Very informative. Thank you. reminds me of my bird. My Cockatiel, name of Lucy had his tail feathers torn out 3 times. Dont ask how. It made lucy a superior aviator, who would bait hawks in to chase him just for a bit of exercise. Lucy lived 10 years, was never kept in a cage. Wings were pristine(except when someone tried to close a truck door on him, he got caught behind someone sitting down, or when a hawk removed most of his tail feathers, thats the three times...) and was normally outside most of the day. He stayed out overnight many times. When he wasnt playing chicken, with hawks he was on my shoulder. I could tell you Lucy stories for hours. His eventual demise was by Ring tailed cat. Circle of life. He lived free, always wanted to be here, home. But watching that bird fly, man it still brings tears to my eyes. Joyful tears. I miss Lucy (I thot Lucy was a female, hence the name) but I am also glad he lived the life of a bird. Cages, well, lets not talk about birds, who enjoy flight more than we will ever understand, having their wings clipped and kept in cages to be a pet. May as well take a wolf, cut his legs off, put him on a chain. Thats not living. Lucy died early, like most birds, but he lived free. Freedom, for all. Peace out. be kind to eachother.
One fact you didn't mention is their flight motions. While black vultures flap their wings so fast and almost as though flying away from an impending doom that initially hit them in the head, Turkey vultures are very graceful flyers. Turkey vultures can glide for miles without as much as a wing flap. Black vultures, on the other hand, seemingly fly under stress. Black vultures flap their wings almost like juveniles that got accidentally pushed off their nests. They fly as though they would fall out of the sky like a rock if they skipped one or two flaps. Black vultures are terrible flyers.
This whole time I thought the difference was just the head color, never knew about all the other traits. I see these a lot, normally the black vultures.
Excellent job Dave.. Where are these birds in the video?? I can put you on hundreds roosting ACROSS from a park. and other likely spots but you know how nature changed .. Active area ando roosting area.
