Wild kingdom FL-style.

Everything except LibriVox (yes, this is where knitting gets discussed. Now includes non-LV Volunteers Wanted projects)
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VfkaBT
Posts: 1305
Joined: November 28th, 2015, 7:47 am
Location: Florida

Post by VfkaBT »

I was out in my yard this morning and the smell of dead animal was prevalent. Came back inside to work on an LV project and heard flapping sounds outside. Looked up to see at least a half dozen vultures fighting over the source of the stink, the carcass of a small animal. More flew in to join the fracas. Fascinating watching them go to work. Some had red heads, others dark gray. Huge birds -- some even landing on the patio screen structure to preen, others in the tree above to watch below, like Snoopy in that old Peanuts cartoon.
My previous LV work: Bellona Times
annise
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 38571
Joined: April 3rd, 2008, 3:55 am
Location: Melbourne,Australia

Post by annise »

It made me realise we don't have vultures, so I went googling and found Australia is the only continent without them. The only birds I've seen that eat carrion are the wedge-tailed eagles - beautiful to watch fly but the wool farmers hated them during lambing and the most common one , the Australian crow which are bigger than other crows and happily live in the city and country. they are quite strong and smart and delight in rubbish bins. So that's what I've learnt today on Librivox .

Anne
SonOfTheExiles
Posts: 2649
Joined: December 20th, 2013, 1:14 am
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by SonOfTheExiles »

Crows have been described, intelligence-wise, as “feathered apes”.

Crow Multi-Step Problem Solving: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8-gP3Sw_8

Causal understanding of water displacement by a crow:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZerUbHmuY04

Chris
Currently on sabbatical from Librivox
annise
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 38571
Joined: April 3rd, 2008, 3:55 am
Location: Melbourne,Australia

Post by annise »

I've seen one somewhere of them on a pole waiting for the lights to change on a pedestrian crossing so they can go on the road to get at the food.

Anne
VfkaBT
Posts: 1305
Joined: November 28th, 2015, 7:47 am
Location: Florida

Post by VfkaBT »

The birds I saw are called Turkey Buzzards, but I doubt they're good eatin'. ;)
My previous LV work: Bellona Times
VfkaBT
Posts: 1305
Joined: November 28th, 2015, 7:47 am
Location: Florida

Post by VfkaBT »

annise wrote: March 7th, 2018, 10:54 pm I've seen one somewhere of them on a pole waiting for the lights to change on a pedestrian crossing so they can go on the road to get at the food.

Anne
:shock:
Oh, I can top that. I've seen our vultures sitting on the poles at busy intersections, presumably waiting for an accident or other roadkill, and near graveyards. They are shameless critters.
My previous LV work: Bellona Times
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