Vulture invasion
Vulture invasion
I woke up on New Year's Day to what I'm trying to pretend isn't the creepiest omen ever: a multitude of turkey vultures roosting on my roofline.
Photographic proof of some of them:
Now, not to carrion on about it (heh heh heh), but I'd really that prefer these majestic creepy birds roost in the many trees or power poles around my neighborhood. A quick Google suggested that I create "a vulture effigy", but I'm not dead set on that.
Commiseration? Tips? Has anyone else had their lovely abode turned into a vulture roost?
Photographic proof of some of them:
Now, not to carrion on about it (heh heh heh), but I'd really that prefer these majestic creepy birds roost in the many trees or power poles around my neighborhood. A quick Google suggested that I create "a vulture effigy", but I'm not dead set on that.
Commiseration? Tips? Has anyone else had their lovely abode turned into a vulture roost?
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Re: Vulture invasion
Yep, that is creepy. Where do you live? I'm in northern Illinois and have never seen a vulture. Not that I want to.
Re: Vulture invasion
It's super creepy!
I moved down to the Houston, TX area last summer, and until December I hadn't seen vultures around my house (or in PA, where I used to live). The joke at work is that the vultures circle the buildings when layoffs are coming; that joke's not quite so fun when they're circling/landing on my own house.
I moved down to the Houston, TX area last summer, and until December I hadn't seen vultures around my house (or in PA, where I used to live). The joke at work is that the vultures circle the buildings when layoffs are coming; that joke's not quite so fun when they're circling/landing on my own house.
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Re: Vulture invasion
In the South, this can be the time of year of vulture transitions, as first year vultures sort out their locations and migrations are done (with our very warm early winter in TN, this was clearly still happening until recently--maybe that is also the case for you all).
I think vultures are pretty cool, but they are also stinky :-p We often see large flocks of them hanging out in our trees. It's a bit dramatic when they lift off together!
I think vultures are pretty cool, but they are also stinky :-p We often see large flocks of them hanging out in our trees. It's a bit dramatic when they lift off together!
Re: Vulture invasion
There is a house I sometimes pass in my travels that seems to be a vulture magnet. I've never seen anything like it! The vultures perch on the roof, on the ground - everywhere! This house also seems to have an abundance of cats, too. One of the funniest things I've seen is one of the vultures crow-hopping along with one of the cats. I would love to get some pictures, but it is not at a convenient place to stop.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Turkey vultures, as I've recently learned, eat only carrion so I'd be wondering if there is something dead in the neighborhood.
I suspect they won't hang around long.
I suspect they won't hang around long.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Here in central TX we have black vultures and turkey vultures; they're both extremely common around here. I marvel at their flying abilities. The turkey vultures will puke if they are sitting somewhere and get startled or afraid--like when I walked under the telephone pole upon which a turkey vulture was perched. I dodged the bullet that time! We've had a flock of juvenile black vultures hang out on our chimney in the past. Just resting. They are the garbage disposals of nature and are not a bad thing to have around. My chooks can tell the difference in flight patterns and outlines between the vultures and hawks up in the sky. They are not concerned about the former, but fear the latter, with good reason.
Re: Vulture invasion
I'm going to be honest with you here: I'm not sure which vultures I have. They've got black faces, but have the turkey vulture wing coloration when in flight. So who even knows.
I'd say they wouldn't hang around very long, but the trees in the property next door have a pretty full roost. I counted 53 of them yesterday. They're everywhere. I think they are eyeing my house because their tree is getting crowded. While I respect the need for space, they've got lots of options that aren't my house-- and I really don't want vulture talons and poop ruining my shingles. My solution has been to run outside and bang a broom on the gutter, which seems to work even if they only begrudgingly take flight. It's a bit less feasible now that I'm back at work though.
I've done a couple canvasses of my property (only 5 acres), and there aren't any massive dead things laying around. I think these guys moved in to the (wooded) property next door because it's got a good view of a fairly busy road that's 1/2 mile away, so they can scope out roadkill as it happens.
I'd say they wouldn't hang around very long, but the trees in the property next door have a pretty full roost. I counted 53 of them yesterday. They're everywhere. I think they are eyeing my house because their tree is getting crowded. While I respect the need for space, they've got lots of options that aren't my house-- and I really don't want vulture talons and poop ruining my shingles. My solution has been to run outside and bang a broom on the gutter, which seems to work even if they only begrudgingly take flight. It's a bit less feasible now that I'm back at work though.
I've done a couple canvasses of my property (only 5 acres), and there aren't any massive dead things laying around. I think these guys moved in to the (wooded) property next door because it's got a good view of a fairly busy road that's 1/2 mile away, so they can scope out roadkill as it happens.
Re: Vulture invasion
Natures garbage men, they are gentle creatures. I hand raised one decades ago. I don't mind them.
Our local vultures quicker figured out that on Sunday mornings in the summer DH often shoots ground squirrels. They will sit on the fence posts on the hill above the house with their utensils in the claws and their napkins around their necks, and wait for him to go back inside then they swoop down to tidy up.
Our local vultures quicker figured out that on Sunday mornings in the summer DH often shoots ground squirrels. They will sit on the fence posts on the hill above the house with their utensils in the claws and their napkins around their necks, and wait for him to go back inside then they swoop down to tidy up.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Actually, the underwing pattern when the wing is spread is different (the light/dark pattern).
Was their head black (Black Vulture) or red (Turkey Vulture)?
Also some slight variations in tail size and shape but can't see that from the photo.
Where are you located (roughly?)
Was their head black (Black Vulture) or red (Turkey Vulture)?
Also some slight variations in tail size and shape but can't see that from the photo.
Where are you located (roughly?)
Re: Vulture invasion
Their heads look like the bird on the right:
But their wings are much more similar to the turkey vulture vs. the black vulture in the pic below:
Confusing.
I'm located near(ish) Houston, Tx.
But their wings are much more similar to the turkey vulture vs. the black vulture in the pic below:
Confusing.
I'm located near(ish) Houston, Tx.
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Re: Vulture invasion
I'd go with the Black Vulture as I think wing color might have more variation than the more distinct black vs red head.
I'd also be thinking that in south Texas in the winter, Black but that is a more iffy call
I'd also be thinking that in south Texas in the winter, Black but that is a more iffy call
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Re: Vulture invasion
It doesn't have to be anything particularly large--I had a bunch turn up here when I had a dead porcupine in my arena.
Re: Vulture invasion
Feels like there's a story there.
I'm not sure what's going on. I had 0 vultures until about Thanksgiving timeframe. Since then, scores of them.
I'm not sure what's going on. I had 0 vultures until about Thanksgiving timeframe. Since then, scores of them.
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Re: Vulture invasion
There probably is a story...but try not to take it personally! LOL
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Re: Vulture invasion
I get them only for as long as there is something dead nearby. I quite like them. I love it when they stand with wings held open in the sun. I have not had fifty, mind you. At the.most, a dozen.
Re: Vulture invasion
Vulture update: they're still around. I named one of them Stan but I can't tell them apart, so now they're all named Stan. They appear to be attracted by fire; I was burning some fallen tree debris in a bonfire at the back of my property and they were circling hopefully for hours.
In successful news, I haven't found them on my house again.
In successful news, I haven't found them on my house again.
Re: Vulture invasion
Oh! And there are more. Yesterday afternoon they filled the branches of 6 trees. I estimate something in the neighborhood of 100.
Re: Vulture invasion
Ponichiwa wrote:Vulture update: they're still around. I named one of them Stan but I can't tell them apart, so now they're all named Stan. They appear to be attracted by fire; I was burning some fallen tree debris in a bonfire at the back of my property and they were circling hopefully for hours.
They are probably fans of barbeque. Why don't you oblige them and throw a little carrion on the fire?
For some reason, crows and ravens creep me out more than vultures, maybe because they are so darn smart. But, then I have never experienced 50+ vultures hanging around, either!
Carry on (carri-on?).
Re: Vulture invasion
Great news, everyone! Cold snap means all my vulture friends moved south (I assume), because it's real real cold and they don't have leg warmers or fuzzy hats.
Two Stans with stalwart souls have stuck around. I can take 2. 2 is an OK number. 50+ is not an OK number.
Two Stans with stalwart souls have stuck around. I can take 2. 2 is an OK number. 50+ is not an OK number.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Whatever died has been picked clean, and they are returned to their natural territories.
Re: Vulture invasion
Vultures flock together outside of mating season. It was probably just a flock moving through the area.
Re: Vulture invasion
Update on my vultures. The Stans are still around and growing in number. A closer examination shows that I, in fact, have both kinds of vultures. The turkey variety appears to have first say in perches, which is why I get the black vultures on my house: the primo trees are already full of turkey vultures.
They like to roost around til mid-morning and then take to the skies like the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys. Right around 4:30pm they flock their way back again.
Latest estimate: 132 vultures.
They like to roost around til mid-morning and then take to the skies like the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys. Right around 4:30pm they flock their way back again.
Latest estimate: 132 vultures.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Wow, thats so cool. Perhaps a riny but creepy, bit so cool!!!
Re: Vulture invasion
150 vultures would make me nervous too! Toooooo many Stans!
Re: Vulture invasion
Pictures?
Re: Vulture invasion
Pictures!
Re: Vulture invasion
I'll have to try to get some pictures. My cellphone doesn't really do the whole experience justice... you haven't lived (or have you?) until you've seen countless vultures swooping in to settle in for the evening.
We've reached an uneasy peace. They're welcome to roost wherever on my property, so long as it's not my house or my deck. This last was a late-time edit when I found probably 20 of them hanging out on my patio furniture and deck. One of them left behind a half-eaten sparrow when he/she (Stan-leigh?) flew away. No more, says I. No more.
My border collie is doing a great job enforcing the house rules. My sheltie has opted to stay indoors instead.
We've reached an uneasy peace. They're welcome to roost wherever on my property, so long as it's not my house or my deck. This last was a late-time edit when I found probably 20 of them hanging out on my patio furniture and deck. One of them left behind a half-eaten sparrow when he/she (Stan-leigh?) flew away. No more, says I. No more.
My border collie is doing a great job enforcing the house rules. My sheltie has opted to stay indoors instead.
Re: Vulture invasion
Vultures arrive in Hinkley, OH every year on March 15. So likely the migration is prepping in your yard.
I personally got creeped out by a huge flock of robins in downtown Winter Park, FL when I lived there. They were massed on every tree, roof and even the sides of buildings. In every direction. Being a child of the north, where robins are ubiquitous but never in huge flocks, it was a jaw-dropping sight.
I personally got creeped out by a huge flock of robins in downtown Winter Park, FL when I lived there. They were massed on every tree, roof and even the sides of buildings. In every direction. Being a child of the north, where robins are ubiquitous but never in huge flocks, it was a jaw-dropping sight.
Re: Vulture invasion
132 is a bunch of big birds! I imagine they are leaving behind a bunch of poo, also. Ick!
Re: Vulture invasion
Wow that's a lot of big birds!! I'd be a bit freaked out!!
Re: Vulture invasion
pictures! pictures! pictures!
Re: Vulture invasion
This is about half of them.
All those dark blobs in the trees? Yeah. Vultures. Every single one. Probably about 70 in that picture, more to the left and to the right. Luckily they're not exactly on my property, so I don't have to deal with the poop. But they're a lot closer than I'd anticipated I'd ever be to scores of vultures.
According to Wikipedia, I really should be calling them a kettle or a committee:
Learning new things every day, I guess.
All those dark blobs in the trees? Yeah. Vultures. Every single one. Probably about 70 in that picture, more to the left and to the right. Luckily they're not exactly on my property, so I don't have to deal with the poop. But they're a lot closer than I'd anticipated I'd ever be to scores of vultures.
According to Wikipedia, I really should be calling them a kettle or a committee:
A group of vultures is called a wake, committee, venue, kettle, or volt. The term kettle refers to vultures in flight, while committee, volt, and venue refer to vultures resting in trees. Wake is reserved for a group of vultures that are feeding.
Learning new things every day, I guess.
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Re: Vulture invasion
We had a similar invasion a couple summers ago...only they were hawks of some kind...I think Swainson's hawks. For about 10 days there were literally hundreds of birds riding the thermals above the hay fields looking for lunch. You could find a Hawknado (up to a hundred birds circling and rising on the hot air--I counted!) any time of the day. It was amazing to watch. I didn't get a good picture of that though. They would get so high before they broke off and drifted back down toward the ground.
The trees looked similar to yours but these birds were definitely not vultures.
Susan
The trees looked similar to yours but these birds were definitely not vultures.
Susan
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Re: Vulture invasion
Geez, all we ever get are starlings,pigeons and sparrows. The starlings aren't a problem because they only come at night to roost in the indoor. The pigeons however, like to nest in the indoor, and while the population is small in the spring it increases so much during the summer that I finally kicked them out because they got too messy.
Fortunately, our small vulture population likes to roost on our neighbor's vacation home deck, so we don't get any of their mess, and the crows that congregate to roost seem to like an area in a neighboring town, which may be because it's a little warmer there?
Fortunately, our small vulture population likes to roost on our neighbor's vacation home deck, so we don't get any of their mess, and the crows that congregate to roost seem to like an area in a neighboring town, which may be because it's a little warmer there?
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Re: Vulture invasion
Turkey vultures migrate up to Michigan every spring, usually in late March or early April, then return south in October. Thank goodness for them! They eat roadkill and other carrion left in the fields. In my opinion, they are VERY ugly. And huge! And they do often choose a favorite roosting spot for the summer. Not at all uncommon to find dozens sitting either on top of a building or roosting in a (typically creepy, tangled) tree. Last spring I was at an lakeside party in late March. At sunset we were fooling around with a drone camera and a flock of vultures came in pretty low over the lake flying south to north. We tried to get close enough to get some shots in the air, but they were too fast. Heading to their summer roosts!
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Re: Vulture invasion
Enjoy your invasion by committee!
Re: Vulture invasion
Looks like black vultures in your photo.
Opie...black vultures WILL hunt live prey, and a vulture hopping along with a cat is in the process of killing it to eat it. Sounds like that old house may be a colony cat area, so the vultures are taking advantage of an easy food source. The black vultures are much more aggressive than turkey vultures, and often watch TV's to see where carrion is being scented out or fed upon, and then they will drive off the TV's.
BV's also will attack calves, lambs, piglets and other newborn or very young, vulnerable animals. They attempt to kill and begin eating these animals eyes and noses and the animals usually must be put down due to the extent of their injuries if they survive the birds. Fortunately, these are isolated groups of birds and the damage is not entirely widespread, but that is changing as the birds grow in number. Currently, about 4-5,000 BV's are killed each year under federal permits to eliminate them. To put this in perspective, permits are issued for about 100,000 canada geese annually. Like geese, there are techniques to drive them out of an area and prevent damage, so states are beginning to put those preventive methods in place when vultures first appear.
They also do tremendous damage to vehicles, boats, anything that has vinyl or the rubber stripping/seals. They will attack and strip out the lining on car door frames for example. Their sense of smell is superb and apparently there is a scent that emanates from these materials or the glues used on cars, boats, rv's etc, that mimics some chemicals naturally emanating from decaying carcasses. Their claws also damage surfaces and their feces is very corrosive on many surfaces including materials on rooftops.
Black vultures have always had a southern range, but they are adaptable and have been moving northward for past 15 years, and are becoming more prevalent in midwest, for example. About 20 states have folks apply for depradation permits each year for vultures.
Having said all this, they are amazing birds with fascinating adaptations, and play an important role along with turkey vultures in keeping the landscape free of a lot of disease.
The key to peaceful coexistence with them is to understand the damage and potential danger to small pets and young animals, and when vultures begin to congregate, watch their behavior very closely and be prepared to use hazing techniques if it appears they are settling in an area for a period of time longer than the few days it takes them to consume a deer carcass or whatnot.
Here's a link to USFWS Migratory Bird Southeast region office info on Black Vultures and preventing conflicts with them:
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/birds/black-vulture/
Opie...black vultures WILL hunt live prey, and a vulture hopping along with a cat is in the process of killing it to eat it. Sounds like that old house may be a colony cat area, so the vultures are taking advantage of an easy food source. The black vultures are much more aggressive than turkey vultures, and often watch TV's to see where carrion is being scented out or fed upon, and then they will drive off the TV's.
BV's also will attack calves, lambs, piglets and other newborn or very young, vulnerable animals. They attempt to kill and begin eating these animals eyes and noses and the animals usually must be put down due to the extent of their injuries if they survive the birds. Fortunately, these are isolated groups of birds and the damage is not entirely widespread, but that is changing as the birds grow in number. Currently, about 4-5,000 BV's are killed each year under federal permits to eliminate them. To put this in perspective, permits are issued for about 100,000 canada geese annually. Like geese, there are techniques to drive them out of an area and prevent damage, so states are beginning to put those preventive methods in place when vultures first appear.
They also do tremendous damage to vehicles, boats, anything that has vinyl or the rubber stripping/seals. They will attack and strip out the lining on car door frames for example. Their sense of smell is superb and apparently there is a scent that emanates from these materials or the glues used on cars, boats, rv's etc, that mimics some chemicals naturally emanating from decaying carcasses. Their claws also damage surfaces and their feces is very corrosive on many surfaces including materials on rooftops.
Black vultures have always had a southern range, but they are adaptable and have been moving northward for past 15 years, and are becoming more prevalent in midwest, for example. About 20 states have folks apply for depradation permits each year for vultures.
Having said all this, they are amazing birds with fascinating adaptations, and play an important role along with turkey vultures in keeping the landscape free of a lot of disease.
The key to peaceful coexistence with them is to understand the damage and potential danger to small pets and young animals, and when vultures begin to congregate, watch their behavior very closely and be prepared to use hazing techniques if it appears they are settling in an area for a period of time longer than the few days it takes them to consume a deer carcass or whatnot.
Here's a link to USFWS Migratory Bird Southeast region office info on Black Vultures and preventing conflicts with them:
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/birds/black-vulture/
Re: Vulture invasion
Yesterday morning I found 3 of them roosting on my car and leaving massive vulture poops on my poor Mini's hood.
THIS MEANS WAAAAAR.
THIS MEANS WAAAAAR.
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Re: Vulture invasion
I live in Texas, just about 2 hours from Houston, and I've seen these guys camp out like this during calving season. They clean up the birth remains and stillborn or sick babies. Are you in a rural enough area where there are herds of cattle? (Sorry, you have covered this but I didn't read the whole thread :O )
I currently have a lovesick bluebird crapping all over the side of my truck and side mirror, flirting with himself in the side mirror on the passenger side..lol.
I currently have a lovesick bluebird crapping all over the side of my truck and side mirror, flirting with himself in the side mirror on the passenger side..lol.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Ponichiwa,
I'd like to suggest you get in touch with someone at Houston Audubon to look for a sensible remedy to the situation:
http://houstonaudubon.org/about/contact.html
And for those experiencing vehicular window/mirror aggression by male birds, I'd suggest throwing an old towel over the reflective surface(s) when vehicle sits parked. Poor birds are only doing their thing. Let's give them all a break. Spring doesn't last forever.
I'd like to suggest you get in touch with someone at Houston Audubon to look for a sensible remedy to the situation:
http://houstonaudubon.org/about/contact.html
And for those experiencing vehicular window/mirror aggression by male birds, I'd suggest throwing an old towel over the reflective surface(s) when vehicle sits parked. Poor birds are only doing their thing. Let's give them all a break. Spring doesn't last forever.
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Re: Vulture invasion
At least its not a horned sheep seeing his reflection in the door!!.
G00d idea about the towels.
G00d idea about the towels.
Last edited by Chisamba on Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Vulture invasion
Let us know how it is going, Ponichiwa! This is way more intense than 10 vultures in a tree on our 20 acre property some times of year. I like the Audubon suggestion---they should know about the behavior of these birds.
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Re: Vulture invasion
This would be wierding even me out by now!
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