This week we wanted to highlight some special local inhabitants - turkey
vultures. If you drive anywhere in the Sunol Valley, you will almost always spot a committee of vultures waiting to see what their
next meal will be.
Turkey vultures, like this one spotted near Calaveras Reservoir, like to roost in bare trees to keep an eye (and nose) out for their next meal.
Turkey vultures, also known as turkey buzzards, are the most
widespread species of vulture in the New World. They are so named because of
their resemblance to the male wild turkey. Their range spreads from Canada all
the way to the southernmost tip of South America. We call them nature’s garbage
collectors because they feed almost exclusively on carrion and perform a
crucial natural function of picking clean disease carrying carcasses.
Vultures are probably one of the most misunderstood birds in
the animal kingdom. Here are some fun facts about these creatures:
- Turkey vultures have one of the best senses of smell in the animal kingdom.
- It's a misconception that they actually prefer their food rotten. However, vultures do have a cool adaptation; their stomach acid is almost comparable to battery acid.
- Nothing goes to waste with a vulture. They even make good use of semi-digested and digested food.
Photo courtesy of WikiCommons
Although few people would call them cute, they do perform a crucial role in natural areas like the Sunol Valley.
See you around the valley!
