It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a ....

While Mark and Michael were shingling the shed roof, they called my attention to a large bird that was soaring above them. The bird would catch the southerly wind and just glide over the treetops with such grace and ease that it was impressive to watch. I grabbed the camera and tried my best to catch a photograph of any decent clearness. This proved difficult to do since there were so many trees between the bird and me! We guessed at the identity of the bird even though it was difficult to see. The most insisted upon answer...EAGLE! Yep, the size of the bird definitely hinted at a Bald Eagle! This bird was huge! Still that did not seem right to me..this bird did not have the telltale "bald" head nor the white tail feathers from what I could see. Perhaps a juvenile eagle??? Perplexed by this, I was more determined than ever to get a clear view of the bird. Something just did not seem right with the identification.

I eased my way from under the trees and down the pier. There, I sat with my two friendly ducks as I stared at the sky hoping upon hoping that the bird would glide over the open marsh or water. I could catch glimpses of the bird as it glided through the trees never giving me the view I needed. WHAT was this bird! It was definitely large but for some reason just did not fly like the eagle. I have watched the eagle fish over the open waters and this just wasn't doing that. If this was an eagle, it was sure acting strange. I watched and watched..just waiting for the bird to clear the pines. Then...there was my opportunity! The bird soared over the marsh. This was no eagle..this was a vulture! That is why it seemed to be a most unusual "eagle"..it was NOT an unusual vulture! It was doing quite normal vulture things!

The Turkey Vulture is quite a large bird. It can have a wingspread of about six feet! Size-wise and with the dark coloring, it could easily be mistaken for the eagle but it is there that the similarities end. Where as the Bald Eagle has the beautiful white-feathered head the Turkey Vulture actually has a red, bald or featherless head! It was that red head that clinched the identity for me! The Turkey Vulture totally feeds on carrion and does not hunt or fish as the eagle does. It depends upon its keen sense of smell to find a dead critter on which to feed. It is attracted to the scent of decaying flesh. Another difference between the Turkey Vulture and most other birds (eagle included) is that the vulture has no vocal capabilities other than a few grunts and hisses. It actually does not have the syrinx or vocal organ that allows other birds to sing or otherwise make noises! So the poor vulture is more or less silent.

I know it is strange that I find this bird fascinating and probably even more strange that I am happy to see one making its home on the Bayou. I feel as if it is here for a reason and that if wildlife abounds..all wildlife..then my Bayou is healthy!