Pretty Bird

The spruce trees around our bucolic manor tower above us and make a perfect lookout spot for the turkey vultures to roost.

They are huge ugly birds - really!  But they are the sweetest things.  If you look online, you'll find stories about how they act as baby sitters and playmates for young children - sweet and caring.

One of the strangest things I saw once was a turkey vulture pulling a deer that had been hit by a car off of the road and into the field.  There were a few other of its' friends hanging out, staying out of the way - most likely cheering him on.  This is not an unusual thing for them to do.

The best part of their vulture-ness is that once they digest something, no matter how...nasty, it comes out the other end absolutely bacteria free.  It's like they are nature's hazmat team.

I love how they soar on the thermals and come in for a landing at the tips of the trees.  All of them gather there for awhile, watching us watching them.  After awhile they fly away again.

They may be physically ugly to me, but their attitude and nature make them pretty birds.

Polly want a cracker?