Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures

Vultures get no respect. We use the term to signify someone who is contemptible and who preys on others. In fact, as readers of this educational book discover, they are great helpers and important to our eco-system. They also live in nuclear families and both parents tend to the chicks.

Vultures are not predators, lacking sharp talons or a muscular jaw. They glide a lot, using the thermals and updrafts to keep aloft. In Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures, photographs by nature photographers show the turkey vulture gliding across the sky while tightly written text explains what is happening. 

The turkey vulture relies heavily on scent to find food, thus the "hole" in the

Turkey Vulture

nose. Her nares (nostrils) seek the scent of decay as turkey vultures are natures garbage collectors. This is not an easy task as other birds attack and peck at the turkey vulture to keep her out of their territory. When the turkey vulture finds carrion, she eats, hoping that no enemy tries to take the food from her. Vultures have few defenses against coyotes and others who would take their food. Facing other carrion eaters, the vulture vomits. Only then is the bird light enough to fly away from danger.  Readers follow a day in the life of a mated pair of turkey vultures as they care for newborn chicks. Mother and father share chick care duties and each will hunt to feed the babies, who are really cute. 

Following the story, Toor provides vulture facts and activities for classroom use. Also on the author's website teachers and parents will find even more vulture activities and learning links, including a curriculum guide and visual glossary. While the book is short, it and the ancillary materials pack a powerful punch. Best for readers in grades 3-7 but any bird lover will learn new things.

I love vultures! The first photograph I took when I started photographing birds was of a black vulture,

Black Vulture in Rockport, TX

While there are more species in the Old World, New World vultures include the turkey vulture, black vulture, three species found in Mexico and South America, and the California and Andean condors. Colloquially some people refer to turkey vultures as buzzards. In fact, buzzards are birds of prey that will eat live animals and insects, as well as carrion. Some folks think that because there were buzzards in Merry Olde England the colonists who saw vultures and other large soaring birds just started calling them buzzards. But they are not so unless you want to see birders, biologists, and naturalists cringing, show these birds they respect they deserve and call them vultures!