This is the oldest of the two fledgling age vultures in our backyard. I think it is pretty cool that we can see clean through its nose.
This vulture fledgling let me get pretty close yesterday. It has been spending most of the day out of the hole, up in the tree, while its younger sibling still retreats to the nest cavity.
It is the oldest and the boldest of the two. I don’t know for certain, but it is about a day or two older than its sibling. I believe it has embraced being the oldest with a certain measure of bliss.
Sneaking Bliss 
very nice close up
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The young vulture struck quite the pose.
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I love to photograph them they always pose so well. We have lots of them on our property
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We have a nest in our backyard. I have been following their progress.
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Seems an age now since they were ghost babies as someone described them Mary !
Yes handsome he is 😉
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Just under 10 weeks old. 🙂
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Mary,
Seems you have captured the vultures personality as well as his looks.
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I feel so honored to get so close, and so lucky not to be greeted with vomit!
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He’s actually quite charming!
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The few I have met in captivity are very charming and curious.
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Wow! that picture makes him/her look quite lovely! So – looking at that big nostril, when they’re flying around way up in the clouds, do they smell dead stuff or see it? How do they find a good meal?
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First is smell. They have a keen sense of smell, and they also have very sharp eyesight. Gee, good senses to go along with good looks, they just have it all. 😉
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Very nice shot of him!
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Fantastic capture, Mary. It is said that the nose is the window to the world, LOL! How interesting that you can see clear through his nose.
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I hadn’t heard that saying…but it makes the scientific name even more ironic – Cathartes aura – purifying breeze. 😉
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Great camera work….. but that’s a face only a mother could love. I do enjoy the nature close up though. Thanks.
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