Mike's Wildlife Art & Photography

Mike's Photos

Photo of the Week 

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Turkey vulture Cathartes aura

In my search for Bald Eagles, I found more of this type of bald creature.  There is an important purpose to the Turkey Vulture's bald head.  When vultures eat carrion, they often stick there head inside the carcass to reach the meat.  A feathery head would collect all the blood and guts of the vulture's meal, along with all the bacteria it hosts.  The turkey vulture then perches in the heat of the sun to dry out the mess around its head.

Location: Conowingo, MD
Camera:
Canon 40D  
Lens: Sigma APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX IF HSM w/1.4x Canon tele-converter
Turkey Vulture Postcards
 

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Michael, Mike, Nature, Oceanside, marsh, center, study, area, Barbara, Ernie, Verdeschi, Photography, wildlife, digital, art, biology, line art, osprey, Farina