Analyzing a convergence of vultures

Buzzards. That’s what my granddad called those big black, feathered scavengers that circled the skies back in the day. Buzzard was the buzz word for the carrion consuming cleanup crews that took care of road kills and any other deceased wildlife that might become available to them. A more definitive designation for these large, awkward birds back then was turkey buzzard, or more formally, turkey vulture a nod to their resemblance to the wild turkey with their dark brown (not actually black) and bronze plumage and naked, unfeathered red head. From a distance, a group of these birds feeding on a carcass in a field can easily be mistaken for a flock of wild turkeys.

But while wild turkeys are not built for sustained flight, turkey vultures are masters of the sky, effortlessly riding the thermals with barely a flap of their long, wide wings. Their wings form a slightly V pattern and their 5 1/2 foot wingspan is distinguished by the spread of wingtip feathers (sometimes called fingers). Their body length of around 2 1/2 feet and weight of as much as five pounds makes them larger than a redtail hawk but still smaller than a bald eagle. And unlike those raptors, vultures are unable to carry off the carcasses they find, content to consume their carrion on the spot. And although vultures feed almost exclusively on carrion, they sometimes may prey on live game. Eagles, by the way, are also notorious carrion scavengers.

You might think that their soaring and sometimes rocking flight aids in their spotting sources of carrion, and while it does, studies have shown that their primary means of locating today’s lunch or dinner is via an acute sense of smell. So when you spot them gliding low over the meadow it’s likely because they’re busy trying to sniff out their next meal. Sometimes, often while preparing to migrate, these birds will flock together by the hundreds and ride the thermals in a spiraling formation referred to as a “kettle.”

The term used for a flock of vultures roosting together is a “committee,” but when feeding together on a carcass, appropriately enough, a group of these very social raptors is called a “wake.” In fact, my inspiration for this week’s column is a considerable committee of vultures I frequently encounter roosting not far from my home at the intersection of Ground Hog College and Warpath Roads in Newlin Township. It varies from day to day, but most times I’ll find scores of vultures roosting on rooftops, trees, and fences there. One day I drove past to find a vulture perched on each and every fencepost at that corner. They’ll often spread their wings wide to warm themselves on frigid mornings.

But not all of them are turkey vultures. When it comes to scavenging carrion, there’s a new kid in town — the black vulture. When I say “new” I’m referring to the last decade or so. When I was a young boy, turkey vultures were the only “buzzards” patrolling our skies here, but that dynamic has changed. Now the black vulture, historically a much more southern species, continues to extend its range into the northeast, perhaps another indication of climate change. Both black and turkey vultures share these roosts in Newlin Township.

The profile of the black vulture is fairly distinct from the turkey vulture. For one thing, their heads, while also naked and unfeathered, are not red but black. And although their body length of 2 feet 4 inches and wingspan of 5 feet makes them somewhat stubbier and smaller than the turkey vulture, their maximum weight of six pounds makes them the heavier of the two species. In flight, the most notable physical feature of this black bird (besides its shorter tail) is the distinctive silvery white wingtips. While their soaring flight is as “unflappable” as the turkey vulture, it’s steadier and without the back and forth rocking that’s typical of turkey vultures.

Another key difference between these two scavengers is that the black vulture searches for carrion while relying exclusively on its vision. Lacking the wellhoned olfactory capabilities of the turkey vulture, black vultures will often hang out with turkey vultures in order to help themselves to the carrion they’ll nose out. The word vulture, incidentally, is likely derivative of the Latin vellere, meaning to pluck or tear, which is what these birds do to any carcass they consume. As the garbage men of the wild, both the black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) perform a valuable service cleaning up road kills and other deceased critters. And since both species of vultures migrate, they enjoy legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

PHILADELPHIA FISHING SHOW

The Philadelphia Fishing Show opens Friday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, running from Feb. 22 through 24. The show features guides, lodges, rods, reels, flies lures, tackle, gear, apparel, art, and marine accessories. Fishing experts, guides and captains will all be on hand to provide a full slate of free daily seminars with topics ranging from trout to tuna and everything in between. Show times are Friday, Feb. 22, noon to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday Feb. 23, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; kids ages 6 to 12 $5, with kids 5 and under admitted free.