NEW!
University of Minnesota student has been awarded the first TVS research grant for Turkey Vulture Study in the Falkland Islands.
Brandon M. Breen will conduct both field research and personal interviews with farmers in the Falkland Islands. His research is designed to accomplish the following goals:
(1) mitigate the human-vulture conflict in the Falkland Islands,
(2) document idiosyncratic knowledge on the biology of the understudied Falkland population of Turkey Vultures (both to aid in conflict mitigation and for general knowledge), and
(3) improve capacity to mitigate future human-vulture conflicts by increasing understanding of the factors that influence human attitudes and actions toward vultures.
PUBLICATIONS
Click HERE to view new, downloadable PDF pamphlets and educational materials published by the Turkey Vulture Society All these materials are free to be reproduced and distributed for any not-for-profit endeavor.
Check back soon - more on the way!
Turkey Vulture Society Logo Gear!
Notebooks, Pins, and even our
great new "I Brake for Carrion"
bumper sticker!
The Turkey Vulture Society
6622 Wise Ave
St Louis MO 63139
Turkey Vulture Quick Facts
For more detailed information on any of the following subjects, visit our Q and A page (click here)
+ Turkey vultures do NOT eat live animals. They will not hurt your pets or children.
+ A group of vultures is called a "Venue". Vultures circling in the air are a "Kettle".
+ American Vultures can smell, but African vultures cannot. The Turkey Vulture has the best sense of smell of the American vultures
+ Vulture poop is actually a sanitizer! Their uric acid is so strong (because of the nature of their diets) that it kills bacteria.
+ Vultures have excellent eyesight, but, like all other birds, they have poor vision in the dark. American vultures find food both with their eyesight and sense of smell.
+ Vultures prefer to eat fairly fresh meat. They will turn their nose up at rotten meat if there is any alternative available. They also prefer the meat of herbivorous animals, avoiding that of dogs and other carnivores.
+ The oldest known turkey vulture, Tolouse, is 33 years old, and lives at the San Francisco Zoo.
+ Circling vultures do not necessarily indicate the presence of a carcass. Circling vultures may be gaining altitude for long flights, searching for food, or playing.
+ Turkey vultures are attracted to the smell of mercaptan, a gas produced by the beginnings of decay.
+ Male and female turkey vultures are identical in appearance.
+ It is illegal to keep a vulture as a pet.
For more information on the physiology of the vulture, including its general appearance, head, legs, habits, habitat and range, click here.
