In filing daily ebird reports for my morning farm circles, I’m noticing what’s
usually absent of an early morning. In the first 9 mornings of the year, I’ve
yet to see either vulture. Yesterday, after making my ebird report, I set out
to grub hackberry sprouts by middle pond. About 45 minutes into my task, I
heard a cow with a new calf bawling in distress. Looking up the hill, I saw a
gang of vultures surrounding the most recently observed location of her calf. I
started running up the hill until realizing that the calf was tagging along
behind the cow as she chased the vultures. Although relieved, I thought it
would be a good idea to persuade the cow and calf to leave the immediate area
until the vultures were done with the afterbirth. The cow let me know with
lowered head and a fast trot that it was me who had better leave the area.
Since she wouldn’t leave, I managed to find what was left of the afterbirth and
move it far away.
Frank Lyne
frank@xxxxxxxxxxx - near Dot in Logan County, KY
