[bristol-birds] Vulture roost
- From: "Todd V. Eastin" <eastin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 12:54:26 -0500
Over the last several months, I have observed a significant number of vultures
congregating in the vicinity of the Jacobs Creek Job Corp.(Sullivan Co. near
South Holston Lake) I work early mornings there several times a week. My
observations of the birds have always been at daybreak as they come off their
roosts on a pine ridge just to the west of the entrance to the JC. On fair
days, they generally flap a few strokes coming off the roost and then glide in
a straight line, one at a time, in a northerly direction. Sometimes they land
again in trees just across Denton Valley Rd. from the pine ridge, but other
times I don't know where they end up. But through the winter they consistently
head north in a straight line on fair days. I had estimated their number at
35-60.
Last week during unsettled weather, cloudy with drizzle, instead of the usual
linear flight they were circling and would alternately land in tree tops and
take off again. The majority of them were turkey vultures but black ones were
also present in significant numbers. They seemed to be as unsettled as the
weather. On that particular day I did not see them when they first came off
the roosts, but in looking overhead was amazed to see several circling groups
at various elevations ranging from just above the tree tops to several hundred
feet. I estimated there were 150 individuals.
This morning, the weather being fair, they headed north from the roost in their
usual linear flight. A number of them settled again in the trees across the
road, perhaps to enjoy a better position for basking in the morning sun.
Todd Eastin
Shady Valley (Johnson Co.) TN
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