Lynne, this BIRD's for You!

Lynne, at Hasty Brook, has an almost unnatural fondness for vultures. She is always begging Susan for pictures of RAPTOR's resident Turkey Vulture, Earl. I don't know why she is attracted to a bird most of us think of as smelly, ugly and disgusting, but I'm glad she is. Someone needs to love the poor unlovable vulture. So, when I ran into a flock of Black Vultures in Florida last month, my first thought was "Lynne will LOVE these photos!"

My cousin Nancy and I (yes, she of American Bittern fame) were walking around the impoundments at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Preserve. We were surrounded by egrets, herons, and cranes. It was idyllic. Up ahead, I saw a flock of vultures on the ground.

I assumed they would fly away as we approached,
but they didn't.

We got closer. They didn't budge.

Black heads, white legs and short tails say Black Vulture.

I think the bird on the left is a juvenile, but I'm not sure.
Anybody want to weigh in with an opinion?

We got closer. One or two walked off, while the others casually strolled in front of us. This was weird.

Good grief! This is ridiculous.
Does nothing frighten these birds?

Finally, one flew. See the white wing tips? That is an important field mark when distinguishing between Black and Turkey Vultures.


Up ahead was an observation platform, and it, too had a resident population of Black Vultures.

One of them was bold enough to land on the railing two feet from me.

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."

"Be sure to get my good side."

A face only a mother (and Lynne) could love.