Thank you so much, Pamela. It's good to hear that they are in abundance in your part of the East Coast. They serve such an important role in the environment.
Heidi, thank you for this interesting piece, and I love the photo of the turkey vultures. I did some internet sleuthing and found out they also have blue butterflies there! Hope you enjoy your Sunday.
Thank you, Kristin! That's awesome that your sleuthing led you to discover this wonderful Willamette Valley endemic butterfly. They are quite small and a periwinkle blue. I saw several on the hike and that might lead to another conversation! We're having a sunny Sunday morning and hope you're having a good day.:)
Thank you, James! The Turkey Vultures gave me the gift of their presence in the oak woods. I've never had an experience quite like it before. They were roosting, but also doing flybys. Pure magic.
Amazing to see them roosting- that is amazing. Travels are good, some adventures, lots of love. Blessed to be on a special journey. For the critters. And all of us. XX
Thanks, Heidi! Your pets conversation reminds me of the legend about the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. Turkey vultures in great numbers settled into the woods of Adams County, Pennsylvania in the weeks following the battle in July of 1863. With over 50,000 dead, wounded or missing, there was feasting aplenty. Some bodies were only lightly buried - with armies leaving the fields and so few residents helping with the wounded that they could save. The Sisters of Charity arrived as well. Legend has it that the descendants of these birds still live in those woods, waiting for the next meal.
Thank you, Elyse! What a fascinating account and history about Gettysburg. Really interesting how that has carried forward to the current Turkey Vultures, perhaps as much genetic as legendary. I've never been to Gettysburg, but have always wanted to see it and learn more about it. Thank you very much for helping educate me about it.
So good, Heidi! I love the photos of your critters, the poem was spot on, and I believe that a furniture store tat only sells oaky things should be named Quercus. I loved learning about the Turkey Vultures, too. Kettling is SO cool to see in the up close and personal! P.S. I've watched hawks kettle at Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts in the fall. It was amazing.
Thank you, Mary! That's a great idea for the name Quercus. Buy a chair. Plant a tree. Thank you very much for the link to more kettling. That's awesome. Being in that oak woods with the Turkey Vultures was amazing.
Interesting name for a group of Turkey Vultures being called a kettle! They're one of my sentimental favourites among birds as they're sometimes overlooked or seen negatively. They are such a treat to watch soar and do lazy circles in the sky on a warm sunny day. Thanks for sharing, Heidi.
Thank you, Neil! I was also surprised to learn of the group term, kettle. It was such a magical moment to see them in the oak woods, so silent and communal. They also help keep diseases from spreading. I also love watching them fly.
Thank you, Mr Glen! What a lovely comment to share with us. Thank you very much for being here with us at Critters.:) It is the highest of compliments and much appreciated. As we speak, Jojo has rejected one half of his morning glucosamine supplement and is scavenging for something more, shall we say, appealing to his nature. Have a wonderful weekend and we'll see you next time!
Thank you so much, we are truly appreciative of your readership. We post every Tue and Friday. Tue is our serial detective stories. Have a good weekend and we'll see you next time! Same Critter day. Same Critter channel.:)
Turkey vultures are fascinating. I see a lot of the here. Love the sweet critters photos too!
Thank you so much, Pamela. It's good to hear that they are in abundance in your part of the East Coast. They serve such an important role in the environment.
Awww the couch photos are the best! ❤️🥰
Thank you, Trudi! Yes, the true pictures of relaxation! Hope you're having a good weekend.:)
I am! I’m on holiday with my son 😃
Enjoy!!
Heidi, thank you for this interesting piece, and I love the photo of the turkey vultures. I did some internet sleuthing and found out they also have blue butterflies there! Hope you enjoy your Sunday.
Thank you, Kristin! That's awesome that your sleuthing led you to discover this wonderful Willamette Valley endemic butterfly. They are quite small and a periwinkle blue. I saw several on the hike and that might lead to another conversation! We're having a sunny Sunday morning and hope you're having a good day.:)
I was hoping you saw them! Such a pretty shade of blue! Of course we would luv to hear all about them.
There were a lot of them, lots of wildflowers in bloom. You've given us a new lead for our next post! Good sleuthing!
Love this Heidi, so interesting. Great 'undercover' work from Chris too, such a great picture 😄
Thank you, April! Chris is truly capable of undercover detective work!
Great post Heidi! Ducks and gulls get overlooked, raptors don’t—except the Turkey Vultures! Thank you for giving them their moment in the spotlight.
Thank you, James! The Turkey Vultures gave me the gift of their presence in the oak woods. I've never had an experience quite like it before. They were roosting, but also doing flybys. Pure magic.
Thanks, Heidi and critters, for letting us know about a kettle of turkey vultures making an oak into a place to roost.
Thank you, Diana! It was a special moment in the oak woods. I often seen Turkey Vultures flying but not roosting. They are very social.:)
Adorable. I work with a guy named Ed, he's a Turkey vulture. Love him. He's fun. And he's very considerate. That's why they may work in a kettle. ; )
Thank you, Robin! Incredible! I hadn't really seen them in a roosting group before, so it felt amazing. Hope all is well with you on your travels.:)
Amazing to see them roosting- that is amazing. Travels are good, some adventures, lots of love. Blessed to be on a special journey. For the critters. And all of us. XX
Thanks, Heidi! Your pets conversation reminds me of the legend about the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. Turkey vultures in great numbers settled into the woods of Adams County, Pennsylvania in the weeks following the battle in July of 1863. With over 50,000 dead, wounded or missing, there was feasting aplenty. Some bodies were only lightly buried - with armies leaving the fields and so few residents helping with the wounded that they could save. The Sisters of Charity arrived as well. Legend has it that the descendants of these birds still live in those woods, waiting for the next meal.
Thank you, Elyse! What a fascinating account and history about Gettysburg. Really interesting how that has carried forward to the current Turkey Vultures, perhaps as much genetic as legendary. I've never been to Gettysburg, but have always wanted to see it and learn more about it. Thank you very much for helping educate me about it.
So good, Heidi! I love the photos of your critters, the poem was spot on, and I believe that a furniture store tat only sells oaky things should be named Quercus. I loved learning about the Turkey Vultures, too. Kettling is SO cool to see in the up close and personal! P.S. I've watched hawks kettle at Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts in the fall. It was amazing.
https://massbird.org/emhw/where-to-go-hawk-watching/
Thank you, Mary! That's a great idea for the name Quercus. Buy a chair. Plant a tree. Thank you very much for the link to more kettling. That's awesome. Being in that oak woods with the Turkey Vultures was amazing.
You're welcome and I love the tag line for Quercus, "Buy a Chair, Plant a Tree", Maybe they would sell wine from oak barrels.
I imagine being in the oak woods with the turkey vultures was magnificent! You tell a great story, btw.
That's awesome, Mary. We need trees! And thank you very much for the storytelling compliment. So kind of you.:)
Interesting name for a group of Turkey Vultures being called a kettle! They're one of my sentimental favourites among birds as they're sometimes overlooked or seen negatively. They are such a treat to watch soar and do lazy circles in the sky on a warm sunny day. Thanks for sharing, Heidi.
Thank you, Neil! I was also surprised to learn of the group term, kettle. It was such a magical moment to see them in the oak woods, so silent and communal. They also help keep diseases from spreading. I also love watching them fly.
Thank you, Mr Glen! What a lovely comment to share with us. Thank you very much for being here with us at Critters.:) It is the highest of compliments and much appreciated. As we speak, Jojo has rejected one half of his morning glucosamine supplement and is scavenging for something more, shall we say, appealing to his nature. Have a wonderful weekend and we'll see you next time!
Thank you so much, we are truly appreciative of your readership. We post every Tue and Friday. Tue is our serial detective stories. Have a good weekend and we'll see you next time! Same Critter day. Same Critter channel.:)
Thank you and that is the highest of compliments. The end.