Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A Committee of Vultures

1. Tuvu-kab Turkey Vulture on the chimney of the house across the street 4-30-12

It was the last day of April and I had just returned from a full day of errands and birding in Salem, NH. With a rain storm headed our way the sky had already become leaden and gloomy. I was outside with the dog when I suddenly looked up to see a “committee” of Turkey Vultures landing on the rooftop and chimney of a house across the street! I quickly brought the dog inside and grabbed my camera. The following photos were all taken within a few short minutes. The first one was taken from inside my apartment looking through the front window, but then I went outside and across the street. I did not waste time taking photos as I did not want my neighbors to think I was spying on them! By-the-way, I discovered this morning that the collective noun for a group of vultures is “a committee.” Alternative collective nouns for this species are; “cast,” “meal,”, vortex,” and “wake.” (Info on collective nouns from iBird Pro.)

2. TUVU-DSC_0186 

3. KAB-DSC_0187 

4. Andover TUVU-kab 

5. Lift off-kab 

6. A commitee of vultures-kab The Committee

7. acrobat-kab 

8. wings-kab 

9. settling in-kab 

10. good-night-kab Good Night!

 

World Bird Wednesday

17 comments:

  1. Kathie, cool post and great shots of the committee. I think the Turkey Vultures are neat birds. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. My goodness! Great shots! Interesting birds, but a little creepy.

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  3. Wow magnificent birds, if not a little scary.

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  4. Lovely post and shots of the 'committee' Kathie. I wonder if they ever agree with one another .. lol.

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  5. How eerie! Ya look at all those long faces and want to ask, "Who died?" and then they'll all go, "What!? Where!?"

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  6. Great photos. It was a good thing you had your camera all ready to go. I wonder if those birds always go in groups like that.

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  7. Great post! So interesting to see the vultures, a bird I never seen.

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  8. Eileen, as I recall they are daily visitors at your house!

    kathryn, yeah, I know, but I love the way they soar!

    kristallcreatures, thanks.

    Gary, thanks.

    Frank, I wondered the same thing!

    Laurence, I know!

    jeanelle, thanks!

    Mick, they usually do and sometimes they get into even bigger "committees!"

    fjallripan, They are magnificent when they soar.

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  9. Haha! Loved this post. Looks like your neighbor's house temporarily housed the Addams Family! What a sight...

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  10. Lucky you! I would love those vulture neighbors.

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  11. Turkey Vultures are ugly but very important and interesting birds.
    You really got some great close-ups!

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  12. A committee of vultures seems so appropriate. Love these shots. Such magnificent birds.

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  13. Committee, really, great pictures. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. Now I'm not a superstitious person - but that would have had me worried - especially if they had landed on my house!

    Intersesting pictures.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  15. Hi Kathie

    What a wonderful post I really like vultures and the fourth shot with the feather detail was great.

    All the best.
    Guy

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  16. Great shots! I love to see the Vultures.

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  17. Looks like there was a party going on there Kathie. We get a lot of them over here but I only see them soaring, so graceful in flight, never very close like this though. Great shots!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.