The Turkey Vulture Society is a non-profit scientific corporation. Its purpose is to promote scientific studies of the life habits and needs of the Turkey Vulture, to protect the vulture and its habitat, and to inform the public of the valuable and essential services this bird provides to mankind and to the environment.
the TURKEY VULTURE SOCIETY
WHO WE ARE:
One of the most ubiquitous figures in North American skies, there is nevertheless very little understanding of the turkey vulture. This bird's graceful flight is often mistaken for that of a hawk, and its name conjures unmerited images of death, filth, and cruelty.
Scientific knowledge of the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is also limited. A number of studies have been conducted but there is much yet to learn about this unique bird.
After several years of discussion and planning, a group of interested individuals organized The Turkey Vulture Society as a registered, scientific, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation. The Society's purpose is the study and protection of the Turkey Vulture and the distribution of information to interested persons and educators.
The Founders and the History of the Turkey Vulture Society:
On July 27, 2005, the Turkey Vulture Society, Inc., celebrated its eleventh birthday.
How did it get started?
In April, 1994, in Tacoma, Washington, Karl Baker, a breeder of quarter horses in Fernley, Nevada, and Bill Kohlmoos, a mining company owner and ex cattle rancher, from Reno, Nevada, were sitting on a restaurant porch enjoying a cup of coffee, Their wives were showing dogs in a large dog show. Karl told Bill about a Turkey Vulture roost near his ranch, and he described their interesting habits. He said he had met with university professors and wildlife experts and discovered a serious lack of knowledge about the bird. He did, however, learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had proved in the 1930's that the vulture's digestive system killed the Hog Cholera bacteria contained in digested food. However, they had not learned how this was accomplished. Both men agreed that this knowledge could be extremely valuable for human medical research.
After the dog show closed, Bill and his wife toured on vacation through Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. In each state capitol he visited the state Fish & Wildlife Service and asked what they knew about the Turkey Vulture. Invariably, the answer was, "We don't know anything. We don't have any of them here, anyway. We just study the glamour birds like Bald Eagles and Sage Hens." As Bill and his wife drove back into the open country they would frequently see TVs circling in the air.
At a national park in Arizona, Bill saw a TV roost near the headquarters office. He asked the park ranger about the TVs and the reply was, "Don't know. We don't have any here." The roost was visible from the ranger's office window.
Shortly after that Karl was watching the vultures in the roost near his ranch starting the day by soaring in circles ar kettles in warm air thermals to gain altitude. Then at the same time, training flight of Navy fighter jets would fly through the area at a low level and high speeds. If they were to get a vulture in the jet engine there would be an immediate fatal crash. It had happened before in other locations. Karl contacted the Navy base commander and there was an immediate change in flight plans.
Karl and Bill then decided to organize a legal corporation with the goal of studying the vulture and making the public more aware of its existence, importance, and valuable position in the environment. On July 27, 1994, the Turkey Vulture Society, Inc., became a legal corporation in Nevada. A short time later the Internal Revenue Service approved the Society as a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) Scientific and Educational corporation. Donations are tax deductible.
The immediate public response was full support. We received new memberships, donations, and, best of all, hundreds of descriptions and stories about behavior, habits, skills, and intelligence. At the Kernville Vulture Festival in California, the Audubon Society has introduced Bill as the leading expert on Turkey Vultures, and has had him give talks at scheduled meetings. In one month our new internet web site received about 10,000 hits.
So, on July 27, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TURKEY VULTURE SOCIETY!
The Board of Directors:
Jim Anderson
Vice President
Jim Anderson was born March 27, 1928, and raised on a small farm in West Haven, Connecticut. It was on the farm that Jim learned the Conservation Ethic at the age of 12. "You eat what you shoot," his grandfather said, as he inspected a great horned owl Jim had shot.
Jim logged, mined pumice, and studied coyotes - especially their response to poisons and what effect "control" had on reducing livestock damages. He also became involved with the Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) apprehending miscreants shooting eagles, hawks, and owls. In later years, he contracted studies for ODFW on bats, eagles, hawks, owls, cormorants, and osprey.
Jim worked for The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland as a naturalist for several years, implementing outdoor science activities for students and teachers, and operating science camps. He was also the director of the Children's Zoo and Conservation and Education in what is now the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
Jim has been studying raptors in Central Oregon for over 40 years, specializing in golden eagles, osprey, and ferruginous hawks. He is currently involved in an American kestrel nesting box study in Central Oregon.
Jim has been writing a nature column for The Nugget Newspaper in Sisters and The Source of Bend for several years, and recently for aviation articles for General Aviation. He is also the author of a book, "Tales from a Northwest Naturalist." He is a self-taught naturalist. (A "Naturalist" Jim says, in his case, is a biologist who flunked chemistry.)
Jim has traveled to Australia, lived with Aborigines in the Northern Territory, and studied spiders in Melbourne. He was the manager of TNC's Ramsey Canyon Preserve in SE Arizona for three years, has also traveled throughout Arizona and the Northwest conducting a variety of natural history studies, including, birds, spiders, condors, hawks, eagles and owls.
Jim started the nature programs at Sunriver in the early '70's, working with John Gray and the original landscape architects. Jim has conducted school programs, lectures at community colleges, Elder Hostel programs for Central Oregon Community College, Sunriver Nature Center, and Southern Oregon University for several years.
The Turkey Vulture Society's officers work on a strictly volunteer basis. We do not receive a renumeration from the society. So, why do we do it? We all share genuine desire to see the Society succeed as a strong and active resource for vulture researchers, observers, and enthusiasts throughout the Americas.
We are always seeking more members, information, locations of roosts, reports on unusual sightings, library material, and photographs. All contributions are tax deductible.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Turkey Vulture Society, please fill out a Membership Application
The Members:
The Turkey Vulture Society is only able to accomplish its mission with the help of members. Members are interested persons who offer their support in the form of an annual contribution. Members of the Turkey Vulture Society receive our monthly newlsetter, which includes accounts of scientific discoveries, personal interest stories, event listings, and other fascinating articles on vultures and the Society. Those who provide an e-mail address will also recieve regular electronic updates on regional activities, interesting vulture news, and scientific advances in vulture research.
To become a member of the Turkey Vulture Society, or to give a gift membership, please fill out the Membership Application
Membership Benefits:
* A personalized membership card and certificate
* A year-long subsciption to "News from the Blue Skies Above," the Society's bi-monthly newsletter.
* Regular e-mail updates on vulture related activities throughout North America
* Regular e-mail updates on scientific advances in vulture research
