Although the Robin is considered to be the “messenger of spring,” I have another candidate that should be considered for the job. Perhaps this bird is not as aesthetic as the robin, and you probably won’t see it feeding at your backyard bird-feeder. However, I’ll bet that it predicts the coming of spring more closely than the robin red breast. If you don’t know what bird I’m referring to, you may be in for a surprise. You see, it’s the turkey vulture, or as most people call them the “buzzard,” that rarely gets snow on their wings.
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That’s right. The turkey vulture is my choice for the true “messenger of spring.” I know that most people don’t want to picture a turkey vulture when they think of spring. (They’re not that pretty to look at, unless you’re another turkey vulture). However, many flocks of robins showed up early this year, only to be surprised by a late season cold spell. Vultures, on the other hand, are just now arriving into north Missouri. Hopefully, they won’t be surprised by any more winter weather!
Turkey vultures get their name from their red, featherless heads that closely resemble the wild turkey. An adult can grow to about 27 inches long, weigh about five and one half pounds and has a wing span of nearly six feet!
Turkey vultures are common throughout Missouri from early spring to late fall. Their cousin, the black vulture, can also be found in Missouri, but only in the southernmost counties. Turkey vultures winter in the southern United States and Central America. They usually return to Missouri in mid to late March, and begin nesting soon after arriving, generally in April.
Although most folks find them repugnant, vultures play an important role in nature. They can best be described as the clean up crew. This lifestyle demands certain adaptations.
The major adaptation is food. Carrion, or dead matter, makes up most of the turkey vulture’s diet. Most other animals would get sick from eating carrion, possibly contracting botulism. But it doesn’t bother the vultures. By ridding the world of dead animals, vultures keep botulism in check.
Because most of their diet is already dead, vultures do not need a keen sense of vision, like most other birds of prey. Instead, they rely on their extraordinary sense of smell. If you have ever smelled a dead animal, you know how bad it can be. While this smell may turn your stomach, it tells the vulture’s stomach, “time for lunch.”
Vultures also display an adaptation to conserve energy. To slow down their metabolic rate, which in turn saves calories, the vulture’s body temperature may drop by up to four degrees at night. This is where their black feathers come in handy. By spreading their wings in the morning sunlight, the feathers soak up the sun’s heat, warming the bird and allowing it to take flight. If you have ever seen an entire roost of vultures warming themselves, it can be an intimidating sight.
The flight of the turkey vulture is unique as well, and can best be described as “lazy.” Taking advantage of thermal updrafts, vultures can stay aloft for hours, with very few flaps of their wings. Their wings are kept in a V-shape with the tips of the wings higher than the body as the bird sails, swaying side to side.
Vultures lack a syrinx, or avian voice box, so they can’t sing, twitter or chatter like other birds. Instead communication comes through hisses, grunts or body posture.
The turkey vulture’s defense from predators is crude at best. Although they are not armed with sharp talons like many of their cousins, they are armed with the ability to regurgitate on anything that threatens their well being. It is this defense that one needs to be aware of when entering old barns during nesting season. Take it from someone who knows. You don’t want to experience their defense.
Although vultures have long been thought of as disgusting or wicked, they truly are amazing birds. Their unique life style sets them apart from any other species of birds. If you would like to experience the turkey vulture in its natural habitat, why not venture out to Crowder State Park this spring. Crowder is home to one of the largest turkey vulture roosts in north Missouri.
And finally, who says you have to be pretty to forecast the weather, just take a look at the most famous animal weather forecaster, the groundhog!
