The face only a mother could love.

[Moody Vaden]

There is an old barn on the property that isn't really used for anything other than storing hay up top, and some machinery under the ramp. The bottom, an old stantion milking parlor, hasn't been used since the 70's, I believe. After a few busted windows from neighborhood kids and just time on old style window panes, it was fair game for squatters. For the last five to six years, an old female buzzard flys in every spring and lays two eggs in the old bull pen, situated in the middle of the parlor. I suspect she uses this old bull pen because it is totally enclosed by 2"x6" solid oak boards about 4 feet high. The old farmer felt safe with a bull in it, so why not?

This year was a little different because of a mischevious little twelve year old boy and his fourteen year old companion. They happened into the old parlor and spyed two giant light-green eggs, flecked with a brush full of brownish red paint. Wanting to know what was inside of said eggs should fill out the blanks for the rest of this part of the story.

Well, after the egg massacre, I figured all was lost. She would never be back. She proved me wrong. About two weeks later there lie two more eggs. They are interesting birds. I will admit I would never have thought, hadn't I become aquainted with them, watching them grow and fly off over the years. One of my gardens is right below her window, so we've talked about a lot of meaningful stuff. She'll sit quietly on the window sill while I babble, and then head out for the river. I can only guess that I am conversing with the same one, every year. I don't know.

Anyhow, here is a picture of this years two little darlings that I thought would never happen. Aren't they beautiful?

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3102.jpg

[Junie]

Not everyone will see their beauty, but it's apparent to me. Don't know why buzzards have such a bad rep, especially since they perform such a valuable service. If it wasn't for them, and others of their ilk, we'd be up to our butts in rotting carcasses.

Last summer, we found an injured buzzard in our barn. He was jammed behind some stuff we have stored and his wing was twisted to a sickening angle. When we picked him up, he tried to vomit, but, apparently, his stomach was empty. No telling how long he'd been stuck and hurt, unable to get to food or water. He never tried to bite and didn't even flinch when I straightened his wing. We named him Bruce and fed him till he was strong enough to fly off. When we went up to feed him, he'd be walking around the barn and wasn't afraid of us at all.

Did you know that buzzards will not eat Treet? He ate everything else we gave him, but not the Treet. That should tell you something.

[Mom5farmboys]

Love the picture and yes they are beautiful! We have turkey vultures here and my husband calls them his "pets". They are always gliding around high in the sky and eat up the afterbirth after a cow has a calf.

Whenever we have to dispose of "varmits" that have been doing damage around the place my husband always drives out to the same spot on a high flat pasture and just lays the remains there, usually within the hour, here they come for their dinner.

One year I am not kidding we were overrun with woodchucks and it seemed we were feeding those birds daily, husband no more than fired his gun and here comes a turkey vulture swooping down and lands on a low pole right in our yard! It waited patiently and seemed to follow the truck out to the pasture feeding spot. I thought that was pretty cool.

[Aamylf]

They are so awkward and silly looking that,yes, they are beautiful in their own way. I, too, don't understand why we classify the clean up crew as ugly and so many people hate them. City people! They don't get the idea that someone has to be the garbage collector! Thanks for the pictures and hope you yelled at those to kids for wantonly destroying life! My mom caught me wiping out ant hills for no reason as a kid and said she hoped when the aliens showed up on earth, they had more respect for my house than I did for the ant house...funny to think about now, but quite effective for a 5 year old with an active imagination!

[Deberosa]

Great picture.

But when I had peacocks free ranging they always were getting tangled in that twine I see you have on their floor. I had no idea how they got into it but they managed. For next season you may want to gather that up so they don't hurt themselves.

They are so ugly they're cute!

[Moody Vaden]

Thank you Deberosa, I hadn't even give a thought to the baling twine. They recently aquired the run of the whole parlor when I had accidently left the gate unhooked. I'm going to head down there now and pick it up.

I have also been feeding them downed groundhogs. I leave them right outside the window and she, with the help of a few others at times have it picked clean, usually in a day, nothing but hide and bone. I don't know if she carries pieces in for the chicks, or eats and regurgatates for them. I imagine they are eating on their own at this point.

I can certainly believe they wouldn't eat Treet, Junie. Some people would be surprised what an animal can tell you if you know how to listen.

Thanks all.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

They are so sweet looking, aren't they? It seems like there has been increasing numbers of turkey vultures around here along with turkeys, pheasants, deer, coyotes, eagles, etc. The only reason we can come up with is an increasing food supply from framlands or else the hormones in the crops (sorry cinok). We like to watch the turkey vultures along the roads on the backwaters of the river. They are so large and yet regal in a way. And they clean up deer carrion so well or other animals on the roads.

[Moody Vaden]

update: more feathers and now they will charge if cornered. Last pic is right before I ran. ;)
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3613.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3614.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3616.jpg

[Moody Vaden]

They are so sweet looking, aren't they? It seems like there has been increasing numbers of turkey vultures around here along with turkeys, pheasants, deer, coyotes, eagles, etc. The only reason we can come up with is an increasing food supply from framlands or else the hormones in the crops (sorry cinok). We like to watch the turkey vultures along the roads on the backwaters of the river. They are so large and yet regal in a way. And they clean up deer carrion so well or other animals on the roads.

I have noticed the same thing. I live about a mile (as the buzzard flys) from a dam/hydroelectric plant. There are hundreds and hundreds that hang around there it seems, for obvious reasons I suppose. I love it when I get a row of them on top of the barn and they all spread their wings and hold them out while facing the sun and some turning side to side. Like they are giving offerings or thanks. It's an awesome sight.

[Moody Vaden]

Getting ready to head out.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3642.jpg

Waiting Mom...

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_3644.jpg

[Junie]

They grow up so fast...

[land steward]

Not everyone will see their beauty, but it's apparent to me. Don't know why buzzards have such a bad rep, especially since they perform such a valuable service. If it wasn't for them, and others of their ilk, we'd be up to our butts in rotting carcasses.

Last summer, we found an injured buzzard in our barn. He was jammed behind some stuff we have stored and his wing was twisted to a sickening angle. When we picked him up, he tried to vomit, but, apparently, his stomach was empty. No telling how long he'd been stuck and hurt, unable to get to food or water. He never tried to bite and didn't even flinch when I straightened his wing. We named him Bruce and fed him till he was strong enough to fly off. When we went up to feed him, he'd be walking around the barn and wasn't afraid of us at all.

Did you know that buzzards will not eat Treet? He ate everything else we gave him, but not the Treet. That should tell you something.

not sure but I hear they will eat the eggs and young of eagles hawks owls etc. They are the ultimate scavenger. Apparently they also have the best sense of smell of all animals.

[WildKiki]

Cool those are some really cute babies:wub:

[Moody Vaden]

I have never heard of them eating eggs or young from an eagles nest, I guess maybe in sheer desperation, but I doubt it. The only predators of bald eagles that I have ever heard of are raccoons, and those are just the eaglets.

Well, she's back again this year. Two big blue-ish speckled eggs. I will try to get some pictures this weekend to post and start documenting. I have already fed momma (and a few friends) 2 groundhogs from the garden, so far this spring.

[Junie]

I'm looking forward to following them again. I like them better than the eagles I've been following.

[Moody Vaden]

Thank you, Junie and WildKiki, I am happy that you are enjoying as much as I am.

I was able to sneak down there this afternoon and get a shot while Mom was out to lunch.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_5531.jpg

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Well, she's back again this year. Two big blue-ish speckled eggs. I will try to get some pictures this weekend to post and start documenting. I have already fed momma (and a few friends) 2 groundhogs from the garden, so far this spring.

I'm so glad she is back for you to enjoy again.

[Junie]

My son found an egg in the backyard today, just lying on the grass by the raised beds. I don't know what kind it is, but it sure looks like those buzzard eggs. I'm going to try hatching it.

Here's a picture. Sorry it's so blurry, but I have a cheap camera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/gayleannesmith/buzzardegg001.jpg

[sunflower]

My son found an egg in the backyard today, just lying on the grass by the raised beds. I don't know what kind it is, but it sure looks like those buzzard eggs. I'm going to try hatching it./buzzardegg001.jpg[/IMG]

I hope I don't sound silly asking this but, how will you hatch it? Will you use a chicken incubator or do they get to hot? I don't know, I'm still learning.

[Junie]

I don't know any more than you do about hatching this egg. I'm going to put it in a regular incubator, at 100 degrees, along with a few dozen chicken eggs (why waste electricity, right?) It might not hatch, but, then again, it might. I guess I'll know in about a month or so. I set up the incubator last night, but I want to wait a couple of days and make sure it's holding at the right temperature. So far, it is.

Some friends told me it looks like a wild turkey egg to them. I hope they're right. I'd really rather have a turkey than a buzzard.

[CountryBertha]

Just a tidbit -- Benjamin Franklin wanted the Buzzard declared our National Bird.

Those chicks are precious! I've never seen Buzzard chicks before.

[Moody Vaden]

I'm so glad she is back for you to enjoy again.

Thank you, I am too. I wished I had marked the day, or there abouts, when she laid them. According to my post, I'm thinking about 10 to 14 more days.

[Moody Vaden]

My son found an egg in the backyard today, just lying on the grass by the raised beds. I don't know what kind it is, but it sure looks like those buzzard eggs. I'm going to try hatching it.

Here's a picture. Sorry it's so blurry, but I have a cheap camera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/gayleannesmith/buzzardegg001.jpg

Hmmm, it sure does. I will be looking forward to see how that turns out.

[Moody Vaden]

Just a tidbit -- Benjamin Franklin wanted the Buzzard declared our National Bird.

Those chicks are precious! I've never seen Buzzard chicks before.

They sure are a sight. It's comical when you get too close, they hiss and charge you like they could do some real damage! The mother will do that too whenever I check in on her.

[Moody Vaden]

Well, we have babies. I snapped this quick cellphone picture while mom went out for breakfast this morning. More to come...


http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/Mobile%20Uploads/District2HallsCrossRoads-20110515-00032.jpg

[Equilibrium]

Rack em Moody Vaden!!! Awesome photos of bouncing baby black buzzards! I wish I lived close enough to you to visit! Vultures are by far my FAVORITE raptor. We mostly get turkey vultures this far north but I do know where there’s a group of black vultures hanging out near a remnant oak savanna next to the interstate. I go over there every once in a while to watch them. Magnificent animals. If those photos of yours aren't just the cutest little marshmallow fluff balls…. I don’t know what is!!!

[Moody Vaden]

Thank you Equilibrium, I did not realize they were considered a raptor. When they first started laying eggs and raising young, I had toyed with the idea of domesticating one, yes I know it is illegal, as I know of a fella who has one, but decided it was better to just enjoy them from afar.

Here is better pic of the newborns.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_5653.jpg

And one of Maw.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/moodyvaden/IMG_5656.jpg

Thanks all for looking!

[leera]

We have Turkey Vultures around here,but have never seen a nest of the babies.

Those are cool,thanks for sharing!