It’s not unusual to see a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) drifting high overhead, its broad, 1.8 metre wide wings set in the distinctive ‘V’ that makes the bird so easy to identify. V is for Vulture. It’s less common to see them on the ground, but I recently spotted this individual resting on a fence post.
Turkey Vultures are a widespread species, with three subspecies ranging from Northern Ontario to Argentina. They haven’t been found in Ontario in large numbers until the last few decades. You are still most likely to view a Turkey Vulture in the south-west of the province, where the climate is a bit warmer. However, since the 1980s, the eastern Ontario population has more than doubled.
Turkey Vultures are almost exclusively scavengers and rarely kill live prey. It’s thought that one factor in their range expansion has been the relentless construction of new roads, which along with high volumes of speeding traffic, bring plentiful numbers of roadkill.
In rocky terrain, Turkey Vultures nest on cliff ledges or in crevices or caves. In more agricultural regions, they may use a hollow tree or an abandoned building. They prefer to nest in darkness, well hidden from predators and humans. The dark loft of an old, abandoned barn may thus provide good nesting habitat.
A migratory species, Turkey Vultures begin to move south in mid September, with the peak migration period running from the beginning to middle of October. Perhaps my fence sitter is resting up while contemplating the journey south.
Willow House Chronicles 
He looks quite contempt sitting there:-) we have crows in Aus that scour roads and feast on dead roos.. Its the same case here with new roads and highways expanding everyday means more roadkill..
The turkey buzzards are fun to watch riding the thermals. Unusual to see one fence sitting. Nice capture.
They started nesting around here about ten years ago. There’s an old barn on the property next to us, and I think that they have found safe haven there. I always enjoy seeing they shadow drift across the lawn on a sunny Summer day.
Rayya, he did seem content to be basking in the sun. Poor dead roos!! : (
Grampy, they’re pretty majestic for carion eaters, eh? Thanks.
Louise, that’s cool to have them nearby. I’m sure if they ate seed, they’d be at your feeder with the rest of the gang!
Sheri — Very interesting post. Vultures have become one of my favorite birds to observe. Years ago I read a story how in India (if I remember the country correctly) vultures were inadvertently killed through the use of chemicals that dead prey had died from. Eating the dead prey (as you point out is their habit) exterminated vultures from most of the country. Therefore, dead animals in the country were becoming a problem especially the smell which became overwhelming as the dead animals de-composed.There has been a movement to re-populate the country as a result.Great post. — barbara
Barbara, I remember that. It took quite a while for them to figure out what was killing the vultures. Thanks for relating the story of India’s vultures
here. It shows how important every member of the natural community is.