- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
But UC Cooperative Extension advisor Greg Giusti has found a surprising level of interest from the public in his Northern California research project about turkey vultures' nesting preferences in oak woodland.
“Animals with cute fuzzy faces are far more attractive in our culture,” said Giusti, a wildland ecology expert. “Turkey vultures have been overlooked. Very little is known about their biology and environmental needs.”
Giusti worked with Robert Keiffer, superintendent of the 5,300-acre UC Hopland Research and Extension Center in Mendocino County, to better understand the nesting habits of the red-faced scavengers.
In the study area, the researchers counted 417 trees in all; seven of them had suitable nesting elements for turkey vultures. They found that the vultures at the Hopland facility select large hollow trees – either dead or alive, either shaded or in the sun – to lay eggs and rear their young. The tree species in the study included blue oak, interior live oak, Oregon white oak and valley oak.
“This is very different from other large birds, like eagles and osprey, who build open cup nests high up in tall trees, which they may use for generations,” Giusti said.
After turkey vulture chicks hatch, the parents drop into the cavity five or six times a day to feed their young, Giusti said. How birds with a five-foot wingspan traverse a deep vertical tunnel is a mystery.
“They just shimmy up and down, I would imagine,” Giusti said. “We don't know how the young birds do it when they fledge. We've never witnessed the adult birds calling them out.”
Giusti said the scientists will continue to build on the turkey vulture nesting database they have started with results from this project. In the coming years, they hope to learn whether turkey vultures will re-use successful nesting sites and whether they may be found nesting in fallen logs or rock piles.
In the video clip below, a turkey vulture explores a possible nesting cavity at the UC Hopland REC.
An initiative to maintain and enhance sustainable natural ecosystems is part of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Strategic Vision 2025.
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RPF 1773, former manager of Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Thank you,
Cynthia Anderson
The local steller's jays went crazy harrying it. The turkey vulture just ducked its head and seemed to be communicating that it was just browsing for dead things.
Do you think the vulture was looking for eggs/chicks or was it truly as innocent as it would have led us to believe?
-- Emily
I can find the pics I have if your interested in seeing them. Torixain@Gmail.com
I know NOTHING about such hunters, other than they eat road kill.
After a couple of days, feeling the Okla. heat myself, I put out some water, the next day saw it exit the barn when I came back from feeding in the other barn. Didn't have the camera ready, but watched it fly across the road and land on a 50' pole. Not sure if he was gone for good was happy for him. Then next day, saw him in an empty stall, the next saw him/her in the loft, then to my surprise, ANOTHER in a stall. Next both in loft. Gave them some water in the loft, an a lil later they'd spilt the plastic shoe box container and was playing with the container.
So today, climbed up the ladder an put a litter box with some water, now just waiting. :D
They seem to not mind the camera, event the flash... However when they feel I'm a lil too close they hiss a bit, & that's fine with me, not looking to domesticate them.
They have the loft & a large exit & smaller one, they're more than welcome to come & go as THEY PLEASE...
Have a few pic's, as the game ranger did state he'd never heard of any living in a loft, but personally I can see the draw, after all, if I was in the market to buy or claim a home, I'd prefer vaulted ceilings & a loft & I don't even fly.
What is particular is that 5 to 7 adults seem to be taking part in the enterprise as they are there every day. I know these birds sometime roost together but this is a nesting sight for sure. I have seen Harris Hawks nest in groups before and am wondering if this might be what is going on.
Do you know if these nests carry any diseases or risks? Do you know how I may get rid of the smell once they're gone? Any insight into my situation is greatly appreciated. I'm also happy to collect info if it helps with your study.
If there are remains of vulture food items ( carrion) removing those items should help with smell. I hope that just water should remove the remaining odor, especially once the nest has been cleaned.
I used go to work on my farm land 10 acres in Sheridan , Lincoln , three miles from Freeway 65 N
,I have known one group of big bird vulture have been living nearly ten years , last two months I saw them resting on the fence post in every early morning when the wind current has not pick up or no wind , when the wind speed is high enough they start to fly high and they spread out to search foods in counties near by , they are very gentle birds , I tried to be friendly with them , I bought eight pounds chicken and laid on a high table , several days later all the meat was gone , last year I fed them chicken but they did not eat because after several days out door at hot weather the chicken had smell , I was very surprised they did not eat bad smell meat , very smart bird , after three PM they start to fly back and fly around then around 5 PM they park on the big trees along the county road to sleep, there are 35 of them, one morning I recorded 45 second they were dancing on the sky above my land , in next coming months I make many homemade nests then hang them up to 50 big trees in my land to help them to increase their population , I did made 100 nests for Hawk , Dove by 4 in PCV pipe to help them nesting and raising their babies on my land , it will be nice to see wild birds to come and observe their activity daily
What gives? Is this normal behavior or should we be concerned?