A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) turned its head to check me out as I walked by it during a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. However, the vulture did not move from its perch, suggesting to me that there was something dead nearby that had attracted the vulture’s attention.
I couldn’t help but think of a joke about a vulture that a friend told me last year—A vulture boards an airplane carrying two dead raccoons. The flight attendant looks at him and says, “I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.” Sorry—I have a somewhat warped sense of humor and love puns and wordplay.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I thought I was the only one who took pictures of these attractive birds!
Great joke, Mike! I love most things associated with Vulture Culture.
You’re not the only one, Wally. I enjoy trying to capture shots of vultures in their best possible light. Too many people get freaked out because vultures eat road kill. I salute them, because that is a valuable function. 🙂
Love the photos (one of my favorite birds!) and the joke! Very clever!
I must be as warped as you are because I literally laughed out loud at that one.
I have turkey vultures here in Vermont every summer. They roost on the barn ridgepole. Sometimes they extend their (very long) wings while just squatting there. And they circle and circle overhard. There is a steep ravine just north of the barn and it has some interesting air currents. At least, I think the vultures and other large birds must find them interesting. They seem to float around.
Judy Howland (Northfield ’61)
I liked your joke so much I read it to the other half, we both had a good laugh 🙂
Thanks, Liz. I guess the three of us have equally warped senses of humour. 🙂