Guh, had one of those guys sitting in my driveway one morning when I was walking to my car. No matter how teeny they look soaring 'round on the thermals, they are HUGE when they're eying you from ten feet away.

I considered it a rare treat to be able to get this close (maybe 12 feet away)... usually they're extremely shy and take off the moment you see them. In spite of their grim reputation, I find them rather fetching as birds go. :3

*HUGS!!*

You are engulfed in warm vultury feathers and earn bonus karma points. :3

It wasn't uncommon to get those guys hanging around our neighbourhood in Orlando, and they were very common (along with the black vultures) at alligator farms.

I almost never see them roosting except in tall, craggy rocks or on top of telephone poles. I guess they're just kind of skittish around here, since lots of folks have told me this kind of sight isn't unusual where they live. Alligator farm = vulture buffet. :3

OK... the photo is nice, but I wouldn't have favorited it without the title. That made me laugh. :)

Heh, thanks. I do aim to please with the titles. :3

What an excellent reference on large bird wings! Was he sunning himself? :)

Anecdote time. WOO.

I got the best phone call from my mother in a grocery store once...

"HONEY, OH GOD IT'S HORRIBLE, THIS GIANT BIRD WITH A BALD HEAD JUST DROPPED OUT OF THE SKY AND KILLED A SQUIRREL AND NOW IT'S EATING THE SQUIRREL AND TEARING IT UP... do turkeys eat squirrels? Honey, you're a scientist, do you know if turkeys hunt squirrels?! Do turkeys fly?! I didn't think turkeys flew, but this thing has a bald head and it's ripping up this poor squirrel...!"

It took me nearly ten minutes to get her to speak at a remotely normal level, and then another ten to explain that there are birds called "turkey vultures" that are usually carrion feeders, yes, carrion, yes, they eat dead things, I know, it's gross, and sometimes they decide to hunt like other raptors, no, it is not a turkey, no it is not a flying subspecies of turkey..."

Wow, pretty rare to see a vulture actually kill something... he must have been starving. :P

Yah, this guy(?) landed not too far away and almost immediately began to sun himself. He kept a wary eye on me, but for the most part he was unconcerned with my presence. I watched him for a good half an hour. :3