural world. He feeds almost exclusively on carrion, i.e., DEAD animals. He cleans up. Therefore, the Vulture is useful. He has a job to do.

Still, he is frightening, in a genuflecting sort of way. When I see a Vulture flying in the air I stop and watch. He is so peaceful. I read, recently, that vultures use “thermals” (rising currents of warm air), to move across the sky, so the vulture doesn’t have to move his wings very often.

The Vulture, for me, is a symbol that death is inevitable. His peaceful flight, intimates that we should “relax” and “accept”.

Vultures fly HIGH in the sky. I’m amazed that the smell of the dead animals (gases rising) would reach them. Is that because the gases are that strong, or that the Vulture’s sense of smell is that powerful?

Recently, I saw a group of Turkey Vultures sitting in a tree. I almost drove off the road, when I saw them. Well, I’ve seen Crows perched at the top branches of a tree. A vulture is about five times the size of a crow. To see a group of them in a tree was overwhelming. They are social animals. Interestingly enough, they lack a “syrinx – the vocal organ of birds”. That’s probably why you would never hear them sing. They grunt. They hiss.

Once, I was walking through a cemetery and I saw a pair of Vultures high in the sky, above my head. I couldn’t help but whisper, “I’m still alive! Go away!”

(I found a picture of Griffon Vulture. He's the one with the "white head". There are many different kinds of Vultures throughout the world. I’ve never seen this particular vulture. I couldn’t help but include this picture. He is impressive.)