July 26, 2009 - Tipsy Flyers

Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

A red head protruding from between long, ragged-tipped wings held in a slight V, help identify a turkey vulture gliding in the summer skies. These feathered scavengers are energy efficient fliers, waiting for the sun to warm the ground before slipping into rising air currents to glide over the landscape in search of food. As vultures circle and spiral overhead, they tilt from side to side as small puffs of rising air rock them back and forth giving them the appearance of being slightly tipsy. These same air currents carry the odor of a dead animal to the vulture’s sensitive nose. Unlike most birds, they depend on a keen sense of smell to find their food rather than good eyesight. Although vultures circle as they ride a rising thermal upward to gain altitude, it does not necessarily mean they are circling potential food.
 
This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.