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Turkey vulture circles overhead

August 30, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Turkey vulture circles overhead
A turkey vulture circles in the sky over North Sterling State Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

No, I’m not dead and I am far from ready to have my bones picked over by these guys. Nevertheless, this particular turkey vulture seemed to anxious to have me as a meal as it circled overhead multiple times. 😉

Taken a couple months ago at North Sterling State Park, Colorado, there were a lot of these cool birds hanging out, taking advantage of dead carp on the shoreline.

You will often spot them soaring high in the sky in large groups – appropriately called a ‘wake’ – looking for their next meal. They feed on carrion they find lying around dead like rabbits, prairie dogs and such and are believed to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away.

Their role of garbage man helps to prevent the spread of disease from the carcasses. They may be ugly but they perform as critical function in the #ecosystem.

Turkey vulture stages a flyby

July 8, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Turkey vulture stages a flyby
A turkey vulture performs a flyby on the plains of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Maybe not pretty in the face but still a way cool bird! I have kind of a strange fascination with these guys so when I get to photograph them, I get kind of excited.

When camped on Colorado’s northeastern plains last week, I had an absolutely prime opportunity. More than 20 of them had staked out a spot by a lake as their early morning roost, one which thanks to having access to a boat I could easily get to.

Two mornings I spent a good bit of time photographing them taking 400+ photos of them each day. They put on a nice show for me with tons of flybys, many at close range, including this one.

They are amazing flyers, able to soar without flapping their wings for the longest time and that six-foot wingspan is simply impressive. They feed on carrion, usually rabbits and prairie dogs, and are said to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away.

At this spot, they were taking advantage of a die off of carp, dining on the carcasses on the shore. Their role as Mother Nature’s garbage man prevents the spread of disease from the carcasses.

Turkey vulture prepares to fly

October 5, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Turkey vulture prepares to fly
A turkey vulture raises its wings as it contemplates taking off in Estes Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

This cool bird wasn’t too sure what to make of the guy with the big camera creeping toward him.

It was still a bit early in the morning and turkey vultures aren’t usually in too big of a rush to take to the skies, preferring to wait until it warms up. Three times this one raised its wings, thinking about departing, but eventually decided I was harmless and settled down.

A lot of these have been seen in recent days along the Colorado Front Range as they begin their migration south toward warmer environs for the winter.

A turkey vulture in Estes Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A turkey vulture in Estes Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

The flasher!

September 21, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

The flasher!
A juvenile turkey vulture spreads its wings to warm up in Estes Park, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

The adult turkey vulture seemed less than impressed with the show the juvenile was putting on. 😉

A fun shot of these cool birds taken in Estes Park, Colorado last weekend. A dozen turkey vultures were hanging out on the power poles that enter town from the east. The mid-morning light was harsh but at least they gave me some cool poses.

Certainly these birds won’t win any beauty contests but I think they are way cool and, as the garbage men of nature, they perform a vital function in the ecosystem.

Turkey Vulture performs a flyby against clear, blue skies

October 27, 2018 by Tony

Turkey Vulture performs a flyby against clear, blue skies
A Turkey Vulture performs a flyby in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

These raptors are so darned fascinating to me. Yes, their faces are perhaps less than appealing but I just find them cool as heck.

They are amazing flyers, able to soar without flapping their wings for the longest time and that six foot wingspan is simply impressive. They feed on carrion, usually rabbits and prairie dogs, and are said to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away. Their role as Mother Nature’s garbage man prevents the spread of disease from the carcasses.

Turkey Vulture flyby

September 25, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

Turkey Vulture flyby
A Turkey Vulture performs a flyby in Thornton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Another shot from my photo session with these cool dudes late last week. Not only did they let me watch them eat, they put on a nice little aerial show as well. When these guys fly, they are somewhat unsteady, but with those massive wingspans they can soar for the longest time without a flap of their wings. It truly is impressive to watch. See my wall the one I posted this morning if you missed it.

Turkey Vulture dines while Magpie hopes for leftovers

September 25, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

Turkey Vulture dines while Magpie hopes for leftovers
A Turkey Vulture dines on a rabbit while a Magpie waits for its turn. (© Tony’s Takes)

Kind of a fun picture I captured last week that was a very fun encounter. I was taking my daughter to ballet when we spotted a half dozen Turkey Vultures flying over and sitting in a vacant field. Thankfully I had my camera with me as usual so after I dropped her off, I returned and spent an hour photographing them.

They were splitting time between two rabbit carcasses, fending off the harassment of Magpies that wanted something to eat as well. I shot a ridiculous number of pictures of these guys as they were more than willing to let me get quite close while they focused on their meal.

Yes, I know Turkey Vultures are ugly but I think they are cool as heck. You will often spot them soaring high in the sky in large groups – appropriately called a ‘wake’ – looking for their next meal. They feed on carrion they find lying around dead like rabbits, prairie dogs and such and are believed to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away. Their role of garbage man helps to prevent the spread of disease from the carcasses.

Turkey Vulture comes in for a landing

January 13, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

They might not be pretty but I love these big guys and while I have captured many pics of them, a recent photo shoot let me get closer to them than before. This particular vulture is a captive bird, unable to be released in the wild due to having been ‘imprinted’ by humans.

We see Turkey Vultures here in Colorado during the summer. You will often spot them soaring high in the sky in large groups – appropriately called a ‘wake’ – looking for their next meal. They feed on carrion they find lying around dead like rabbits, prairie dogs and such and are believed to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away. Their role of garbage man helps to prevent the spread of disease from carcasses.

Taken at Nature’s Educators in Sedalia, Colorado. More of my pics of Turkey Vultures here.

A Turkey Vulture comes in for a landing.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Turkey Vulture comes in for a landing. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Turkey Vulture comes in for a landing.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Turkey Vulture comes in for a landing. (© Tony’s Takes)

Turkey Vulture performs flyover

May 3, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

This is one bird that I hadn’t had much luck finding and getting pictures of this spring yet. Lucky for me, one found me this past weekend and not only flew over but then circled a few times above. I’m not entirely sure what it was looking at but something on the ground seemed to have its attention as it seemed to contemplate coming in for a landing.

These buzzards may be ugly but I think they are cool as heck. You will often see them soaring high in the sky in large groups – appropriately called a ‘wake’ – looking for their next meal. They feed on carrion they find lying around dead like rabbits, prairie dogs and such and are believed to be able to smell the dead animals up to a mile away. Their role of garbage man helps to prevent the spread of disease from carcasses.

A Turkey Vulture looks below for an easy meal.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Turkey Vulture looks below for an easy meal. (© Tony’s Takes)

Turkey Vultures dine on Prairie Dog carrion

February 9, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

One for #TBT going to May 2015. While out and about on a photo drive, my son and I spotted six of these birds circling and heading west. The Turkey Vultures disappeared from our sight but we ended up finding them again dining on Prairie Dog carrion in a field. We spent an hour watching them as they took turns picking apart their meal.

The case could certainly be made that these are some of the ugliest birds in the world – my son certainly thinks so. While certainly not pretty, I tend to think they are kind of neat. These birds have left the area for the winter but I would expect to start seeing them again in a couple of months.

Turkey Vultures in Longmont, Colorado, dine on carrion. (© Tony’s Takes)
Turkey Vultures in Longmont, Colorado, dine on carrion. (© Tony’s Takes)
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