Turkey Vultures — Image by kenne
“Old age isn’t a battle, old age is a massacre.”
―
Archive for the ‘Turkey Vultures’ Tag
Old Age Leave a comment
Turkey Vultures Migrating North 2 comments
Turkey Vultures Migrating North Image by kenne
The Tanque Verde Wash is an overnight home for turkey vultures
migrating through the Tucson area every October and March.
— kenne
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Careless-weed Has Taken Over The Tanque Verde Wash Trails 2 comments
Images by kenne (Click on any of the images to see in a slide-show format.)
October is the time of year the Turkey Vultures are migrating south to Mexico, and for years they would overnight near the Tanque Verde Wash.
I have many images of them in the trees near the wash. I planned to photograph again this year but was waiting to see the vultures circling up,
usually around 8:30 AM. By this time in October, we have counted hundreds leaving in the mornings circling above headed south to Mexico.
For days now, I’ve been looking skyward for the circling vultures with no sign of them. Was it climate change delaying the annual migration? Where were the turkey vultures? Maybe I had not been paying attention.
So, this morning I grabbed my camera and walked down to the wash. I had not walked the trails along the wash since before the
summer monsoon. What I discovered was shocking. First, there were no vultures to be seen. Second, almost all the trails had disappeared,
covered by two to three meters of careless-weed (Palmer amaranth). This year’s heavy rains in July and August had brought on
a massive crop of this native weed. I walked through thick weeds, sometimes over my head. When I did find parts of a trail, its
path would soon disappear in the weeds.
Still, I kept walking, trying to find some old markers, especially the Margarita Berg memorial. Margarita had passed away in the spring of 2010, months before we moved to Tanuri Ridge in late June. At the time, I would often spend early mornings
walking the trails near the Tanque Verde wash, and in doing so, I discovered the memorial under a mesquite tree near the wash.
In fact, it was too close to the wash that the tree and the memorial were washed away in the winter of 2019.
However, pieces of the original monument were found and placed at the foot of another mesquite tree much farther north of the wash.
After spending over an hour walking through the weeds, I found the memorial, hidden by all the careless-weeds — a weed worthy of its name.
As for the turkey vultures nowhere to be seen, could all the careless-weed growth of two to three meters cause them to feel their usual perches
are now too close to the ground?
— kenne
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The Death Court Leave a comment
Three Judge Court — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The Death Court
Three judges in
black robes
set in stillness
passing judgment
on life or death
of a trespasser
only their hunger
will determine
a verdict where
the end precedes
the beginning.
— kenne
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Migration South 1 comment
Universal Flight” — Photo-Artistry by kenne
“When a person really desires something,
all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.”
“. . .when we strive to become better than we are,
everything around us becomes better, too.”
“The closer one gets to realizing his destiny,
the more that destiny becomes his true reason for being.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
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Turkey Vultures Take Flight Leave a comment
Turkey Vultures Take Flight (09/28/20) — Images by kenne
After a brief stay overnight along the Tanque Verde Wash,
turkey vultures continue the migration south into Mexico.
Some see these birds as ugly, which is in the eye of the beholder, to some,
the bald head of a vulture is just another reason to admire them.
–– kenne
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Turkey Vultures Migrating North 4 comments
Turkey Vultures Migrating North — Photo-Artistry by kenne
This is the time of year when hundreds of migrating turkey vultures
spend the night along the Tanque Verde wash, each morning they start
circling up seeking wind currents in their ride north.
This image is a composite of four images placed on a sky background.
— kenne
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While On My Morning Walk 1 comment
Cactus Blossoms — Image by kenne
Turkey Vultures Migrating North — Image by kenne
The other morning we counted over 250 turkey vultures
leaving the Tanque Verde Wash just south of our community.
This time of year hundreds of turkey vultures spend the night in trees along the wash.
— kenne
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Turkey Vultures Against A White Sky 1 comment
Turkey Vultures Against A White Sky — Image by kenne
“Turkey Vultures are large birds, cloaked in loose-fitting brown/black feathers that make them look shaggy and unkempt when perched. The legs and feet are sturdy and unfeathered; the color, where not coated in excrement, is cherub pink.
The face is ruddy and wrinkled and topped with an embarrassingly sparse cap of feathers. Its expression is uncommonly serene and there is something about it that suggests infinite patience. Huddled on their perches, wrapped in shabby vestments, the birds look like a group of balding monks gathered in prayer.”
— Pete Dunne, The Wind Masters
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Last Of The Migrating Turkey Vultures 1 comment
Last Of The Migrating Turkey Vultures — Images by kenne (Three images in a slideshow format.)
Usually, by 1st of April, the last of the turkey vultures rousting overnight near the Tanque Verde has completed the spring migration north. This year we have counted upwards of 100 leaving each morning now well into April.
— kenne
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Another Sign Of Spring 1 comment
Another Sign Of Spring, Turkey Vultures Overnight by the Tanque Verde Wash
— Photo-Artistry by kenne
“In the time of the ancients,
the sun moved close to the earth
making life unsustainable.
Whereupon all animals gathered
to see what could be done,
deciding the sun had to be moved.
One by one, attempts were made
to move the sun.
Some, like the fox,
used his mouth
to pull the sun away,
but it was so hot
and he had to stop,
leaving his mouth black
still to this day.
Next, the opossum tried
moving the sun with his tail,
but he too had to stop,
for the sun was too hot,
leaving his tail bald
still to this day.
Seeing all this,
being the most powerful
and beautiful of birds,
the vulture feared the earth
would soon burn up.
So, she bravely placed her
head against the sun,
flying high into the heavens.
Even with her crown
of feathers burning,
she never stopped
until the sun was far away
and the earth was safe.
Now you know
how the vulture
saved the world
and lost her
magnificent feathers
still to this day.”
(My telling of a Native American myth.)
— kenne
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Turkey Vultures — Annual Migration North 1 comment
Turkey Vultures In The Morning Sun — Images by kenne
The Morning Sun
Hope comes with the morning sun
Warming the body and the soul
Washing away yesterdays troubles
Providing a new beginning
To be lived as if it were your last —
Every minute being a gift.
kenne
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Vultures Circling the Globe 1 comment
Vultures Circling the Globe — Photo-Artistry by kenne
A symbol of death
Hot days and rising water
Time to start caring.
— kenne
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The Migrating Turkey Vultures Are Back 1 comment
Images by kenne
This time of year the migrating turkey vultures come gliding and circling in each afternoon from the north landing in the large trees along the Tanque Verde Wash. Our home is about 100 yards up from the wash, so it’s easy to watch for migrating birds. The next morning like clockwork, they start circling up around 9:00 am continuing their return to Mexico.
— kenne
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Migrating Turkey Vultures, A Photo Essay Leave a comment
Migrating Turkey Vultures at Their Tanque Verde Wash Stopover (October 15, 2016) — Images by kenne
(Click on any images to see larger view in a slideshow format.)
The turkey vulture count has been down this October. One reason for the lower count might be due to the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department doing major pipe construction alone the north side of the Tanque Verde wash near where the big birds spend early mornings before continuing their migration south. There is no doubt some irony found in nature’s sanitation department having to put-up with the county’s sanitation department.
— kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 