The Bad Rap of the Turkey Vulture

Location:
United States

Vultures, Gunnison River

By Dawn DelVecchio

Last weekend, my partner and I did a drive around the West Elk Mountains in Colorado. The southern end of the drive stretches along part of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a most dramatic gorge of sheer walls formed over millions of years by the Gunnison River below. This narrow canyon sees little sunlight (hence the name), due to its steep and narrow form. Some walls stretch down as far as 2,250 feet (685 meters).

We stopped at a lookout called Pioneer Point in the late afternoon and were greeted by tens of Turkey Vultures soaring above and within the canyon walls. For some this might seem an eerie omen, but for me it was a tremendous treat.

The Turkey Vulture has been one of my favorite birds for more than two decades. Not only do they soar magnificently on 6-foot (1.83 meter) wingspans, they also offer a great service to all by eating carrion. We can think of them as nature's flesh recyclers.

Tibetan monks, when they die, are chopped into bits by their brethren and left for the Turkey Vulture's Himalayan cousins to consume/recycle. The Parsis of India do something similar, sans dismemberment — which is left for the birds. The White-backed Vultures, now nearly extinct due to poison (an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac, used by area local to treat sick cattle, causes renal failure in the birds), apparently make quick work of a Parsi corpse, consuming most of it in about an hour's time. Vulture rituals have been noted on wall paintings at the ancient Anatolian site of Catal Hoyuk, and 'sky burials' of this sort are a part of certain Native American death rituals as well.

The Turkey Vulture, called Cathartes aura in Latin, is a large bird that can be found from Southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. As scavengers, they feed almost entirely on carrion (the carcasses of dead animals.) Turkey Vultures feed on carcasses of anything from small mammals such as field mice, to large, grazing animals such as deer or elk. They can also be seen along remote beaches, eating dead fish or sea mammals that have been washed ashore.

With a wingspan of 173–183 centimeters (68-72 inches) and an average weight of 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds), the Turkey Vulture is a noticeable bird in flight. Using thermals, columns of air that rise from the surface of the earth, Turkey Vultures soar easily. This combination of thermals and broad wing span means they hardly flap at all.

The Turkey Vulture hunts by smell, rather than by sight. This is an uncommon ability among birds. A bird or group of birds will fly low to the ground, circling an object that appears to be a carcass. They do this in order to pick up the scent of ethyl mercaptan, the gas produced by the beginnings of decay in dead animals. If the scent is detected, the bird will land, and others in flight in the vicinity will begin arriving to share in the communal meal.

So if you ever find yourself being surrounded by a half dozen or so vultures circling and eyeing you as a potential meal, don't worry. Unless you happen to be stinking like death, they will not land and begin pecking at your eyes — no matter how still you lay.

Females Turkey Vultures generally lay two eggs per breeding season. Eggs are laid on a bare surface in a protected site such as a cliff, cave, or rock crevice. Both parents incubate the eggs for 30 to 40 days, and then feed and care for their chicks for 10 to 11 weeks.

The Turkey Vulture is a highly social bird. It tends to roost in large communities which can number up to several hundred at once. While they will break away and soar many miles to hunt independently during the day, they tend to return to the flock by dusk.

Although their eating habits have given them a bad reputation among humans, this animal plays a very important role in nature's balance. By feeding on carrion, Turkey Vultures dispose of waste that would otherwise become a breeding ground for bacteria and disease.

The Turkey Vulture's main form of self-defense is rather in keeping with its reputation. When threatened, it will vomit semi-digested meat. This foul-smelling matter pretty effectively discourages would-be predators. Not only does their vomit stink, it also stings, especially if a raiding animal gets close enough to take a shot of it in the eyes. The Turkey Vulture and its carrion-eating cousins across the world are magnificent creatures with a bad rap. Despite their 'dirty' work and dirtier tactics, I find them to be beautiful — as long as I don't get close enough with my fresh and alive smelling corpus to make them want to puke.

Further Information

Travel tips: This is a most breathtaking road that can be reached via Gunnison from the East or Montrose from the West. Be sure to fill your gas tank and bring along water since there aren't many facilities along the way.

Must see/do at this place: Walk along the trails, take pictures, gawk at the birds.

You should avoid here: Heat stroke and sun burn if you decide to follow some of the trails.