A combination I don’t get very often with this species.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Four days ago I was pleased to find this Turkey Vulture on an elevated natural perch in good light. More often than not I find them on fence posts or other perches that appeal to me much less. Or on the ground where I typically don’t have a good look at the entire bird or a clean background.
I know Turkey Vultures well enough to know that if one of them performs a wing stretch soon after I’ve approached it, the bird is thinking about taking off because I’m making it nervous. But as this bird slowly turned ‘his’ back to me while stretching…
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
he calmly assumed the classic spread-wing posture of Turkey Vultures instead. After taking quite a few photos of him that looked very similar to each other I decided to see if he’d allow me to get a different shooting angle by driving forward on the road. As I slowly inched forward he kept his eye on me but…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
by now I wasn’t making him so nervous so he didn’t even put his wings down. He even looked over his right shoulder instead of his left to give me some “bookend” shots as alternatives to my previous photos.
I know, lots of folks don’t appreciate Turkey Vultures for reasons related to their lifestyle. But I’m a fan, especially when I find one on a perch I like as much as this one.
Good light, interesting poses and a clean background sealed the deal.
Ron
Here in Reno, red-tailed hawks can sometimes be seen soaring with turkey vultures. The vultures can be seen swooping near perched hawks, inviting them to share the sky. That has to be fun!
I love these photos! Pose, composition, location and colors.
WHAT a beauty. And, as I have said before, I wish that we had similar sanitation crews…
Thanks, EC. Vultures certainly earn their place in the world. Or in most of it…
That rock perch is fabulous! The turkey vulture looks very handsome with his cape in full fan out.
Agreed, Kathleen. Without the rock perch, and the little hill it’s on, I probably wouldn’t have posted these photos.
I’m a big fan of TUVUs, love to see them circling together in the sky, tilting this way and that. It’s nice to see one so relaxed on the ground, these are beautiful images. In fact, I’d say that third one is the over-the-shoulder glam shot. “Ready for my close-up, Mr. Dudley!” 🤩
“I’d say that third one is the over-the-shoulder glam shot”
I liked that, Chris. Very few would associate “glam” with Turkey Vultures.
I like Turkey Vultures the way I like sharks. 😀 Very much! They are incredible when they soar in flocks overhead. It looks like a winged tornado albeit a very slow, stately tornado.
Good point about vultures in flight, Arwen. They’re mesmerizing.
The wing stretch is also called the horaltic pose. Wonderful series.
That’s a good word.
Stephen, I’ve heard it called that too.
Bookends is the perfect descriptor for the two photos. It appears the rock is a well-used perch. I thought for sure the second photo would show him muting, as they say in falconry.
“I thought for sure the second photo would show him muting”
Lyle, the other vulture that was with this one muted just before it took off but this one never did.
Turkey Vultures are one of my favorite birds. I know some people think they aree ugly but take the feathers off the head of a bluebird and you might find them ugly too. I developed a fondness for them in the 70s when I had the opportunity to observe a nest with newly hatched chicks. Unfortunately, both chicks were lost before fledging, likely by a fox. More recently I had opportunities to interact up close with the vultures at Cascades Raptor Center. These are inquisitive and intelligent birds. Of course, their role as scavengers is vital to our environment. Thanks for the great photos.
“take the feathers off the head of a bluebird and you might find them ugly too”
Excellent point, Dan. It also made me smile.
Good catch. Seldom see them so low and relaxed.
Thanks, Michael.
I don’t think I’ve ever noticed they had ‘white socks and dark pantaloons’! I enjoy seeing the details of birds in your excellent photos!
With my bad eyes it’s hard to see if that leg color is from the light or if the foot is really white above the toes. Vultures defecate on their legs, as do storks. This is one way to help cool the bird by evaporative cooling as it dries. Birds have no sweat glands and one cooling method is panting. This is another way to keep cool. The name for this action is urohydrosis. It’s another reason some people don’t like vultures but it benefits the vulture.
Just caught a typo of mine. The term is urohidrosis. Spelled with a Y is incorrect.
Barbara, I read your comment on my phone this morning when I was in the mountains. I was going to say the same thing Dan did, above, about his “white socks” when I got home.
It is interesting that “he” didn’t change posture as you moved. Maybe he had selected just the best angle to capture the warmth of the sun. No shadows, though, which added to the quality of your image.
Nope, his wing position never changed significantly, Ken. The only thing he moved was his head.
He might have “a face for radio,” but I think he’s quite a handsome bird, bald head and all. ❤️ I keep coming back to the third shot. I like the way the dark spots in the background mimic the wing edge — almost like he’s casting a giant shadow.
You’re right about those dark spots in the background, Marty. I never noticed it and I should have.
I love the grace of their spread-winged basking posture, and had a
experience which made me appreciate the environmental service
they perform : it took two turkey vultures only a short afternoon to “polish
off” the carcass of a large skunk which had died, apparently of old age,
about 10 yards from my kitchen door……boy, was I GLAD when they showed
up, and I’ve respected their role in the circle of life ever after that day !
Kris, several years ago there was a dead skunk on the edge of the dirt road right next to a hot spot for birds. For at least a week that skunk smelled so bad it literally made me retch and I often remember wishing a vulture would come along and take care of the situation.
The same thing happened at another time in the exact same place with a dead porcupine. No vulture ever showed up for either stinking carcass.
Interesting shots Ron. Love those 67″ wing spans – little over 5-1/2 feet. Everything in nature has a purpose, and theirs is a good one that we should all appreciate. Agree with Granny Pat on the first shot. Don’t think I have ever seen one in that particular pose.
Thank you, Everett.
Beautiful! Nice to get him in an unusual pose on the rock. 🙂 Ugly and beautiful at the same time.
Thanks, Judy. Agreed.
That first shot is a stunner and I really like that rocky “perch”. And, while their faces aren’t “cute” (even if practical) their wings are luxurious and shown to advantage here against a nice soft background.
Thanks, Granny Pat. That rock perch, and the little hilltop it’s on, made all the difference for me.