Black Vultures have dined on mammoth and monarch alike. They have a menu that never goes out of style. And the future banquet that humanity is hamfistedly preparing for them will keep them inhaling deeply for road kill, lost climate refuges, storm victims and the offal of ethnic violence for centuries to come--if we last that long.
Language Note: In the US, the terms buzzard and vulture are synonymous for most folks. Buzzard is a term applied to soaring birds, including hawks, in Europe from whence our founding ancestors came, bringing the buzzard word and applying it to new world vultures. Neither buzzard or vulture are terms of endearment when applied to relatives or strangers.
Interesting Fred. I've noticed how even down here in SE Texas there has been a decades long trend in seeing a greater prevalence of black faces as fewer and fewer red faced, or what we always called turkey vultures, are seen. It's been a decades long trend. As a boy I don't think we ever saw black faced vultures along the gulf coast... but now it's just the reverse. I really can't recall the last red faced vulture I saw.
Language Note: In the US, the terms buzzard and vulture are synonymous for most folks. Buzzard is a term applied to soaring birds, including hawks, in Europe from whence our founding ancestors came, bringing the buzzard word and applying it to new world vultures. Neither buzzard or vulture are terms of endearment when applied to relatives or strangers.
This essay is you at your top form! What a wonderful way to meditate on the condition of our planet and our future.
Interesting Fred. I've noticed how even down here in SE Texas there has been a decades long trend in seeing a greater prevalence of black faces as fewer and fewer red faced, or what we always called turkey vultures, are seen. It's been a decades long trend. As a boy I don't think we ever saw black faced vultures along the gulf coast... but now it's just the reverse. I really can't recall the last red faced vulture I saw.