tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post2575871116162024750..comments2024-03-27T22:32:32.190-04:00Comments on Granny Sue's News and Reviews: Befuddled by BuzzardsGranny Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-45737221766452076592008-06-20T21:54:00.000-04:002008-06-20T21:54:00.000-04:00I'm slow -again- in reading blogs, but I'll chime ...I'm slow -again- in reading blogs, but I'll chime in anyway...<BR/>Matthew is right, only I can't tell what color their heads are from your picture. If they are red-headed, they are Turkey Vultures; if they have black heads, they are Black Vultures (still bald, but harder to tell since the black color of their skin blends with their feathers).<BR/>These are beautiful birds!<BR/>The Black Vultures have been increasing their range and are much more common around here now than they used to be. We have quite a few around here and folks are always surprised to find out that such a majestic looking flyer is a vulture (clean-up crews need more recognition and gratitude).<BR/>I did quite a bit of research on vultures for my book, <I>Vultures</I> (and one of these days I hope to get it published).MKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05452336336295173341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-1086743621203385432008-06-19T09:25:00.000-04:002008-06-19T09:25:00.000-04:00Now that's a memory, Tim! I remember my mother say...Now that's a memory, Tim! I remember my mother saying the rhyme. I had completely forgotten about Thank you for reminding me.Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-20566868744608530172008-06-19T02:21:00.000-04:002008-06-19T02:21:00.000-04:00I'll second Matthew's explanation.The first time I...I'll second Matthew's explanation.<BR/><BR/>The first time I heard Kathryn Windham Tucker tell stories, she included a memory of Birmingham, that she and her family used to "count the buzzards," with the old rhyme:<BR/><BR/>One for sorrow, two for joy,<BR/>three brings letters, four, a boy.<BR/>Five for silver, six for gold.<BR/>Seven for a secret that's never been told.<BR/><BR/>And in my family, we added:<BR/>And if you see eight, there's probably something dead nearby.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432302620700328040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-35679747357932596652008-06-18T21:33:00.000-04:002008-06-18T21:33:00.000-04:00Down the road from me is an old sycamore, long dea...Down the road from me is an old sycamore, long dead, yet each time you passed it you had to look twice for there were always turkey buzzards there. I have wondered why they always seem to choose the dead trees.<BR/>Thanks from me too, Matthew.<BR/>Sue's sister, <BR/>JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-9563105216795726242008-06-18T20:28:00.000-04:002008-06-18T20:28:00.000-04:00Crazy buzzards.Crazy buzzards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-36489641675771195712008-06-18T17:28:00.000-04:002008-06-18T17:28:00.000-04:00That's interesting, Matt. This was late afternoon,...That's interesting, Matt. This was late afternoon, so they may have been trying to warm up after the rain. You've explained why they lined up like that too. It was certainly a strange sight. <BR/><BR/>My husband calls them turkey buzzards too. But you're right, they are actually vultures--in every sense. Still, someone's gotta do that clean-up work!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the enlightenment! That's twice this week you've had the information I needed.Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-46985742859155461402008-06-18T09:46:00.000-04:002008-06-18T09:46:00.000-04:00Susanna,I might have an explanation for you, depen...Susanna,<BR/><BR/>I might have an explanation for you, depends on what time of day you saw these vultures. <BR/><BR/>It is actually pretty common to see vultures alight on fence posts, barn roofs, dead tree's, etc.. in the morning hours. This is because they have featherless heads and legs, which keep them cool on hot summer days, but leave them cold and damp from night air (perhaps also after a cold rain?). <BR/><BR/>Once on the fence posts, etc., the vultures move about slowly, if at all. They have to be spaced apart though so they don't bump into each other, which makes a fence line the perfect spot. When they warm up a bit more, they spread their wings with their backs to the sun to get even more solar heat. Once they are adequately warmed, they take off in search of a rotting carcass (Thank God for ketchup?)<BR/><BR/>Also, of interest, "Buzzards" in the New World are actually vultures, which are more related to flamingo's than the Old World Buzzards. I grew up calling them buzzards too, and typically still call them that. A buzzard by any other name...! By either name, the bird we are talking about here is the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura).<BR/><BR/>My mom tells a story about a girl she grew up with being vomited on by a turkey vulture!! Imagine that...<BR/><BR/>Hope this sheds some light on these remarkable birds.<BR/><BR/>I just love your blog!!!<BR/>MatthewMatthew Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625103538582649633noreply@blogger.com