Just southeast of the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Hinkson Creek has carved a wall of steep, Mississippian limestone cliffs, now protected within Capen Park. A trail leads through forest atop those cliffs, offering rocky overlooks along the way. For the first time in twenty years, my wife and I visited those clifftops today.
Other than broad views of the Park, Hinkson Creek and other nearby landscapes, the trail provides a close-up interaction with dozens, if not hundreds, of turkey vultures that nest on the cliffs and roost in trees on the steep valley wall (photo by Darcy Folzenlogen).
Common summer residents across the Lower 48 and southern Canada, turkey vultures winter in the southern U.S. (including central Missouri), Central America, Caribbean Islands and South America. They feed primarily on fresh carrion, which they locate with their exceptional sense of smell and by watching the activity of their fellow vultures. While not attractive birds (unlike most raptors), their effortless soaring ability is admired by anyone who visits open-country habitats.
