  Turkey Vultures/Buzzards (Cathartes aura) You may wonder what this Big carrion-muncher is doing in Songbird pages. The answer is that GardenGrapevine.com discovered a Nest with Eggs of these unusual and little-documented Gliders of the Sky, and followed their growth with a Camera.   This
Parent Vulture (assumed to be female) left the Nest and flew to a
Nearby Locust Tree filled with fragrant Spring Blossoms, where it
spread its Wings in a gliding posture. Note the bare head which was
created without Feathers to facilitate cleaning of a Head that gets
thrust inside dead Animals.
 Here
the normal clutch of two large speckled Eggs lies in a shallow
depression which
may be natural or formed by the Female Vulture. They are the size of
Goose Eggs. The location is under
the protective cover of Rocks and storm-downed Trees in an area which
is not frequented by Humans.
 Looking
like a cross between a Penguin and a Woodpecker, who would guess that
these downy white Hatchlings would turn into big black Gliders of the
Sky?
The outstretched Wings are accompanied by a loud hissing meant to make them appear large and formidable, and scare off potential predators.  Already, the
sharp Beak can tear bits of flesh carried by the parents. The extra large Nostrils
and Nasal Cavities are created to detect the
stench of rotting Carrion on the ground far below the gliding Birds.
 Six
weeks later (July 12) the Nestlings have grown to nearly the size of
their Parents, and in the process have soiled their surroundings with
white excrement and created a stench which only a Buzzard could
tolerate.
 Now
the Juvenile Buzzards have left the Nest area. It appears that they have been climbing atop nearby debris, probably
to exercise
their Wings for their impending Maiden Voyage and their October
Migration when thousands upon thousands will soar a mile high to go as
far as South America.
This was the last photo taken of the juvenile pair. The white baby down
is nearly gone and their wings appear to be fully developed, ready to
elevate them into the air
currents high
above the Earth, where their nearly six-foot wing spans will glide them
effortlessly in search of the next Roadkill.
 Speaking of Roadkill, this piece was found in the lair. It
appears to be from a Raccoon, judging by the hairs indicated with the
three white dots. The white circle indicates fat. Flies and many dead
Maggots can be seen. It has been consumed and regurgitated by the
parents, much the same as Pigeons and Doves feed grain to their own
Nestlings.
Foot Note:
Buzzards were seen circling above the empty nest site 2 weeks later. Some individuals appeared to be brown as opposed to black. They were assumed to be these juveniles.  Comments ?  
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