Wings of Autumn

Posted on October 9, 2012 by MaryALivingston

The signs of autumn are slowly appearing in the Battle Creek basin. Last week bid farewell the triple digit heat with a final day of 103F (39.4C) on Monday, October 1. This week opened with a high of 80F(26.6C). The temperature drop and shorter days nudge a color shift in the trees.

Kettles of turkey vultures fill the sky. Here along the creek we have vultures year round. They even nest in our backyard. This time of year their numbers increase in the sky as they circle higher and higher on thermals. Vultures gather here for a reason. The fall run of Chinook salmon is underway.

Reviled creatures, most people consider these carrion feeders gross and ugly. If you have ever smelled rotting salmon from the spawn, you may consider these turkey vultures the most beautiful of all. We welcome their presence to keep our little valley clean.

I appreciate these birds.

Turkey Vultures –
This is an illustration from a children’s book I am working on called “No Place for Ugly Birds.”

34 thoughts on “Wings of Autumn”

foresterartist on October 9, 2012 at 2:01 pm said:

These vultures are beautifully ugly. Great painting!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm said:
  
  Thank you. They are a welcome sight.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
ellisnelson on October 9, 2012 at 6:21 pm said:

Very nice.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 13, 2012 at 3:23 pm said:
  
  Thanks.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
elenacaravela on October 13, 2012 at 12:02 pm said:

Terrific painting

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Jenny's Serendipity on October 15, 2012 at 3:41 pm said:

Very cute 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 15, 2012 at 3:52 pm said:
  
  thanks
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Jenny's Serendipity on October 15, 2012 at 3:54 pm said:
    
    YW 😉
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
marina kanavaki on October 19, 2012 at 4:39 pm said:

Them turkeys are wonderful!
🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 19, 2012 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  Thank you. They are very happy at the moment. Our fall salmon run is in full swing and the turkey vultures are out in force cleaning up the shores. Keeps us happy, too!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - marina kanavaki on October 19, 2012 at 4:47 pm said:
    
    I bet they do!
    🙂
    PS: Nice to meet you and your work, and thank you for your visit & follow!
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
Gillian on October 19, 2012 at 11:47 pm said:

What a beautiful painting! While Turkey Vultures themselves will never win an award for beauty, they are highly beneficial in that they eat dead things…even diseased dead things. And they are so magnificent when they just soar across the sky. It’s nice to meet someone else who appreciates them!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 19, 2012 at 11:51 pm said:
  
  Thank you. They are such fascinating and interesting birds, but not well understood.
  Thanks for visiting.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
opreach on October 20, 2012 at 12:00 am said:

I agree! And in case you are interested I have a similar (though shorter) sentiment with a picture of one of these magnificent birds at: http://opreach.org/2012/10/11/lets-just-pay-attention/. This is a great painting! Watercolor?

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 20, 2012 at 12:12 am said:
  
  Thank you. Yes, it is watercolor. I have enjoyed exploring your blog today and plan to share some posts with our confirmation class. 😀
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - opreach on October 20, 2012 at 11:27 am said:
    
    Great! Thanks.
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
Chris on October 20, 2012 at 12:10 am said:

They look like they are smiling! Having them here, I enjoy watching them too. If they eat road kill critters like skunks, they are tops on my list!:0

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 20, 2012 at 12:17 am said:
  
  They are characters. I have met a few living in rescue situations, they have interesting personalities.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: Fall Salmon Run is Here | The Backdoor Artist
Amy Duncan on October 26, 2012 at 7:11 pm said:

I love this illustration! Who wouldn’t love a turkey vulture after looking at this! 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 26, 2012 at 7:13 pm said:
  
  That’s the plan!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Amy Duncan on October 26, 2012 at 7:16 pm said:
    
    Well, it worked!
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
Anne on October 26, 2012 at 9:08 pm said:

Oh, a kindred spirit! I love vultures! They are my favorite birds. They are gentle creatures, and so wonderfully graceful when they fly. They are Nature’s humble housecleaners.

I was also told once that in Central American legend, the vulture is responsible for carrying the souls of the dead to Heaven.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on October 27, 2012 at 2:00 am said:
  
  I have been stalking roadkill for over a year to study them as research for a children’s picture book. They are remarkable even if unappreciated.
  Thanks for stopping by,
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
mymotionpicture on November 4, 2012 at 8:54 pm said:

lovely paintings… 🙂 all of them! I must say.. and thanks for stopping by my blog! 🙂

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Mark Armstrong on November 27, 2012 at 7:59 pm said:

Great illustration, it put a big smile on my face. I’m ready to invite those guys to lunch and give ’em big fat salmon sandwiches… : )

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on November 27, 2012 at 8:32 pm said:
  
  Just don’t scare ’em. They projectile vomit when frightened, might dampen the luncheon. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Jana Bouc on November 28, 2012 at 10:53 pm said:

These are absolutely wonderful! You make them look like charming and proud creatures. As I wrote on my blog for Thanksgiving, we should be grateful for Turkey Vultures as they do the world a great service.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- The Backdoor Artist on November 29, 2012 at 6:26 am said:
  
  They are a most curious bird. I appreciate their job, glad it’s not my job! 🙂
  Just saw some of these cuties on your blog, what a fun Thanksgiving Day post.
  Thanks for stopping by –
  Mary
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: A Sunshine Award for A Writer’s Playground « A Writer's Playground
lindamartinandersen on December 27, 2012 at 12:51 pm said:

Mary,
I selected your blog to receive The Sunshine Award. See my blog post for details at
http://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/. I love the way you see beauty in all of nature. You are a ray of sunshine. I also gave the award to Tim. You two make a great pair!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Pingback: Night Visitor | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Bigger on the Inside | The Backdoor Artist