FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Migrating and Roosting Vultures at Norris

["Charles P. Nicholson" <cpnichol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In late February, 2003 I observed a large flock of presumed migrating Turkey
Vultures roosting for the night very close to my house in Norris, Anderson
County, Tennessee.
 

On November 25, 2007, after returning home late the previous evening from
being out of town for Thanksgiving, I saw and smelled evidence of a
comparably sized vulture roost, presumeably occupied the previous night, in
exactly the same place as the 2003 observation.  I didn't see any vultures
roosting there that evening or for the next few evenings.

 

On Sunday morning, December 2, a mixed flock of about 40 Turkey Vultures and
20 Black Vultures was roosting in large trees about 300 yards from the site
of my previous observations.  The birds slowly dispersed from the roost
during the rainy morning and returned late that afternoon.  I had to leave
for work before daylight the next morning and have not seen any roosting in
the area since then.

 

Today, December 11, I saw a steady stream of about 250 vultures flying over
Norris towards the southwest between 4:35 and 5:00 PM.  The species
breakdown was about 90% Turkey Vulture and 10% Black Vulture.  The birds
were only a few hundred feet high and continued flying out of my view.  None
are presently roosting in the immediate vicinity of my house.

 

Perhaps the severe storm to the north of us pushed these birds southward.
They are a little late, as most migrating vultures pass through in late
October and November.

 

Chuck Nicholson

Norris, TN

 



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