Saturday, September 5, 2009

International Vulture Awareness Day 2009

Last April, Rick, Matty and I went to Clifty Falls State Park in Indiana for spring break where we saw Turkey Vultures galore! Riding on thermals and circling out over the Ohio river, fourteen of them put on quite a show outside our fourth-floor balcony...

Being almost eye-level with the Turkey Vultures in flight
was so much fun! They would float past our balcony over
and over on giant loops as they circled over the Ohio River
and then circled back past our room. In every return flight,
they seemed to be eyeing me and the camera!

For more Turkey Vulture photos and the earlier
posts from our Clifty Falls trip, click here.


"Today, bloggers from all over the world are spreading the love for vultures by participating in the IVAD09 virtual event. All participants of IVAD09 aim to raise awareness about the important role vultures play in our environment and the alarming problems vultures are facing today. Birdlife.org posted: ‘The world needs to learn to love vultures – or lose them.'"


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18 comments:

  1. kuluthSeptember 5, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    wow...love your pictures.

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  2. Susan EllisSeptember 5, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    The poor maligned turkey vulture...he's so ugly he's beautiful! My kids used to lie very still in the field and the TV's would circle ever closer...til Mom (me) put an end to that game!!

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  3. Busy Bee SuzSeptember 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM

    They certainly are useful for cleaning up what WE don't want to!
    Great post Kelly.

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  4. Silver FoxSeptember 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM

    Oooh, a very nice photo!

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  5. SteveSeptember 5, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    Excellnt photo of one ugly bird Kelly.

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  6. ChrisSeptember 5, 2009 at 2:08 PM

    Beautiful shot Kelly and it is nice to prepare people to believe that Vultures are essential for the environment!!

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  7. Betsy Banks AdamsSeptember 5, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    The last time I saw a Turkey Vulture I was in Arkansas. IF we have them here, they stay out of my sight...

    We've been to Clifty Falls TWICE ---trying to see alot o water coming over the waterfalls there... The first time there was almost NO water and the 2nd time there was a little water--not too much.. We need to go back --not only to see water in those waterfalls but now, to the the Turkey Vultures.

    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  8. Laure FerlitaSeptember 5, 2009 at 3:04 PM

    Vultures are good birds and they do a great service for the environment, but they still creep me out a little - up close. I don't mind watch them fly at all!

    Sorry, Kelly!

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  9. RoySeptember 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM

    Great shot, Kelly! As maligned as the poor beasts are, I really love them. In the air they are absolute poetry in motion. thanks for posting this.

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  10. holdingmomentsSeptember 5, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    They must be a great sight to see Kelly. Magnificent looking birds.

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  11. UnknownSeptember 5, 2009 at 7:24 PM

    That's a great shot of the turkey vulture. Living in flat lands it is rare I get to be eye level with birds like that.

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  12. Linda McGearySeptember 5, 2009 at 8:18 PM

    Very Cool!
    I've been to Portland, then San Francisco recently, and going to S.F. again tomorrow morning, my sister is having some health issues and needs help.
    So, I been really off track. But it's good to have a bit of normal by reading your blog and seeing these great pictures.
    You are getting so good.

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  13. Creative CardsSeptember 5, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    Excellent shot!!

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  14. Reema B.September 5, 2009 at 11:59 PM

    I am speechless!!! I'm also a bird lover but do not know much about bird watching as I was born and grew up in the city of Dubai, UAE.

    I have gone to Ecuador during the summer where I got some pictures of amazing tropical birds, would love to share them with you if you like.

    ----------------------

    You are more than welcome to come visit the Tea House at http://teatimereflections.blogspot.com

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  15. gwenSeptember 6, 2009 at 6:25 AM

    Great shot Kelly. It must be wonderful to see them soaring by on eye level. I am quite envious :-))

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  16. MontanagirlSeptember 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Great shot of the TV, Kelly. They're a lot of fun to photograph.

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  17. MarySeptember 7, 2009 at 11:32 AM

    Someone actually started a "vulture awareness day"?? Great shot of it! I always enjoy seeing them fly overhead.

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  18. Dawn FineSeptember 19, 2009 at 1:47 AM

    Darn..I had no internet that day..but wow..great shot!
    I will have to go check out what every one else did...
    thanks! I really hate being so out of the loop.

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