A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the increased opportunities to see bald eagles in our area because of the extended cold weather. Another big bird that catches my attention is a lot more common here year-round, and in its own way, as unique as the American symbol of strength and majesty.
While few would describe vultures as majestic, they really are a definition of beauty in the eye of the beholder. Almost exclusively plain black or dark brown with a bald head, they certainly lack the bright and bold plumage displayed by many of their songbird relatives.
You can see them circling in the summer skies or just about anytime you look up in most places, it seems. Whenever there is some roadkill or other carcass available, they can be found in droves.
One place you can see them every year is at the annual Vulture Venture provided by the state Department of Conservation at Table Rock Lake and the Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center near Branson, Mo. This year that program will be much more accessible for Jefferson County residents as a virtual event on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The online education opportunity is actually three sessions throughout the day, at 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. The first, “Meet a Vulture,” features Alice, a captive bird for participants to see up close. She will be shared with the audience through Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield.
The 1 p.m. program is scheduled for 30 minutes and is targeted for younger audiences, ages 5-10. In “Superhero Vultures,” conservation department staff will talk about the birds’ special characteristics and their benefits to the environment.
“Scavengers in the Sky,” from 3-4 p.m., is for all ages about the two types of vultures found in Missouri – turkey and black vultures. The program will focus on the fascinating physical traits that allow “buzzards” to subsist on a diet of dead animals.
All three programs are free, but advanced registration is required. Each program has its own unique registration link. A valid email address is needed so that participants can receive access to the online program.
To “Meet a Vulture” at 10 a.m. register at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/176203
For kids to see “Superhero Vultures!” from 1-1:30 p.m. register at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/176180
Those looking to learn about “Scavengers in the Sky,” from 3-4 p.m. sign-up at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/176135
All three programs will include chat-based question-and-answer periods for interaction with the presenters.
While trying to avoid any program spoilers (vultures might prefer that), I have always found these soaring giants fascinating. Mostly what we see in Jefferson County and throughout Missouri are turkey vultures. Black vultures are a little smaller and more common in the Bootheel region or along the Arkansas border, although their range has been expanding in recent years.
Turkey vultures average about 27 inches in height, and while soaring we can see their wingspan of up to 70 inches. By contrast, but still big as birds go, black vultures are about 25 inches tall with a 58-inch wing span.
Among the distinguishing differences of the two types of vultures is the color of their heads. The turkey vulture’s bald pate is red, while his cousin is all black on top. In flight they can be identified by how they hold and use their wings. Turkey vultures have a pronounced v-shape while soaring, compared to the almost horizontal wing position of the black vulture. Also, turkey vultures seem to glide endlessly on the air currents, occasionally tilting side to side to stay aloft, while black vultures flap their wings more frequently to remain airborne.
Those bald heads serve both similarly as they feast on their favorite foods. If you dined face-first on the inside of dead animals, you certainly would want to be clean-shaven, too. While eating carrion is not a pretty image, the big birds provide an important service keeping the woods and even roadsides clean of those carcasses.
Learn more about them this weekend or admire them anytime you see them soaring overhead.
John Winkelman is Marketing Director for Liguori Publications near Barnhart, Mo., and the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas to share for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.