In an urban environment, not all vultures are created equal

Date:October 21, 2015

Source:Central Ornithology Publication Office

Not being picky about your food means you can live just about anywhere, and some vultures are good at adapting to landscape fragmentation caused by humans, but new research forthcoming in The Condor: Ornithological Applications shows that different vulture species use city environments in different ways. 

The city of Manaus, Brazil, is home to two species--the gregarious Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and the shyer, more solitary Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)--and their presence has lead to a variety of problems, from the nuisance that results from vultures congregating around dumpsters to the serious hazard of bird-aircraft collisions. To learn more about how these two vultures navigate the urban landscape and to help manage potential human-vulture conflicts, Weber Novaes and Renato Cintra of Brazil's Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia made repeated visits to 80 sites around the city to record how many vultures were present, which type they were, and what might be attracting them.

Continued ...

State tells AC rescue to surrender disabled turkey vulture

A group of wildlife volunteers hope to convince state officials to allow a disabled turkey vulture to remain at an Arizona City bird sanctuary he has come to know as home.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials next week plan to confiscate the bird, which was hit by a car in October.

Unable to fly, the bird was hobbling near Arizona 287 when it was found by Pinal Wildlife Rescue volunteers.

“The wing was crooked,” said Betsy Lagos of Pinal Wildlife Rescue.

Each year, dozens of injured birds, mostly owls and hawks, are brought to the PWR facility in Arizona City. Most recover and are released back into the wild within a few months. Last year alone, the organization rehabilitated and released 45 birds.

But sometimes, an animal or bird is found that cannot be released. The turkey vulture found in October is one of those cases. His wing did not heal properly and the bird is now permanently disabled with little chance of surviving if released into the wild, according to Lagos.

“But other than the wing injury the bird is happy and healthy,” Lagos said.

PWR is the only fully functioning wildlife rehabilitation organization in Pinal County. It is licensed for wildlife rehabilitation and education with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Continued

Turkey vulture hits police helicopter

Bird goes through windshield of Miami-Dade Police Department chopper

MIAMI -

A turkey vulture flew through the windshield of a Miami-Dade Police Department helicopter Tuesday morning, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

The 3 pound bird hit the pilot of the Miami-Dade Police Department Eurocopter AS350 in the face, said police. He was flying alone and wearing protective goggles at the time, protecting his eyes, but shards of glass cut his face.

Continued:  http://www.local10.com/news/Turkey-vulture-hits-police-helicopter/-/1717324/17817000/-/format/rss_2.0/-/15mo92e/-/index.html