They are not traditionally attractive flyers, however the Turkey Vulture is an interesting aviator.
This picture was captured by Princeton wildlife photographer John Moody, near Princeton.
According to allaboutbirds.org, Turkey Vultures are effective scavengers, stalking farmers’ fields and hanging out beside highways, waiting to optimize kills.
The Turkey Vulture uses its keen sense of smell to detect carrion. The part of its brain that detects smell is particularly large, and allows it to detect dead animals beneath a forest canopy.
“The Turkey Vulture’s stomach is extremely acidic, so Turkey Vultures can digest just about anything,” says the website. “This also allows them to eat carcasses tainted with anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies without getting sick.
“By taking care of the carrion, vultures provide an essential service for the health of our ecosystems. Without them, carcasses would accumulate, and diseases would spread from rotting flesh.”
