One of the more numerous wild birds in Lake County is the turkey vulture, commonly called a buzzard. Its scientific name is carhartes aura and its actually a member of the stork family. They are large birds with wing spans of up to 6 feet. Adult vultures weigh up to 8 pounds. They are strictly meat eaters and the older the meat the better. In fact, 80 percent of their diet is carrion. Their stomach produces a strong acid that allows them to digest all types of food.
Turkey vultures can be found throughout the United States and are especially common in California. In Lake County, it is estimated there are approximately 1,000 vultures. On any given day vultures can be seen soaring above the treetops in Lake County. They can stay aloft for hours, riding the air currents and the wind. These creatures of the sky are actually on patrol, looking for dead animals.
Vultures are one of very few birds that can actually smell. They have an excellent sense of smell and can detect a dead animal from hundreds of feet in the air. Experiments have shown they can even find a dead animal hidden beneath a thick canopy of trees. Their nostrils are extremely wide and are open from one side of the bill straight across to the other side.
In addition to their sense of smell, turkey vultures have excellent eyesight, which also aids them in finding food. Vultures feed on just about anything dead, even if it has begun to rot. Their bare, featherless head (which resembles a turkeys, hence their name) is especially designed to feed in the cavities of large, dead animals. They have short and weak legs and small talons, which restricts them from carrying off food. They are physically incapable of killing anything.
Years ago farmers blamed vultures for killing their chickens and would shoot them. Actually, the vultures are an asset to farmers because they clean up dead animals. They have few enemies but when threatened will regurgitate the contents of their stomach. Its a disgusting habit thats very effective in frightening away an attacker. Even the chicks have this ability.
Turkey vultures lay their eggs in remote forests, including inside caves or hollow trees. They are considered poor nest builders. The eggs hatch in four weeks and the chicks are snow white. They turn a dark brown at 10 weeks old before leaving the nest.
A number years ago while deer hunting I decided to take a nap. It was a warm day and I flopped on my back on an open hillside. A sudden rush of air awoke me and I found myself staring up at three buzzards circling above my head. I didnt move a muscle and they dropped closer and closer. Finally I made a slight movement with my arm and they were gone.
Whereas its not likely many people want a buzzard feeding at their backyard bird feeder, they are an important part of the ecosystem. They clean up road-killed animals and are the undertakers of the forest. They are very efficient eaters. A flock of buzzards can completely clean up a deer carcass within an hour, leaving only the bones and a little bit of the hide.
The buzzards at Clear Lake can often be seen feeding on dead carp and other large fish that have washed ashore. They are protected by law and cannot be killed or injured. Actually, since they are no threat to anything, it would be foolish to harm one. They are a bird that has truly found a niche in the wild.
More here:
Buzzards do the dirty work in nature - Lake County Record-Bee
