In my last post, I noted that I was trying to capture a breeding shot of the turkey vultures. As I was cleaning my painting table, I noticed a vulture perched on the gate at the lower field, two on posts, and one on the ground. Surely, there must be a nesting pair amongst this crew.
I grabbed the camera and sneaked out the office door and around the side of the house. The one on the gate spread its wings, as vultures often do when sunning themselves. The posture was a bit more intimidating than the usual bask in the sunshine. Then the one on the ground spread out its wings.
They squared off.
Then the one on the gate literally flung itself onto the intruder. The fight was on. The fight initiator chased the other through the trees, across the big pond, and up the hill. Then the victorious vulture flew into the nest tree and fluffed its feathers in a display claiming the nest site.
Interesting goings-on in my backyard.
Vultures gather by at the lower gate. Two offer a display.
The vulture on the gate pounces on the other.
The fight ensues.
Th vulture delivers a parting shot (bite).
The intruder is chased away.
After successfully chasing the intruder away, the vulture perches in the nest tree.
Sneaking Bliss 
I would have thought they were attacking each other!
LikeLike
Indeed they were.
LikeLike
Mary,
This has been an interesting week in your backyard. I’m so glad you captured this in word and photograph. I feel like I’m there. I am enjoying this mini series. Do you plan to create a trailer or video to announce your upcoming book? You have real-life footage.
LikeLike
I have a lot of turkey vulture footage. I have been stalking these creatures for reference photos for over a year. I even have some great video footage of dozens gathering to feed on roadkill. yum
I do believe a trailer is in order…and I thought I would get a weekend off. lol 😉
LikeLike
Mary,
When will your vulture book debut? Is the publisher and title something you can share? I’m definitely interested in it. Hopefully, many other followers are too.
LikeLike
They are absolutely huge birds!
LikeLike
The wingspan is about 6 feet.
LikeLike
Great photo sequence of vultures in action. These are interesting.
LikeLike
do you know that vultures in India have almost become extinct? And all due to a drug called Diclofenac, which was used liberally in large animal practice as an anti-inflammatory agent. Though it had no effect on the animal, at least not an adverse one, when the vultures fed on carcasses of cattle that had been injected with this drug, it led to crystallization in their kidneys causing their deaths!
LikeLike
I was reading an article about this recently. Are efforts underway to stabilize and rebuild the population?
Vultures are so critical in the role they play.
LikeLike
High drama! Looking forward to developments.
LikeLike
Wow!
LikeLike
Mary, I posted a “A Dog’s Will” poem just for you to read and to show to Tim. I just posted it with great difficulty. My blog is about to give me a “fit.”
LikeLike
A nice photo account of territorial behavior. King of the hill/tree-tops!
LikeLike
Indeed!
LikeLike
Wow! Those are incredible pictures! We have lots of those vultures around here. The Mom Person finds them pretty fascinating. Me not so much. They worry me when they’re on the ground or fly low.
LikeLike
Not to sound gruesome, but they are not likely to bother you while you have a heartbeat.
Another fascinating tip, they prefer vegetarian carrion.
LikeLike
Well, that’s good to know! I still don’t like them too close.
LikeLike
Pingback: Night Visitor | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Bigger on the Inside | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Vulture Chicks – 3 weeks | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Eerie Sounds from the Vulture Chicks | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Wood Duck Invades Vuture Nest – Ghost Babies Fight Back | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Down the Vulture Hole | The Backdoor Artist
Pingback: Turkey Vulture Chick Debut | The Backdoor Artist