Turkey+Vulture

toc //Cathertes aura // Order: Falconiformes =**__Husbandry Information__**=

Diet Requirements

 * The turkey vulture, contrary to popular belief, does not feed strictly on carrion. This bird enjoys plant matter as well, including shoreline vegetation, pumpkin, and bits of other crops. Extremely unaggressive and non-confrontational, the turkey vulture will not feed on live prey (an occasional habit of its cousin, the black vulture.)
 * Turkey vultures can often be seen along roadsides, cleaning up roadkill, or near rivers, feasting on washed-up fish, another of their favorite foods.
 * In captivity, turkey vultures are fed chicks, mice, and ground beef.

Notes on Enrichment & Training

 * For transportation away from a home enclosure, institutions have had success training their turkey vultures to __walk__ into a dog carrier (as opposed to being placed there while on a glove as other birds of prey are). At the EcoTerium Children's Museum, their turkey vulture was trained to enter a carrier on a verbal cue (and with the visual cue of the door being opened). He is reinforced at the back of the carrier. This particular vulture didn't work on the glove due to arthritis, but other zoos that DO present turkey vultures on the glove can place the vulture in front of a carrier on the floor or on a table and allow the bird to walk in voluntarily. These birds keep their jesses on the entire time so are ready to return to the glove once they arrive at their destination. Crate sizes range from medium (cocker spaniel) to extra large, depending on the size/demeanor of the bird and how far it needs to be transported. A falconry box (with the perch removed) can also be used. These carriers have no perches, but are lined with a removable astro-turf mat.
 * For those birds that really enjoy keeping their wings spread open, some institutions have been able to train birds to close the wings on command; John Ball Zoo, for example, can lightly touch their turkey vulture on the back to cue him to fold his wings.

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Potential Messaging


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=__Comments from the Rating System__=
 * Philadelphia Zoo: Our rating is based on only one individual. Others have reported problems with vomiting when being handled.

=__Natural History Information__=

Range and Habitat
By far the most widespread of the New World vultures, the turkey vulture can be found throughout the entire United States, north into Canada along the east and west coasts, and south into central South America. These birds prefer open areas, but can be found almost anywhere. They live along coastlines, in deserts, throughout plains, and even in inland forests.

Physical Description
The turkey vulture's head, like its namesake the turkey, is bald and red. There is an important purpose to the vulture's bald head. When the vulture is eating carrion, it must often stick its head inside the carcass to reach the meat. A feathery head would capture unwanted pieces of the vulture's meal, along with all the bacteria it hosts. After mealtime, the turkey vulture perches in the heat of the sun, where whatever has managed to cling to the few bits of fuzz on the head will be baked off once and for all. Its plumage is primarily dark brown. In flight, the undersides of the flight feathers appear silver or white. Sexes appear identical. Average size is 25 to 32 inches long, with a wingspan of approximately 6 feet. Healthy adult turkey vultures weigh approximately 6 pounds.

Life Cycle
The turkey vulture nests on the ground and in caves. It does not construct a traditional "nest" but rather scratches out an indentation in the soil. Vulture nests are often found in abandoned barns and shed, which provide safe hiding places similar to a cave or hollowed log. Turkey vultures lay 1 to 3 (but usually 2) blotchy-looking eggs once a year. Both parents share the responsibilities of incubating and caring for the brood. The eggs need to incubate for 38 to 41 days. Young vultures fledge 70 to 80 days after hatching. Juvenile vultures have darker heads and can be confused with the black vulture, from a distance. A longevity record for a wild bird was recorded by the US Geological Survey at 16 years and 8 months. The oldest known turkey vulture, Tolouse, is 33 years old and lives at the San Francisco Zoo.

Behavior
Its primary form of defense is vomiting. The birds do not "projectile vomit" as many would claim. They simply cough up a lump of semi-digested meat. This foul-smelling substance deters most creatures intent on raiding a vulture nest and can sting if it is gotten in the eyes. Turkey vultures also often directs its urine right onto its legs. This serves two very important purposes. In the summertime, wetting the legs cools the vulture as the urine evaporates. (The vulture cannot sweat like us.) In addition, this urine contains strong acids from the vulture's digestive system, which kill any bacteria that may remain on the bird's legs from stepping in its meal. Turkey vultures fly with their wings in a dihedral (V-shape.) They are most graceful in flight, and can soar for hours at high altitudes without ever flapping their wings. Vultures launch themselves from their perches only after the morning air has warmed. Then they circle upward, searching for pockets of rising warm air, or thermals. Once they have secured a thermal, they dive across the sky at speeds near 60 miles per hour, loosing altitude until they reach another thermal. All of this is done without needing to flap the wings. In fact, the turkey vulture can glide for over 6 hours without flapping a wing. The takeoffs are quite laborious, however, and the birds often fall victim to predators and cars when trying to gain flight. Turkey vultures, like most other vultures, have very few vocalization capabilities. They can only utter hisses and grunts. They usually hiss when they feel threatened. Grunts are commonly heard from hungry young, and adults in courtship.

Threats and Conservation Status
This bird is protected by the international Migratory Bird treaties, and its numbers are healthy.

Prejudices against birds of prey still persist among many who wrongly believe that they harm wildlife or present major threats to domestic animals. Biological studies have documented their ecological importance as major controls on rodent populations. Some birds of prey feed on snakes, insects or other potential pests. No species of raptor poses a significant threat to domestic animals.

Instruct guests to never litter, especially when they are in a car. Throwing trash out along the roads not only makes the roads less attractive, but can also attract animals to the sides of the road. Some of these animals might look appetizing to an owl, hawk, or other predator which are then more likely to be hit by passing vehicles. =__Did you know…__=
 * Turkey vultures are sometimes mistakenly called buzzards. Buzzards are a type of hawk.
 * The turkey vulture is one of the only birds in North America with a sense of smell. This vulture relies both on its keen eyesight and powerful nose to search out food.
 * Contrary to popular belief, circling vultures do not necessarily indicate the presence of a dead animal. Circling vultures may be gaining altitude for long flights, searching for food, or playing. American vultures are not known to circle a dying animal.
 * Turkey vultures are classified as new world vultures and are actually more closely related to storks and cranes than the old world vultures from Europe, Africa, and Asia.
 * Turkey vultures are often seen standing in a spread-winged stance. The stance is believed to serve multiple functions: drying the wings, warming the body, and baking off bacteria.
 * A group of vultures is called a "venue." Vultures circling in the area are called a "kettle."

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=__Contributors and Citations__=
 * The Philadelphia Zoo