Macabre Waterfowl?

No, this isn't an ugly duckling (or adult duck); it's a Turkey Vulture. Although I usually see them soaring overhead or perched on trees, rooftops, or even telecommunications towers, it's apparently not terribly uncommon to see them foraging near water. I don't recall if this was after a minor flooding event, but Turkey Vultures have noticed that sometimes fish get stranded in receding water and die, making their rotting carcasses a nutritious and delicious meal for the vulture community. And, like most birds, they will occasionally clean themselves using water. So even though I rarely see them there, this isn't an especially unusual place for a vulture to be.

April 21, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 272674947, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)



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