Vultures on 3/4/2018

[Kusanar]

Do they really have a brain inside such a tiny skull ? Or they just following instinct?

They are pretty smart, not Raptor smart, but they can be trained. There is a falconer that we see periodically that has a few vultures that are trained like the raptors (not to hunt, just to fly from place to place on command) for the show.

If no carrion is available will they attack live creatures?

They will, rarely, but they can't grip with their feet and their beak isn't made to be able to kill easily (it's more of a grab a string of meat and pull type thing) so they aren't good at it and typically only kill sick or already weak or very young animals.
Also, the ones pictured above are Turkey Vultures, they have never been proven to kill, the ones that have been seen doing it are Black Vultures who look similar but they have a black head as an adult (Baby Turkey Vultures also have a black head)

 

[bsides2007]

I LOVE vultures! Especially turkey vultures. Thanks for sharing! Here's a photo of myself and a vulture named Sarah

 

[casportpony]

I LOVE vultures! Especially turkey vultures. Thanks for sharing! Here's a photo of myself and a vulture named Sarah

Very cool, thanks for posting your picture. What's Sarah's story?

 

[bsides2007]

Very cool, thanks for posting your picture. What's Sarah's story?

She lives with a BOP rehabber and cannot be released because she has health issues. I can't remember exactly how she was found, but I believe she may have been a transfer to that facility. I had the chance to meet her last summer during an educational program at the park I work at. It was a magical experience. They knew how much I love vultures and that time, I didn't think they brought her along so I was almost in tears when they brought her out!

 

[casportpony]

She lives with a BOP rehabber and cannot be released because she has health issues. I can't remember exactly how she was found, but I believe she may have been a transfer to that facility. I had the chance to meet her last summer during an educational program at the park I work at. It was a magical experience. They knew how much I love vultures and that time, I didn't think they brought her along so I was almost in tears when they brought her out!

What a nice surprise for you!

 

[Chickassan]

I like vultures, their eyesight is absolutely amazing. Don't particularly care for their defense methods but I've got to say they do work.

 

[Kusanar]

I like vultures, their eyesight is absolutely amazing. Don't particularly care for their defense methods but I've got to say they do work.

Hey, don't shoot at or scare the vulture and you won't have to deal with the defense methods! I've chased the things off my front porch and they just hissed at me and went on and jumped off the railing... They don't seem to be super easy to scare.

 

[Chickassan]

Oh the hissing I can deal with, the projectile ralphing is not nice my cat found that out unfortunately I'm the designated cat bather.

Hey, don't shoot at or scare the vulture and you won't have to deal with the defense methods! I've chased the things off my front porch and they just hissed at me and went on and jumped off the railing... They don't seem to be super easy to scare.

 

[Kusanar]

Oh the hissing I can deal with, the projectile ralphing is not nice my cat found that out unfortunately I'm the designated cat bather.

I'm impressed that a cat managed to get the "defense method" Like I said, I've only heard of that happening when people were trying to shoot them and I've chased them around without any issues.

 

[Chickassan]

It was a young bird, they're a little trigger happy in their youth older ones won't usually do it unless they absolutely have to.

I'm impressed that a cat managed to get the "defense method" Like I said, I've only heard of that happening when people were trying to shoot them and I've chased them around without any issues.