Despite the relatively mild climate along the Colorado Front Range, turkey vultures only reside here during the warmer months and are rather uncommon when present. So, on this sunny, mild morning, I was pleased to observe the first vulture of the season, lazily circling above our Littleton farm.
Having wintered in Mexico or South Texas, regional vultures will nest on cliffs along the foothills or on rocky outcrops that rise above the High Plains. Once their young are raised, they will spend most of their time soaring above open country, guided to carrion by their extraordinary sense of smell. Communal roosts are generally established in groves of trees and the vultures will begin to drift southward by September.
Since dozens of turkey vultures often pass over our Missouri home in the evenings, it feels a bit disingenuous to get excited about a lone individual. But he/she has come a long way to visit our immediate air space and I certainly appreciated the gesture.
