This Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) took a long look at me last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge before deciding that I was not dead, though I was moving quite slowly because of the heat and the humidity. Most of the vultures that I see in my area are Turkey Vultures, which have red, featherless heads, but, as you can in the photo, we also have Black Vultures.
I readily acknowledge that vultures play an important role in our ecosystems by eating dead animal carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases that could affect local food webs and human health. However, I admit that I, like most people, find these amazing birds a little creepy. Perhaps it is the result of watching countless Westerns on television as a child, movies in which circling vultures were always seen as a foreboding sign of death.
I like the way that this stark, naked tree enhances the spookiness of the vulture. One of my Facebook friends suggested that this would make a good Halloween image. For now, the image serves to remind us that life is ephemeral, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
…that’s a great looking bird!
Thanks. I think that vultures can be quite impressive looking birds, but might hesitate to call one “beautiful.” 🙂
A fun capture, Mike, with a near-perfect trident vulture perch! I love to watch both types of vultures fly–such amazing aerobatic skills.
Oh really good to see your black vultures. They are very rare in Spain but there is a colony near us. Not sure where you are.
Just checked where you saw these black vultures from your previous posts. Do link with us on my Birdplace post if you wish. It’s a way to connect up different habitats for birds.