Does anyone know vultures?

[suburban farm girl]

(I wasn't sure to post this here or under predators - but since they are scavengers and my question isn't about predation but behavior - well, here I am

)

We were out driving today and saw a vulture sitting on top of a light pole. It's wings were spread and it was just sitting there, holding that position. A mile or so down the road we saw another vulture on a light pole doing the exact same thing.

It was kind of creepy/eerie - and just strange.

Does anyone know why they were doing this?

 

[aiwetir]

are you sure they are vultures ? cormorants don't have the most productive oil glands and often need to dry out

 

[deerman]

yes you will see many turkey vultures doing that.

 

[chickmamawannabe]

Vultures sunbathe to kill all of the nasty germs they get from sticking their heads into carcasses. I used to volunteer with BOP.

 

[monarc23]

yep they're sun bathing many birds sun bathe that way

speaking of predators though vultures will kill chickens...almost had a group kill my cochins wheni was little lluckily i scared them away....found out what they'll do is fly down and any chicken they can get to they'll peck their eyes out to put the chickens into shock then they'll feed on the bird once it passes out or dies.

 

[Buckaroo]

They do this to warm up, waiting for thermals. Once things heat up, they ride the thermals, this is why they circle, and rarely see them flap their wings. What a life, except when it come to eating. Let me tell you, they are nasty, if you get to close, they will throw up on you, and I can assure you that road kill smells good compared to that.

We always had them in our old barn, and one got my boy, OMG it was awful, ended up throwing those cloths away. Bad thing was, only a couple of small spots on his cloths, and pitched them due to the smell. You can always tell what they are by the end wing feathers, they look like fingers when their soaring. (Turkey Voltures anyway)

 

[gaited horse]

I want a pet vulture

 

[the1much]

Quote:
how come the add on to your signature?? hahahahhaaha


ya as all others have said,, sunbathing, they need to keep that tan look.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I've dated some vultures. Does that count?

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

Worked with bird rehab in Florida, the most repulsive thing in the world is a sick vulture.
Trust me its awfullllllllll