Young Naturalists
Bring in the Clean-Up Crew!
Turkey vultures are adapted for their special way of life—feasting on dead animals.
Christine Petersen
You never know what you’ll see on a hike, which is exactly what prompts me to get on the trail whenever I can. Today I’ve chosen a regional park just north of my home in the Twin Cities. Starting down a narrow woodland path alongside a slow-flowing stream, I walk until the trail opens onto a wide grassland.
And that’s where I spot them: five huge, dark birds perched in a tall, dead tree at the edge of the woods. Wings spread wide, still as statues, they look like stern sentries guarding the prairie.
Moving slowly, I lift my binoculars for a closer look. A few characteristics help me make a quick identification:
- Body about as large as a bald eagle.
- An unfeathered, bright red head.
- A wide stripe of light-colored feathers under each wing.
These are turkey vultures—birds that cause many people to shudder and say, “Ewww!”
Gazing up at the resting birds, I ponder this reaction. OK, turkey vultures are odd-looking. And yeah, they eat the remains of dead animals. Still, everything in nature has a purpose and value. What’s the deeper story of turkey vultures? I know exactly who to ask.
