FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Black Vulture Encounter

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

March 13, 2004
On my way over to Reelfoot from Paris Landing, I was keeping an eye on all 
the vultures and at Dresden, I stopped to watch three Black Vultures swooping, 
diving and circling, putting on a pretty good exhibit of flying finesse.

I assume there were 2 males in pursuit of a female as two followed the other 
bird and one of the males tried to stay between the other two. Suddenly, the 
two trailing birds came together and locked up, tumbling down toward earth, 
swinging around like a do-se-do move. I had never seen Black Vultures do this 
before and wonder if others have witnessed this action. It certainly was not as 
graceful as when mated pairs of eagles do this as the vulture's tumbling and 
swinging was discombobulated to say the least.

They did seem to clasp each others feet but the wings of both birds never 
sprung loose so there was more tumbling than graceful swinging as them came 
down. 
I watched them for another 15 minutes with camera at ready and did get off a 
shot when they locked up again but it only shows a black blob in the air.

No matter how long you stay out, there is always another spectacle waiting 
the watcher.


Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN


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