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Dear Members,

The Vulture Society is very sorry that this site became a victim of
spam.  We are doing the best we can to keep it clean, and have removed
all the offensive postings.

I hope this continues to be a helpful networking resource for you all,
and please feel free to make suggestions for further improvement!

F. VanRiper
Moderator

I just started working with TV and we just got our third one!  All of
our birds were injured and can't fly so any enrichment ideas I would
love.  One of our birds is an imprint and runs from two of our keepers
but attacks me and one other keeper.  We try to walk through her or
distract her but she will just bite us and hold on as we walk.  I have
tried to brush her off lightly but she will just bite me again or foot
me.  She will run in circles around me to try to get behind me which I
don't allow but then I am turning circles often.  Any suggestions would
be great.  Please help.

Thanks,
Stacy

Hi just stumbled across this group whilst looking up my new fave
birds the Turkey Vultures.  Doesn't seem too active lately except
for all the spam (can anyone block the addresses??)... i would be
happy to hear from any fellow TV fans/keepers on their stories and
experiences.
I have the privelidge to work with 2 male TV's in a park i'm
employed in Scotland (although i am Australian).  Before i arrived
the Vultures were unsuccesfully being trained to soar in the area...
They are both only 2-3 years old, with a sketchy training
background, so seemed to lack confidence when they dissapeared out
of sight, they would sometimes land in some of the more dangerous
animal enclosures.
Since i started December last year i focused much of my time to
training 'my boys' and have found that they have blossomed with the
extra time i've put in.  They take on new training readily.  So far
i have trained both the vultures to put wings out on cue using a
target and both will fly about the arena from platform to platform.
One thing i would love to do is have them soaring (confidently) in
the arena then coming down on cue... This is Scottish weather
permitting :) Any suggestions are welcome...
The TV's are part of a multi species free-flight (or walk)
presentation with a focus on education leading to conservation....
the best message surrounding vultures is that all vultures need to
be protected/conserved as they play such an important role in the
ecosystem, using Asia's lack of Vulture crisis as an example.  I
find the TV's to be very endearing characters in the presentation
and many people seem to warm to them.
I've found that the glove has become the lure for 'the boys', as
over the years, before i arrived they were fed plenty on the glove.
I have fallen in love with the beautiful, curious/intelligent nature
they have and am so proud that they have developed so much under my
care.
One other thing i am starting to work on with 'my boys' is a simple
retrieval behavoiur... any tips on this???  It's not really for any
reason other than they seem hungry for more training.  I don't want
them getting bored.... plus any enrichment tips???
Enrichment wise i often supply the TV's with new safe objects for
them to explore (like balls), which they do so with a little foot
stamping to begin with.  I've even started trying different herbs
inside cannisters to see if smells would enrich them, so far they're
more interested in the cannisters.
Anyway i was just so excited to find other TV fans that i had to
join... Hope to hear from you soon
Janelle

Best advice I can give is cope him before you feed him
(vomit issues)  He may still vomit older food after
you are done.

We cope Juniors beak from time to time, but his nails
never seem to have problems.  The way we do it is have
him stand on the glove of one handler and another
comes up behind him and towels him quickly before he
has a chance to get upset.  We're never been able to
cope him while he stands on the glove calmly, like
some of our birds.
Good luck,
Melody.

--- Jeff <johandle@...> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> We've had 'Morty' for nearly four years. During that
> time we've never
> had to trim his talons or bill; it maintained a nice
> shape, didn't
> overgrow, unlike our other raptors. However, this
> winter, his bill
> mysteriously started overgrowing. It's not severe,
> yet, but it
> definitely needs a trimming and reshaping.
>
> In all likelihood, we should handle him the same way
> we handle our
> other birds when we cope them, but since vultures
> seem so much
> different from the other birds, I was wondering if
> anyone had any good
> advice, tips or tricks for taking care of this
> activity.  Thanks!
>
> Jeff
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hi all,

We've had 'Morty' for nearly four years. During that time we've never
had to trim his talons or bill; it maintained a nice shape, didn't
overgrow, unlike our other raptors. However, this winter, his bill
mysteriously started overgrowing. It's not severe, yet, but it
definitely needs a trimming and reshaping.

In all likelihood, we should handle him the same way we handle our
other birds when we cope them, but since vultures seem so much
different from the other birds, I was wondering if anyone had any good
advice, tips or tricks for taking care of this activity.  Thanks!

Jeff

Hello All,
I work with a male Turkey Vulture who's about 11 years old and and has been
captive since
he was ~6 months old.  I've heard him vocalize (grunt/growel) a few times in the
past, and
it's usually fear related.  Well today he began this strange grunting
vocalization (a string of
repetitive grunts that he opened his mouth and inflated his throat during.)  I
did some
internet research when I got home and it appears to be courtship vocalizations. 
I found this
recording:  http://mirror-pole.com/collpage/tv/tv_court.mp3
at this website: http://mirror-pole.com/collpage/tv/tv.htm
His behavior has been poor lately and I'm thinking this may all be related.  Has
anyone dealt
with a hormonal/spring time/courtship-mode male turkey vulture?  I'm not sure
what to
expect from a male TV in courtship-mode.  Any help and guidance you can offer
would be
greatly appreciated.
thank you,
Melody

If he is becoming too cocky, he may be getting bored. Perhaps
changing where you fly him or the things you ask him to do on cue.
Does anyone else fly him or just yourself? Another thing, have you
trained him to recall to a lure? We did this with ours and it has
worked wonderfully, he is trained to know that a whistle means the
lure is being tossed out and he will get a larger reward on the lure
than he would on the fist, this way we can be more confident in
flying him in other areas because the lure is another back up plan
in case of a fly off. It sounds to me that he is getting bored, as
you know they are very intelligent so boredom can become a problem,
I get the same problems in harris' hawks and in turkey vultures. If
you could let me know a bit more about him I may have other
suggestiona and ideas. (how is he kept, alone or with others, do you
fly any other birds, does he get enrichment frequently and what is
your flying routine and behaviors.
I look forward to talking to you about Brewster more!
~Tanya




--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "tarifamuppet"
<tarifamuppet@...> wrote:
>
> --- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "mesa_hawk"
> <tyto22@> wrote:
> > \hi, i have just read your post, i live in the Uk and have hand
> reared my TV. he is called Brewster and will be one year old in
> April.  He is absolutely brilliant,  he follows me everywhere.
this
> is my first time rearing and training a bird.  i received some
> valuable information on this site on how to train Brew but have
now
> come to a bit of a stand still he will fly to me when to fist and
to
> perch but he does get a bit cocky and has started to fly off
alone,
> he does not go far but refuses to come back unless i walk away and
> leave him.  if i leave him a little hungry he becomes quite
> aggressive.  could you offer me any advice on what it is i am
doing
> wrong and what is my next step for him.
>
> Welcome to the site !
>
> Love Joanne
> > First, I'm thrilled to find this group!!! I love turkey
vultures,
> > they are definalty some of the coolest birds to ever live. My
name
> > is Tanya and I am working at my second wildlife center in the
USA.
> I
> > take part in the rehab, breeding, education, care and especially
> > training of the animals (primarily birds of prey).
> >  As for the previous posts about training a turkey vulture, last
> > year I had the honor of training an imprinted turkey vulture
from
> > scratch (the center that he was taken to as a very young bird
put
> > him with other vultures and tried to release him 3 times but he
> > continued to follow people around for food)
> > Barf is an amazing bird with a lot of personality and within
months
> > was performing free flight demos with me. He has a few
behaviors,
> > the typical fly to fist (if you get a wind sometimes you need to
> > move your fist a bit to help him at the last second) fly to just
> > about any steady perch I call him to, he is also trained to fly
out
> > of a release box, he knows how to do jump ups (although i rarely
do
> > this as it is a lot of work for him and people told me turkey
> > vultures weren't able to do it, obviously they can!) he also
comes
> > to a lure, not like a falcon but as an emergency re-call.
> > I have found that he has been a complete joy to train and work
> with,
> > I'm sure my job was made easier by him being an imprint, they
are
> > just so smart, I've found that the only thing holding you back
with
> > a turkey vulture is their physical limitations and your
> imagination,
> > the more you can do with your vulture the better behaved they
are
> > and the less likely they are to become bitters. They can build
> > fabulous bonds with their handlers that is one of the most
> rewarding
> > I've yet to have with an animal.
> > I hope to talk to more of you about your turkey vulture
> experiences!!
> >
>

--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "mesa_hawk"
<tyto22@...> wrote:
> \hi, i have just read your post, i live in the Uk and have hand
reared my TV. he is called Brewster and will be one year old in
April.  He is absolutely brilliant,  he follows me everywhere.  this
is my first time rearing and training a bird.  i received some
valuable information on this site on how to train Brew but have now
come to a bit of a stand still he will fly to me when to fist and to
perch but he does get a bit cocky and has started to fly off alone,
he does not go far but refuses to come back unless i walk away and
leave him.  if i leave him a little hungry he becomes quite
aggressive.  could you offer me any advice on what it is i am doing
wrong and what is my next step for him.

Welcome to the site !

Love Joanne
> First, I'm thrilled to find this group!!! I love turkey vultures,
> they are definalty some of the coolest birds to ever live. My name
> is Tanya and I am working at my second wildlife center in the USA.
I
> take part in the rehab, breeding, education, care and especially
> training of the animals (primarily birds of prey).
>  As for the previous posts about training a turkey vulture, last
> year I had the honor of training an imprinted turkey vulture from
> scratch (the center that he was taken to as a very young bird put
> him with other vultures and tried to release him 3 times but he
> continued to follow people around for food)
> Barf is an amazing bird with a lot of personality and within months
> was performing free flight demos with me. He has a few behaviors,
> the typical fly to fist (if you get a wind sometimes you need to
> move your fist a bit to help him at the last second) fly to just
> about any steady perch I call him to, he is also trained to fly out
> of a release box, he knows how to do jump ups (although i rarely do
> this as it is a lot of work for him and people told me turkey
> vultures weren't able to do it, obviously they can!) he also comes
> to a lure, not like a falcon but as an emergency re-call.
> I have found that he has been a complete joy to train and work
with,
> I'm sure my job was made easier by him being an imprint, they are
> just so smart, I've found that the only thing holding you back with
> a turkey vulture is their physical limitations and your
imagination,
> the more you can do with your vulture the better behaved they are
> and the less likely they are to become bitters. They can build
> fabulous bonds with their handlers that is one of the most
rewarding
> I've yet to have with an animal.
> I hope to talk to more of you about your turkey vulture
experiences!!
>

First, I'm thrilled to find this group!!! I love turkey vultures,
they are definalty some of the coolest birds to ever live. My name
is Tanya and I am working at my second wildlife center in the USA. I
take part in the rehab, breeding, education, care and especially
training of the animals (primarily birds of prey).
  As for the previous posts about training a turkey vulture, last
year I had the honor of training an imprinted turkey vulture from
scratch (the center that he was taken to as a very young bird put
him with other vultures and tried to release him 3 times but he
continued to follow people around for food)
Barf is an amazing bird with a lot of personality and within months
was performing free flight demos with me. He has a few behaviors,
the typical fly to fist (if you get a wind sometimes you need to
move your fist a bit to help him at the last second) fly to just
about any steady perch I call him to, he is also trained to fly out
of a release box, he knows how to do jump ups (although i rarely do
this as it is a lot of work for him and people told me turkey
vultures weren't able to do it, obviously they can!) he also comes
to a lure, not like a falcon but as an emergency re-call.
I have found that he has been a complete joy to train and work with,
I'm sure my job was made easier by him being an imprint, they are
just so smart, I've found that the only thing holding you back with
a turkey vulture is their physical limitations and your imagination,
the more you can do with your vulture the better behaved they are
and the less likely they are to become bitters. They can build
fabulous bonds with their handlers that is one of the most rewarding
I've yet to have with an animal.
I hope to talk to more of you about your turkey vulture experiences!!

One of my volunteers was doing a big program at an outdoor hawk fest, and I was enjoying watching from way in the back.  A woman walked by, not knowing who I was, saw our educational TV on the glove, and exclaimed "Oh!  What a beautiful bird!!!"

 

Made my day and I had to share!

 

Dody Wyman
River Raisin Raptor Center
Manchester, MI
(734) 428-8455
IWRC Board Member, NWRA
www.RiverRaisinRaptorCenter.org

Now that is just too cool! Indeed they are very
beautiful birds. :}

--- Dody  Wyman <dody@...> wrote:

> One of my volunteers was doing a big program at an
> outdoor hawk fest, and I was enjoying watching from
> way in the back.  A woman walked by, not knowing who
> I was, saw our educational TV on the glove, and
> exclaimed "Oh!  What a beautiful bird!!!"
>
> Made my day and I had to share!
>
> Dody Wyman
> River Raisin Raptor Center
> Manchester, MI
> (734) 428-8455
> IWRC Board Member, NWRA
> www.RiverRaisinRaptorCenter.org
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hello,
The thing with training any animal is that you need to understand
their natural history. Think about how turkey vultures eat. They
don't fly to their food and land on top of it. They fly to a
location near the food, and then walk over to it. Raptors, however,
are catching live prey. They have to land on their food to catch it,
so it makes sense to a raptor to land on a glove to get food. It
makes sense to a turkey vulture to land in front of you and then
walk over to the food.
Vulture feet are also not built like raptor feet. Vultures have feet
for walking, they aren't able to grasp, they don't need to. So, they
have a more difficult time landing and getting balance on surface
that gives a little, like a glove (no matter how steady you are,
your arm will give a little when a four pound bird lands on it).
This can be especially unnerving for the vulture when they have some
speed and momentum going, which would make the distances tricky
(like when on a creance).
I'm not saying it's not impossible to train a turkey vulture to come
directly to a glove for food. I know it can and has been done, but
it will take more work and understanding. You will be essentially
retraining the bird against its natural instincts.
Another option is to use your knowledge of vultures' natural history
and work with their natural behaviors. Maybe flying to the glove
isn't necessary. You could train a perch to perch type behavior
instead, or I've heard about people training vultures to soar over a
program field, a very natural behavior and very cool to watch!
I wish you luck with your vulture! They are amazing animals to work
with!
Heather Lepinski
Carolina Raptor Center

--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "tarifamuppet"
<tarifamuppet@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,i have just joined this group and am in the UK. I have hand
reared
> a turkey vulture named Brewster. I am look for any information on
> training him/her. I have him flying to the glove in his aviary.
he is
> 12 weeks old, he will fly to the glove on the leash outside but
on the
> creance i am having trouble getting him to come to me, he is not
> intersted in food and when he does come to me he is reluctant to
fly to
> the glove and lands on the ground in front of me. I would
appreciate
> any information at all on training turkey vultures or indeed their
> capabilities. what can i expect from him and what will he expect
from
> me. this is the first time i have done anything at all like this
so
> ANY advice would be welcome.
>
> thanks.
>
> Jo
>

So I asked someone at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and
Synthesis.  The reply essentially stated that sometimes Yes, you lump
opportunists and scavengers together, and sometimes No, depending
upon what sort of information you are trying to convey to your
audience.  Also I was told that since we can't ask the animals
themselves, often the prevailing beliefs of dominant scientists
strongly influence these kinds of labels, and someone who doesn't
tout as much influence might have the answer, but no means by which
to be heard.  It was also recomended to me to research the theory
of "obligate scavenging" which does support somewhat of a clear-er
delineation.  Just in case anyone was interested.
I have ended up lumping, but will be explaining that the T.V. relies
far more haevily upon carrion than any of the other animals in my
presentation, because the broad point I am trying to convey is that
scavengers are an important part of the ecosystem, and should be
appreciated, and that is all.

~Annie Ralph
Fountain Creek Nature Center
--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "Mattie Libre"
<mattielibre@...> wrote:
>
> I have been rehabbing vultures for 18 years and I would diffidently
agree that they are mostly scavengers.  I would not put them in the
category of opportunist.
>
> Madeline Libre
> Center for Rehabilitation Of Wildlife
> Manassas, Va
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@...>
> To: <NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 11:45 AM
> Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Re: Scavengers and Opportunists
>
>
> > -Hi Annie,
> > I don't know of a specific set of traits to define scavengers vs.
> > opportunists, but I think of vultures as scavengers because the
> > majority of their food is carrion found by scavenging. Bald
eagles,
> > for example, are opportunists. They are hunters, but they will
also
> > scavenge and steal food from other birds. They make use of any
> > opportunity to eat. I wouldn't call bald eagles scavengers, but
you
> > could say that they do scavenge. It just usually isn't their
primary
> > method of finding food.
> > I hope this helps!
> >
> > Heather Lepinski
> > Carolina Raptor Center
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Hello,
The thing with training any animal is that you need to understand
their natural history. Think about how turkey vultures eat. They
don't fly to their food and land on top of it. They fly to a
location near the food, and then walk over to it. Raptors, however,
are catching live prey. They have to land on their food to catch it,
so it makes sense to a raptor to land on a glove to get food. It
makes sense to a turkey vulture to land in front of you and then
walk over to the food.
Vulture feet are also not built like raptor feet. Vultures have feet
for walking, they aren't able to grasp, they don't need to. So, they
have a more difficult time landing and getting balance on surface
that gives a little, like a glove (no matter how steady you are,
your arm will give a little when a four pound bird lands on it).
This can be especially unnerving for the vulture when they have some
speed and momentum going, which would make the distances tricky
(like when on a creance).
I'm not saying it's not impossible to train a turkey vulture to come
directly to a glove for food. I know it can and has been done, but
it will take more work and understanding. You will be essentially
retraining the bird against its natural instincts.
Another option is to use your knowledge of vultures' natural history
and work with their natural behaviors. Maybe flying to the glove
isn't necessary. You could train a perch to perch type behavior
instead, or I've heard about people training vultures to soar over a
program field, a very natural behavior and very cool to watch!
I wish you luck with your vulture! They are amazing animals to work
with!
Heather Lepinski
Carolina Raptor Center

--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "tarifamuppet"
<tarifamuppet@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,i have just joined this group and am in the UK.  I have hand
reared
> a turkey vulture named Brewster.  I am look for any information on
> training him/her.  I have him flying to the glove in his aviary.
he is
> 12 weeks old,  he will fly to the glove on the leash outside but
on the
> creance i am having trouble getting him to come to me,  he is not
> intersted in food and when he does come to me he is reluctant to
fly to
> the glove and lands on the ground in front of me.  I would
appreciate
> any information at all on training turkey vultures or indeed their
> capabilities.  what can i expect from him and what will he expect
from
> me.  this is the first time i have done anything at all like this
so
> ANY advice would be welcome.
>
> thanks.
>
> Jo
>

If there is nothing wrong with him he should be put with other vultures to avoid imprinting. If he can fly and is perfectly healthy and you just want to keep him I have no advice for you. Keeping any healthy wild animal and not allowing him to be returned to the wild is totally wrong. If there is a physical reason for him not returning to the wild I sure any of us would love to help him enjoy his stay in captivity.
Mattie Libre
----- Original Message -----
From: "tarifamuppet" <tarifamuppet@yahoo.com>
To: <NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:46 PM
Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] training turkey vultures

> Hi,i have just joined this group and am in the UK. I have hand reared
> a turkey vulture named Brewster. I am look for any information on
> training him/her. I have him flying to the glove in his aviary. he is
> 12 weeks old, he will fly to the glove on the leash outside but on the
> creance i am having trouble getting him to come to me, he is not
> intersted in food and when he does come to me he is reluctant to fly to
> the glove and lands on the ground in front of me. I would appreciate
> any information at all on training turkey vultures or indeed their
> capabilities. what can i expect from him and what will he expect from
> me. this is the first time i have done anything at all like this so
> ANY advice would be welcome.
>
> thanks.
>
> Jo
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

If there is nothing wrong with him he should be put with other vultures to avoid
imprinting.  If he can fly and is perfectly healthy and you just want to keep
him I have no advice for you.  Keeping any healthy wild animal and not allowing
him to be returned to the wild is totally wrong.  If there is a physical reason
for him not returning to the wild I sure any of us would love to help him enjoy
his stay in captivity.
Mattie Libre
----- Original Message -----
From: "tarifamuppet" <tarifamuppet@...>
To: <NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:46 PM
Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] training turkey vultures


> Hi,i have just joined this group and am in the UK.  I have hand reared
> a turkey vulture named Brewster.  I am look for any information on
> training him/her.  I have him flying to the glove in his aviary.  he is
> 12 weeks old,  he will fly to the glove on the leash outside but on the
> creance i am having trouble getting him to come to me,  he is not
> intersted in food and when he does come to me he is reluctant to fly to
> the glove and lands on the ground in front of me.  I would appreciate
> any information at all on training turkey vultures or indeed their
> capabilities.  what can i expect from him and what will he expect from
> me.  this is the first time i have done anything at all like this so
> ANY advice would be welcome.
>
> thanks.
>
> Jo
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi,i have just joined this group and am in the UK.  I have hand reared
a turkey vulture named Brewster.  I am look for any information on
training him/her.  I have him flying to the glove in his aviary.  he is
12 weeks old,  he will fly to the glove on the leash outside but on the
creance i am having trouble getting him to come to me,  he is not
intersted in food and when he does come to me he is reluctant to fly to
the glove and lands on the ground in front of me.  I would appreciate
any information at all on training turkey vultures or indeed their
capabilities.  what can i expect from him and what will he expect from
me.  this is the first time i have done anything at all like this so
ANY advice would be welcome.

thanks.

Jo

I have been rehabbing vultures for 18 years and I would diffidently agree that
they are mostly scavengers.  I would not put them in the category of
opportunist.

Madeline Libre
Center for Rehabilitation Of Wildlife
Manassas, Va
----- Original Message -----
From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@...>
To: <NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Re: Scavengers and Opportunists


> -Hi Annie,
> I don't know of a specific set of traits to define scavengers vs.
> opportunists, but I think of vultures as scavengers because the
> majority of their food is carrion found by scavenging. Bald eagles,
> for example, are opportunists. They are hunters, but they will also
> scavenge and steal food from other birds. They make use of any
> opportunity to eat. I wouldn't call bald eagles scavengers, but you
> could say that they do scavenge. It just usually isn't their primary
> method of finding food.
> I hope this helps!
>
> Heather Lepinski
> Carolina Raptor Center
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-Hi Annie,
I don't know of a specific set of traits to define scavengers vs.
opportunists, but I think of vultures as scavengers because the
majority of their food is carrion found by scavenging. Bald eagles,
for example, are opportunists. They are hunters, but they will also
scavenge and steal food from other birds. They make use of any
opportunity to eat. I wouldn't call bald eagles scavengers, but you
could say that they do scavenge. It just usually isn't their primary
method of finding food.
I hope this helps!

Heather Lepinski
Carolina Raptor Center

-Hi Annie,
I don't know of a specific set of traits to define scavengers vs.
opportunists, but I think of vultures as scavengers because the
majority of their food is carrion found by scavenging. Bald eagles,
for example, are opportunists. They are hunters, but they will also
scavenge and steal food from other birds. They make use of any
opportunity to eat. I wouldn't call bald eagles scavengers, but you
could say that they do scavenge. It just usually isn't their primary
method of finding food.
I hope this helps!

Heather Lepinski
Carolina Raptor Center

I was wondering if there is a specific set of definitions that
deferentiates scavengers from opportunistic animals/feeding behaviors.
I have been looking and looking in books and on the web and I don't
know if I'm am searching for the wrong things, or if theres just
nothing out there about it.  Does anyone know if they are considered to
be the same or different.  I don't want to mis-inform anyone.

Thanks ~Annie

Hi Annie,

I think it's always fun to dress a kid up as an
animal. I've used this activity with raptors, beavers,
and snowshoe hares, but it would work for a turkey
vulture.

Bring one kid up to the front (one who doesn't mind
being the center of attention in a slightly ridiculing
way), and ask the kids to come up with adaptations of
vultures.

As you discuss each adaptation, put a related prop on
your "vulture". So, the bare red head could be a red
swim cap, maybe red leggings (easily slid over
clothes) for the bare legs, the feathers could be a
black cape with a silver lining underneath, the sense
of smell could be illustrated by a big fake nose, big
silly glasses to show great eyesight, a knife (plastic
one probably) for their sharp beak... maybe you could
even figure out a way to attach the knife to the fake
nose? A nice touch would be an airplane sick bag to
talk about their projectile vomiting. I don't know how
you'd illustrate urohydrosis! Maybe, give them a roll
of toilet paper and then take it away and say they
don't need it?

There are lots of possibilities for a dress up
activity. This will really get the kids involved
thinking about adaptations (define it for them first)
and learning about vultures. You can also combine this
activity with posters or pictures of turkey vultures
so they know what a real one looks like, then going
out and searching the sky for vultures.

Good luck with your program!
Heather Lepinski
Carolina Raptor Center
Charlotte, NC


--- phoenixfyre_82 <phoenixfyre_82@...> wrote:

> Hi!
> I am putting together a program about scavengers for
> kids. I work at a
> Nature Center where we do not have any live display
> animals, and we
> don't have a mounted TV either.  I was wondering if
> anyone had any
> suggestions for engaging ways to teach kids about
> the turkey vulture,
> rather than/or in addition to showing them pictures
> on a power point
> and talking to them??????
> I would really like to be able to get them excited
> about how cool and
> important these birds are.
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks
> Annie Ralph
> Naturalist
> Fountain Creek Nature Center
> El Paso County Parks
>
>
>
>
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
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Hi!
I am putting together a program about scavengers for kids. I work at a
Nature Center where we do not have any live display animals, and we
don't have a mounted TV either.  I was wondering if anyone had any
suggestions for engaging ways to teach kids about the turkey vulture,
rather than/or in addition to showing them pictures on a power point
and talking to them??????
I would really like to be able to get them excited about how cool and
important these birds are.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Annie Ralph
Naturalist
Fountain Creek Nature Center
El Paso County Parks

Please could you help im looking to obtain another turkey vulture for
falconry centre here in the uk. do you know anyone who breed these
fantastic birds.

Thanks all for the replies. Amy, that's pretty much what I thought,
worded very nicely!

Jeff

----- Original Message -----

From: Ramona VanRiper

To: NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:12 PM

Subject: Re: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Digest Number 40

Amy,

 

Could the Society quote this excellent insight in our upcoming newsletter?  You have answered the question well.

 

Regards,

~Ramona VanRiper, President
Turkey Vulture Society
www.VultureSociety.org
314-307-8180

 

On 21 Apr 2006 03:01:29 -0000, NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com < NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

There are 4 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

     1. Vulture nostril
          From: "Jeff" < johandle@...>
     2. Re: Vulture nostril
          From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@...>
     3. Re: Re: Vulture nostril
          From: "Mattie Libre" <mattielibre@...>
     4. Re: Re: Vulture nostril
          From: "A. Fennell" < fennella@...>


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
  Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:39:44 -0000
  From: "Jeff" <johandle@...>
Subject: Vulture nostril

OK, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question posted here sooner, as
I'm sure ALL of you get asked it at least once per program that you
use your vultures in: what's the reason for the large, see-
through 'nose' of the Turkey vulture?

I haven't seen any definitive answer to this, though I suppose it's
related to keeping the nostrils clear during feeding. It looks as
though it would be easier to unblock the large opening, while the
ridge over the opening may serve to keep things out.  Any other
thoughts?  Thanks all!

Jeff O'Handley
Wildlife Learning Company, Inc.





________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
  Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:49:00 -0000
  From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@...>
Subject: Re: Vulture nostril

I've always thought it had to do with the turkey vultures keen sense
of smell. Larger nares help them to collect more scent molecules?
Any other ideas?

--- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff" <johandle@...>
wrote:
>
> OK, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question posted here sooner,
as
> I'm sure ALL of you get asked it at least once per program that
you
> use your vultures in: what's the reason for the large, see-
> through 'nose' of the Turkey vulture?
>
> I haven't seen any definitive answer to this, though I suppose
it's
> related to keeping the nostrils clear during feeding. It looks as
> though it would be easier to unblock the large opening, while the
> ridge over the opening may serve to keep things out.  Any other
> thoughts?  Thanks all!
>
> Jeff O'Handley
> Wildlife Learning Company, Inc.
>






________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
  Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 21:26:45 -0400
  From: "Mattie Libre" <mattielibre@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Vulture nostril

Yes I do believe their nostrils are so big due to their great sense of
smell.
----- Original Message -----
From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@...>
To: < NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:49 PM
Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Re: Vulture nostril


> I've always thought it had to do with the turkey vultures keen sense
> of smell. Larger nares help them to collect more scent molecules?
> Any other ideas?
>
> --- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com , "Jeff" <johandle@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> OK, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question posted here sooner,
> as
>> I'm sure ALL of you get asked it at least once per program that
> you
>> use your vultures in: what's the reason for the large, see-
>> through 'nose' of the Turkey vulture?
>>
>> I haven't seen any definitive answer to this, though I suppose
> it's
>> related to keeping the nostrils clear during feeding. It looks as
>> though it would be easier to unblock the large opening, while the
>> ridge over the opening may serve to keep things out.  Any other
>> thoughts?  Thanks all!
>>
>> Jeff O'Handley
>> Wildlife Learning Company, Inc.
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>




________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
  Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:35:15 -0400
  From: "A. Fennell" <fennella@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Vulture nostril

Here is what we say when giving lectures on the adaptations of turkey vultures to their environment:

The 'hole' you see is not the nostrils. The nostrils are tucked up inside, protected. This special configuration serves two purposes-- one, the bridge acts to deflect meat when feeding (head first into carcasses) and prevents smothering, and two, the hole provides a way for the vulture to remove any food that -does- get trapped in there (via a quick talon-poke).

The research I have done does not suggest that vultures have an excellent sense of smell in the general sense-- ie, I have never noticed vultures using scent to identify individuals, like a dog would. I do not see them sniffing out food. Their 'sense of smell', as far as I am aware, is limited to picking up a specific gas (mercaptan) released by decomposing meat over vast distances. So, while they can't smell your perfume from half a kilometer away, they could 'smell' a dead raccoon.

The configuration may help them detect the gas more easily, but I don't think it improves their general sense of smell at all. But if other folks know better, please do tell! :)

~Amy

----- Original Message -----
From: Mattie Libre
To: NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Re: Vulture nostril


Yes I do believe their nostrils are so big due to their great sense of
smell.
----- Original Message -----
From: "heatherlepinski" <heatherlepinski@... >
To: <NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:49 PM
Subject: [NewWorldVultureKeepers] Re: Vulture nostril


> I've always thought it had to do with the turkey vultures keen sense
> of smell. Larger nares help them to collect more scent molecules?
> Any other ideas?
>
> --- In NewWorldVultureKeepers@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff" <johandle@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> OK, I'm surprised I haven't seen this question posted here sooner,
> as
>> I'm sure ALL of you get asked it at least once per program that
> you
>> use your vultures in: what's the reason for the large, see-
>> through 'nose' of the Turkey vulture?
>>
>> I haven't seen any definitive answer to this, though I suppose
> it's
>> related to keeping the nostrils clear during feeding. It looks as
>> though it would be easier to unblock the large opening, while the
>> ridge over the opening may serve to keep things out.  Any other
>> thoughts?  Thanks all!
>>
>> Jeff O'Handley
>> Wildlife Learning Company, Inc.
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>




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