The Turkey Vulture and Its Young
BY THOMAS H. JACKSON, West Chester. Pat
mu. photographs rmm llatlflt‘ by the snow
IGH in the air, soaring in grateful curves, often seemingly among the clouds, the Turkey Vulture is an object of beauty surpassing any of our native birds in its grace and majesty of flight. In this part of Pennsylvania it is very abundant during the summer months, and on any Clear day numbers of them may be seen, hovering high in the air, making their
wonderful evolutions without apparent effort or flapping of wing. Even during the coldest days of winter they are frequently seen, though at such times only as stragglers from the milder climate to the south: for to obtain food 1ere in zero weather, with deep snow covering everything, would seem for them an impossibility
Beautiful as Turkey Vultures appear when soaring in air, all cause for acmiration vanishes at once when we see them on the ground and at close quarters. Still, there is much in their habits and peculiarities to interest the bird student, especially so in connection with their nesting and the tearing of young. Early in April, with the advent of settled weather, they ecome quite numerous, and at once show an attachment for the old nesting sites. to which they seem to return for many years, if not too fre- quently disturbed. I have often noticed, when passing near the old nest- ing p aces, that the birds watch the intruder very Closely and hover near, although no eggs or young are yet in the nest. These nests, or rather nesting places (for they build no nest), in my experience have most fre< quenty been under overhanging rocks, or in caves formed by large rocks. A ho low stump, or a large log from which the center has rotted, is fre— quently used for a nesting place, and the present season I found a pair that ad taken possession of an abandoned pig-Sty in the woods, which furnished them an admirable place to set up housekeeping. Unfortunately, the smooth board floor had allowed one of their two eggs to roll away, and only one was hatched. Here they were safe from the attack of foxes, rac- coons or other night prowlers that are responsible for so many empty birdrhomes.
The period of incubation is very close to thirty days, possibly a day more or less. Many Turkey Vultures' eggs are very handsomely marked with spots and blotches of varying shades of brown, and the temptation to take them for curiosities is hard for many boys to resist; this, together with many other natural enemies, leaves, I am inclined to think, but a small perm-magi: of nests that yield mature birds. The nests, however, seem to be more numerous in this vicinity than formerly, and it is not
unusual to find live or six now in a single season.
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