Tigersfan9 Member Username: Tigersfan9
Post Number: 28 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 64.118.151.178
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 1:50 pm: | |
I've been looking out my window (Woodward & Congress) all morning and seeing groups of birds flying around that looked like vultures. My best bet, after doing a little research online, is that they're turkey vultures. Anyone know if this is correct, and if so, what their history in this area is? They're ugly looking birds up close, but they look cool flying around. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c
Post Number: 689 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.21.62.206
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 1:53 pm: | |
The Detroit Falcons! |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2299 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 2:04 pm: | |
Kevorkian's Kerkorian's people circling GM's carcass? (Message edited by rustic on April 06, 2006) |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2300 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 2:14 pm: | |
I wrote Kevorkian instead of Kerkorian ... how's that for a freudian slip, lol! |
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar
Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 35.8.144.6
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 2:49 pm: | |
Tigersfan, out my office window in the Penobscot, I noticed the same thing. And after googling, I think you might be right. |
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5
Post Number: 199 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 71.227.95.4
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:29 pm: | |
Are they flying over the G.M headquarters? |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 577 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:50 pm: | |
This time of year, you get an interesting variety of birds. Must be the time to watch the migrating species pass through. I've noticed woodpeckers hammering away at light poles, and a few gray birds with colorful beaks I can't recognize. Best of all is the new song of the mockingbirds. Last year their song included a bit of car alarm. This year, it seems to include a bit of a lonely cat crying. Gotta love urban birdwatching. |
Bongman Member Username: Bongman
Post Number: 1006 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | |
Roadkill...That's their specialty. Just hanging around waiting for some dead meat.
|
Funkycarrie Member Username: Funkycarrie
Post Number: 195 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 69.208.117.53
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:55 pm: | |
I'm pretty sure thats what they are. I haven't ever seen those much around here in Michigan though, more over in VA...wonder what they're doing over here, could it be because of the mild winter? |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3065 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.9.218
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:57 pm: | |
Take an hour or so drive and while not urban will be one of the best spots in the world to observe bird migrations. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/p elee/natcul/natcul6_e.asp |
The_aram Member Username: The_aram
Post Number: 4764 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.213.175.233
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:57 pm: | |
There are definitely turkey vultures all over the place once you get to the rural stretches between Ann Arbor and Detroit. you can see them in the trees on the side of the freeways sometimes. |
Bongman Member Username: Bongman
Post Number: 1007 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 198.111.56.128
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 3:59 pm: | |
They have been circling Mt. Clemens for years. Quite a few up North too. They usually fly in mating pairs. |
Stella343 Member Username: Stella343
Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 207.75.146.125
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 4:04 pm: | |
Turkey vultures are common in all parts of Michigan during the summer and then fly south during the colder months. Southern Michigan is the upper part of their winter range. Their return to the area is usually a good sign of spring. |
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa
Post Number: 783 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.39.170.77
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 4:19 pm: | |
I like the way they run; kinda like they've got a bad hip. It's cute. |
Northend Member Username: Northend
Post Number: 859 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 69.220.232.15
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 4:54 pm: | |
Rustic...brilliant! |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2304 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 5:04 pm: | |
|
Stella343 Member Username: Stella343
Post Number: 2 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 207.75.146.125
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 5:27 pm: | |
There are a couple of easy ways to ID turkey vultures in flight. One is that the undersides of the flight feathers appear silver or white. Their wings form a slight V shape, they do not hold them straight. Also when they are soaring they rock back and forth. |
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch
Post Number: 1448 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 208.44.117.10
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 5:50 pm: | |
quote:I like the way they run; kinda like they've got a bad hip. It's cute.
I have a bad hip, do you think I'm cute? |
Detroiternthemist Member Username: Detroiternthemist
Post Number: 32 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 68.249.239.0
| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 6:45 pm: | |
Michigan's new state bird? Turkey Vultures? |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1070 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.101
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 4:05 pm: | |
I would have guessed that these were some type of hawk, not a vulture. While commuting to Ann Arbor, I used to see a lot of brown-colored hawks by the freeway, often looking for roadkill. I don't think I've ever seen the distinctive red head of a turkey vulture. Ah, I just found this site, which has some great info on hawks/vultures in Michigan: http://www.smrr.net/ See the yearly counts for each type of bird at: http://www.smrr.net/t/Book4.pd f Looks like "Broad-winged Hawks" are by far the most common type of bird of prey in Michigan... those are probably the ones I've seen. On the other hand, it looks like Turkey Vultures have grown in population and are second-most common now, so maybe these are vultures you're seeing! |
L_b_patterson Member Username: L_b_patterson
Post Number: 301 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 65.43.233.125
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 4:40 pm: | |
turkey vultures are quite common through much of the upper midwest. |
Missnmich Member Username: Missnmich
Post Number: 499 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 70.186.39.150
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 5:45 pm: | |
Also known as buzzards |
Treelock Member Username: Treelock
Post Number: 100 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.77.166.98
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:10 pm: | |
to identify birds of prey in flight, examine their wing spans while soaring. Vultures wings form a slight dihedral facing upward, Hawks wings slant down just slightly Eagles wings are held out straight, like this: I believe turkey vultures, which have most definitely returned for spring, are a relative newcomer to this area, attracted mostly by the availability of carrion. |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1073 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.101
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:16 pm: | |
Mmmmmm, carrion. |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 581 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253
| Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:25 pm: | |
Carry on. |
Psip
Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1068 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131
| Posted on Saturday, April 08, 2006 - 3:07 am: | |
nice birds WSU |
220hendrie1910 Member Username: 220hendrie1910
Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.217.83.157
| Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 5:51 pm: | |
Best thing about 'em: The droppings are generally sterile (due to the birds' hyperacidic stomachs), so they won't make you or your cat sick. Birdwatching in Ottawa. |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 2446 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.210.27
| Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 6:38 pm: | |
Goatsuckers, aka nighthawks, can frequently be seen circling the top of the Fisher Building on summer nights in a vulture-like gyres chowing down on insects drawn by the lights up there. |