The Flight of the Peace Eagles
|
Dally Press Gazette
Desert Destinations |
© Len Wilcox
Every Fall, one of the most unusual migrations in nature takes place through much of the west. It's the flight of the Peace Eagles, leaving their roosts and flying southward. They usually depart on the same day each year, and arrive at their Central or South American destinations on the date of the autumn equinox. During the migration, the graceful Peace Eagles effortlessly soar on their huge wings, climbing high, riding the thermals rising from the hot valley floor. Long lines of them point southward, stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. Some 20,000 of these majestic fliers take part in the exodus. The sight is so spectacular that birders in Kern County have created a festival to mark the event.  It's a feat as mystifying as the swallows returning to Capistrano, but one not so well known. Up close, to some people the Peace Eagle is particularly unattractive, and his dietary habits are offensive to the human palate. And he goes by another name: the turkey vulture. "The turkey vulture is the most graceful soaring bird in the world," says Bill Kohlmoos, president of the Turkey Vulture Society, in a report he prepared for the society's website. "He follows the thermals and updrafts with an instinct admired by experienced glider pilots. He can 'feel' the air as he plays updrafts and minor variations with his wing-tip fingers, much as a pianist plays classical music on a Steinway." With a wingspan up to 6 feet wide, the turkey vulture can fly as fast as 34 miles per hour. Usually the bird will soar effortlessly at 10 or 15 miles an hour. Beautiful in flight, this is also a remarkably social and intelligent bird. Human observers have reported behavior that could only be taken as friendly and playful. "They enjoy playing games," according to Kohlmoos. "Almost every evening when they return to the roost there will be about half an hour of follow-the-leader, tag, and speed soaring, if the winds are favorable." 
Turkey vultures live in communities called roosts, usually in tall trees or on a rock ledge. They will stay together all their lives in a family unit. Following generations will occupy the same roost. Not all of the turkey vultures will migrate - especially in warm areas, such as the central valley, many vultures stay year-round. "Many of the roosts are located near human habitation. There can be the same kind of trees a half-mile away in a field, but for their home the birds will pick a tree near people. They seem to like the warmth of human company," Kohlmoos asserts. Called 'Peace Eagles' by some Native Americans, the turkey vulture does not hunt for prey. He is a carrion bird, surviving on vegetation and the remains of carcasses left by others. He does not and cannot kill his own food. His claws and beak are too weak. Some of his cousins are more popular; the vulture is closely related to the California condor, as well as storks and flamingos. The Turkey Vulture Society has been studying vulture behavior, with field reports from members supporting Kohlmoos's belief that the turkey vultures are intelligent and very friendly to birds and humans alike. He says that when a Turkey Vulture is injured and taken into rehab, the bird can become emotionally attached to his handler and follow him around and watch him, much like a pet dog. Other reports from members of the Turkey Vulture Society show an animal that is not only intelligent, but with a strong desire to be social with humans. Vultures have been known to 'adopt' a human, and follow that person around as part of their daily routine. One such report was of a boy who would walk to his bus stop in the morning, and a vulture would follow him - and later be waiting, perched on a pole, when the bus brought him back. The bird would then escort the boy home. "Some people react to an act like this as frightful, thinking that the vulture is looking for a potential meal. Not so," Kohlmoos said. "No, this was an act of friendliness and association, and we have had dozens of such incidents reported to us." Not only are they friendly, they communicate in mysterious ways. Not just within their own roost members, but with other roosts and even other breeds of carrion birds. "They communicate with friends and neighbors when they find something to eat. They let the others know where the food is," Kohlmoos said. "Also, when they find food they will go to the California Condors and lead them to it. One roost was observed when they had a dead cow in their neighborhood. They somehow contacted a roost of 100 vultures about 30 miles away to come join them." While the turkey vulture has a reputation for being unsanitary, it's not deserved. It is a clean bird. They spend two to three hours a day preening, and will bathe in water whenever they can. Entire flocks of 75 birds have been observed going into a pond of water for a bath. "They preen their feathers, submerse, shake, and scrub for half an hour. Then they walk up on the bank and hold their wings out to the sun to dry. When ready, they soar off into the sky and play an exuberant game of tag, because they feel so good." The unusual intelligence and friendliness of the Turkey Vulture has won over many. But the annual rite of passage - when thousands upon thousands of them fill the skies for the migration - has become legendary among birders. The Audubon Society co-sponsors a Turkey Vulture festival the last weekend in September at the Kern River Preserve near Lake Isabella. During the festival, birders hold excursions and field trips to observe turkey vultures and other migrating birds. Workshops and activities are conducted for adults and children alike. So, during the months of September and October, be sure to keep one eye looking upward. When that long line of graceful, elegant Peace Eagles stretches from one horizon to the other, you'll know it's time to stop and watch some of the most graceful flyers ever to travel the San Joaquin skies. For more information about the Turkey Vulture festival, visit http://www.valleywild.org/tvfest.htm The festival is usually scheduled the last weekend in September, with most activities planned for Saturday, at the Kern River Preserve near Weldon (east of Bakersfield). For more information on the Turkey Vulture Society, visit http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/ |
Dally Press Home Dally Press Books Art Gallery Contact Us
Feedback
Join Our Mailing List Links About us Our Guarantee Dally Press Bookstore on Amazon Advertise with us
