Description

These birds can be seen soaring around Lake Murray. You can easily spot them by their red heads and enormous wing spans. As big as they are, they gracefully sail through the air, hardly ever flapping their wings. When flying, their wings are held in a very shallow V shape. These birds are rarely seen on or near the ground unless they are feeding. The Turkey Vultures only feed on carcasses. And from what I observed they appear to feed one at a time. With fights ensuing if more try to eat. It is said that their heads contain no feathers so as not to contract any parasites while feeding. It is also said that the birds may regurgitate their rotting meal 1) as a self defense, 2) to reduce their weight for a faster take-off, and 3) to protect their young from preditors by surrounding them with the rotton, smelly, regurgitated meal.