Kings of the Sky

Turkey Vultures, or Buzzards as we always called them, are magnificent. Their heads may be unattractive compared to a hawk's (though the dark gray heads of the juveniles are more striking than ugly), but nothing matches them in the sky. And they're powerful birds, big and strong and splendid. They spend their days in lone soaring, rolling on the wind, seeking their food, and in the late afternoons they gather in trees - and nowadays, on towers, such as this water tower and its companion microwave/digital tower as well. Two years ago to the day there was a wake of sixty here at my father's; this year only a dozen or so. But the camera's better!

Two traditionalists - preferring the nearby tree to the water tower

One in the tree

Coming in to roost on the microwave tower

Roosting on the microwave tower

I really like this shot - mantling

Getting ready to leave the tree

Just having launched himself off the tower

Lining the water tower - one in the heraldic/horaltic pose

Lining the water tower - one side


Circling their roost