Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
The Turkey Vulture is the most widespread of the New World vultures. We find them from southern Canada to southmost South America. In the northern parts of its range, it is only a summer breeder. These birds’ highly developed olfactory sense enables them to locate carcasses concealed under cover and out of any line of sight. Other scavengers will often follow them to locate the food source.
Science recognizes six subspecies of Turkey Vulture, two of which breed in North America:
- C. a. septentrionalis breeds in eastern North America from southeastern Canada south to the southeastern USA. They spend winter in the southeastern USA.
- C. a. meridionalis (or C. a. teter) breeds in western North America east to southern Manitoba and south-central Texas. Most spend the winter in Central and South America, as far south as southern Brazil and Paraguay, but birds in the southern parts of their breeding range remain throughout the year.
- C. a. aura breeds in western North America from southwestern Canada east to Manitoba, and western USA east to southern Texas, south to Costa Rica, and the Greater Antilles. They spend winter south to central South America.
- C. a. ruficollis lives in southern Central America, South America and Trinidad.
- C. a. jota lives on the Pacific coast of South America, south from Ecuador in the eastern Andes to Patagonia.
- C. a. falklandica lives on the Pacific Coast from Ecuador and Peru south to Chile, and on the Falkland Islands.
These great scavengers have entertained me from California to Texas, and from Oregon east across the Great Basin.
40 Photos
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Along the Mattole Road which leaves then rejoins US-101 south of Eureka and north of Weott in the 'Avenue of Giants' in Humbolt County California. It passes the westernmost point in the US (except Alaska & Hawaii). |
Date Taken: 2015:06:15 12:29 |
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Location:
Mattole Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X0705-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:18 8:18 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X7575-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: In the wooded lands near Butte Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:03 9:35 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729865-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Southern Big Sur, Central California Coast. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:27 15:35 |
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Location:
Sans (historical) |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD0443TurkeyVulture |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:28 14:11 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD1189.TurkeyVulture |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:28 14:12 |
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Location:
Vista Grande |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD1218.TurkeyVulture |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Lake Poway. Poway (San Diego County), California. |
Date Taken: 2010:07:06 12:03 |
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Location:
Lake Poway |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD2219.TurkeyVulture |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Upper Gila River Valley near Cliff, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:26 17:53 |
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Location:
Riverside |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_0967TurkeyVulture |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Upper Gila River Valley near Cliff, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:26 17:56 |
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Location:
Riverside |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_0972TurkeyVulture |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Gardner Canyon. East Side Of The Santa Rita Mountains, North Of Sonoita, Southern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:06 16:24 |
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Location:
Gardner Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 270 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD_0524TurkeyVulture |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I found this bird resting and waiting for the local fishermen to clean their catch at the shore of the Klamath River Mouth in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:12 9:26 |
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Location:
Requa |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X2843-KlamathRiverMouth |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Seen along US-Highway 395 south of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:22 |
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Location:
Omira |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728212-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Vultures sometimes winter in the Imperial Valley. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 11:12 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X2891-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: South parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 9:08 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X3009-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: South Jetty of the Rogue River in Gold Beach Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:09 9:18 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X0561-GoldBeach-Oregon |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: A dead Harbor Seal meant a feast for the vultures at the South Jetty of the Rogue River in Gold Beach Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:09 10:37 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X1010-GoldBeach-Oregon |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Garner Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Hemet., Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:06:09 13:07 |
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Location:
Garner Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X2872-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Promontory Road is the route to the historic Golden Spike monument where the builders of the west bound and east bound sections of the first transcontinental railroads met and joined. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:16 7:04 |
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Location:
Promontory Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X3417-PromontoryRoad |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 17:45 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 390 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D501428-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Both Black Vultures and these Turkey Vultures were seen all around this region. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captain Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 10:14 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D503537-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 16:16 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D507274-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: On my second day in camp I used my bike to explore the camp and chase birds here at the Triple R RV Resort on the Nueces River near Crystal City Texas. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:12 10:13 |
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Location:
Nueces River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D509422-NuecesRiver |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Excepting the higher latutudes, Turkey Vultures migrate in spring to most places in North America. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:27 9:11 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X6252-Arivaca |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I hiked the Canyon Trail at Bosque del Apache on this Wednesday morning in New Mexico and met birds like these Turkey Vultures. I must admit some regrets about carrying my heavy camera gear on this long dry trail. It wore me out. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:13 9:52 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D507155-Bosque-CanyonTrail |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: A dead Harbor Seal meant a feast for the vultures at the South Jetty of the Rogue River in Gold Beach Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:09 10:33 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X0977-GoldBeach-Oregon |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Just as on my first visit to the sanctuary, I found about a hundred vultures (mostly Turkey Vultures) roosting in the palms, then kettling out as the day warmed up. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 8:30 |
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Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X5184-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Just as on my first visit to the sanctuary, I found about a hundred vultures (mostly Turkey Vultures) roosting in the palms, then kettling out as the day warmed up. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 8:18 |
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Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X5139-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: As the first person out on the trail this morning, I was greeted by perhaps 50 vultures roosting overnight in the palms. On my first visit to Texas last spring, the pandemic of 2020 caused the Sabal Palm Sanctuary to close its doors. It took until this Monday in January for me to manage my first visit here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:18 8:16 |
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Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X1524-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I was more interested in the Black Vultures, but who can resist a visit with a cute Turkey Vulture. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 9:43 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X7181-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I was more interested in the Black Vultures, but who can resist a visit with a cute Turkey Vulture. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 9:46 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X7225-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I was more interested in the Black Vultures, but who can resist a visit with a cute Turkey Vulture. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 9:44 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X7194-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I was more interested in the Black Vultures, but who can resist a visit with a cute Turkey Vulture. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:02 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X7472-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: This bird is NOT a raptor, despite how they are placed in most bird guides. My early morning visit to Palmito Hill, southeast of Brownsville, began in a heavy fog. By mid-day the weather improved only slightly to overcast skies. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:26 11:24 |
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Location:
Palmito Hill |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X4918-PalmitoHill-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: If life ends for some sea creature, and their carcass ends up on the shore, Turkey Vultures are sure to find it. One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 13:18 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8501567-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: While touring Aransas NWR, I stopped at Jones Lake and found Turkey Vulture sharing the shores of what little water was left in the lake, with a few waders and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:20 15:20 |
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Location:
Jones Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8505148-AransasNWR.TX_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: While touring Aransas NWR, I stopped at Jones Lake and found Turkey Vulture sharing the shores of what little water was left in the lake, with a few waders and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:20 15:20 |
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Location:
Jones Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8505110-AransasNWR.TX_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Turkey Vultures must have found that patrolling the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was profitable. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:17 11:04 |
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Location:
Shoveler Pond |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8504409-Anahuac.NWR_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: At day’s end, Turkey Vultures flew into the Smith Oaks Sanctuary in High Island Texas to roost for the night. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:14 17:14 |
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Location:
Smith Oaks Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8503956SmithOaks.HighIsland.TX_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Driving north from Bodega Bay I stopped at several places to look for birds. Because I was too early for migrants, most places were ‘bird-poor’. I located a few endemics in the Westport area. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:09 11:02 |
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Location:
Union Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_8504340-Westport-CA |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: I was more interested in the Black Vultures, but who can resist a visit with a cute Turkey Vulture. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:14 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: TurkeyVulture_D5X7784-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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