While driving up to my sons, a few klm's north of here, I saw a huge bird on the side of the road eating road kill. As I past I realized it was a Turkey Buzzard. I went back but it flew up into the forest. Can you see him? How many times would one drive by and never see him sitting as he is?
He has seen me, I don't want to spook him.
Let me bring him a little closer.
The Turkey Buzzard is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its meals using its keen vision and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect the gasses produced by the beginnings of the process of decay in dead animals.
Natures natural road side cleaner!
Many more Camera Critters here!
Wow. I wouldn't have spotted him if I hadn't enlarged the first picture. Well, I would have if I'd scrolled down to see you had enlarged it already, but this way I had the fun of finding him.
So, do you say "I captured a turkey buzzard today" as a conversation-opener at dinner because it sounds better than saying "I captured a vulture"? Well, good capture, either way!
Kay, Alberta
Oh for sure Kay. It does sound more exotic!
He is quite well camouflaged up there! I guess you can say about the buzzard what my Mom used to say about people, "It takes all kinds..."
Indeed it does Barb!
Nice photos of the under-appreciated buzzard.
Gorgeous captures!
Jaguar and a Running Mate
Agreed, turkey buzzards are one of the uglies!
I was able to spot him right away because he had his back to us and I could see his shape. Completely amazing...! I had no idea we had these birds in Canada. For some reason I thought they lived much farther south.
These are fabulous photographs...!
Oh, he's not that ugly, I love the red bill...
You're right, Turkey Buzzards are graceful in flight, but they sure are ugly up close. I missed a great buzzard shot. Several buzzards were feeding on a dead animal in the middle of the road. As we approached, they flew away. We just happened to be next to a graveyard. One of them perched on a grave stone. Where was my camera? At home!
Nice series of Buzzard photos. Up close they are ugly but they do look beautiful in flight.
Nice progression of photos.
http://reesspace.blogspot.com/2010/09/camera-critters-spider.html