How Do I Break Up a Vulture Party? Asks Willistown Resident
The unwilling host says she'd like to see the winged guests go away forever.
Patch reader Karen Sullivan has a question about some uninvited guests in her yard:
My property seems to be a "landing" ground for huge turkey vultures (not even sure that's truly the proper name of the ugly birds). They've been around for years..
Curious if they truly carry diseases and are unhealthy to have around..at any given time i can see at least 5-10 in my tall trees.
Turns out, they're not turkey vultures—they're black vultures. That's according to Lisa Kiziuk, Director of Bird Conservation at Willistown Conservation Trust, who says the birds are fairly common to this area and tend to roost during the winter.
Vultures do not carry diseases, and on the contrary actually clean our environment thereby reducing our risk for disease by eating all of the carion. Without vultures, we would have dead things lying around everywhere!They are amazing birds and when people learn about their interesting natural history, they usually gain a deep appreciation for them.
Kiziuk went on link to link to a story about poisoned vultures in India and more info than you wanted on turkey vultures (her words). She suggested Sullivan call the PA Game commission or a private animal control expert.
john
7:33 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Hang a dead on upside down in a tree
Nabob
8:32 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Yeah and if they crap on your car it'll take the paint right off
K. Lee
8:36 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
If there roosting in your trees, you probably have a wooded area near your property. They roost in our trees and unfortunately in the Spring, on our rooftop. It gives them a great overview of the property. But, the good can also come with the bad. We have 2 beautiful red-tail hawks in our woods that do the same thing. Yesterday, the 2 of them were taking turns hanging on either end of our fence line.
hey becca
9:53 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
They are nature, this is their habitat. If you don't like 'em, move to the city and deal with rats and roaches (which are also nature, btw.) They aren't over populated like the deer and they are only here a few times a year so can't you just enjoy their magnificence? Vultures help clean up road kill and they really do have amazing behaviors within their flocks that humans could take lessons from.
CC
2:19 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I agree but the vultures are there in a larger concentration because her neighbor is feeding them daily. This is not a "natural" situation. It is a man made one. If the feeding were to stop they would do their jobs elsewhere.
JimT
1:40 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Easier than a lemon party I bet.
Matt Baker
2:01 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Same type of problem written about on Philly.com
http://articles.philly.com/2013-02-12/news/37041336_1_turkey-vultures-wildlife-biologist-backyard
CC
2:16 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I know this situation. The problem is her next door neighbor is feeding them. There are MORE then 20 birds who roost in the trees between the two properties.
kujo
2:31 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
thinking hey becca is trying to pick a fight... brilliant photo though, majestic and eerie at the same time
hey becca
6:50 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
You all watch too many scary movies. Think of them as big doves and move on.