I haven’t seen or photographed my first of year Turkey Vultures yet but it nice to know that Nature’s clean up crew has returned to northern Utah. I wonder if the vultures that have migrated woke up to snow like I did yesterday morning.
Turkey Vulture on a grassy hillside – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I know that some bird photographers will walk or drive right past Turkey Vultures because they don’t think of them as pretty birds or because they are hard birds to expose properly due to their dark plumage but I am not one of those photographers, I like photographing our vultures. I enjoy the challenge and I wouldn’t pass them up just because they aren’t pretty birds.
I photographed this Turkey Vulture two years ago as it rested on a grassy hillside along with several other vultures as they warmed up in the morning sun. The only thing that bothers me a bit about this photo is all the cheatgrass I can see growing on the hillside because it is invasive, takes over where native grasses should be and it is highly flammable.
Utah doesn’t have a shortage of carrion for these vultures to feed on and whether it is a road killed deer, rabbit, squirrel or porcupine they are ready to clean it up and they aren’t our only bird of prey that does that, Golden Eagles will help clean up road kill too. I think it would be great to drive up on a road kill where there are both species actually!
I’m itching to get back out into the field because I want to see my first of the year Turkey Vultures on the wing.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Turkey Vulture photos plus facts and information about this species.
I saw our first turkey vultures in north-central New Mexico this week as well, They are harbingers of Spring for us.
Hooray for the clean-up crew.
We saw many turkey vultures on our trip to St George last weekend. All soaring high in the sky.
I would like to get out too I have spent 5 days in and it has given me cabin fever. Maybe this afternoon or Sunday morning I will venture a small outing. Monday is back to work, my spring break was not very adventurous this year.
Fabulous shot of what I think are pretty handsome birds. The feather detail you got is striking.