TURKEY BUZZARD
PR

There is one bird that is often seen around the Historic Triangle but nearly always at a distance. Few persons are accorded a close-up view and perhaps this is well. When seen on the ground, the vulture or turkey buzzard as he is more commonly known presents one of the most repulsive sights in nature with his bald, grotesque head, hooked beak and awkward method of locomotion. Once airborne, all clumsiness is left behind, for as a glider and sailer, the turkey buzzard has few equals.

There are two species of vultures in the locality but seldom seen is the black vulture. The two birds may easily be identified in flight, the turkey buzzard having longer wings and being more graceful while the wings of the smaller bird are broad and stubby, causing it to fly with a short, jerky wing motion.

The eyesight of these birds is remarkably keen even among the rest of the birds of prey. From such a distance in the sky that they seem to be mere pin-points, they have been known to sight the bodies of small dead animals Iying thousands of feet below.

The bird's nest is located in a hollow stump or tree and generally is only a slight depression scooped out in the ground. The eggs are slightly larger than hen eggs and are white with brown splotches. The female protects her nest and eggs by food regurgitation in the hope that the foul odor will drive off intruders.