SOUTH FLORIDA BIRDS: Vulture and Egret, Nancy Hopkins

South Florida Birds: Vulture and Egret,
Nancy Hopkins, November 27, 2000

TURKEY VULTURE TURKEY VULTURE IN PINE, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

TURKEY VULTURE IN FLIGHT, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

TURKEY VULTURE DRYING OUT, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

TURKEY VULTURE IN FLIGHT WITH MOON, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

TURKEY VULTURE: The all black adult Turkey Vulture can have a wingspan of 6 feet and grow to be 28 inches long. As a "raptor" it is a bird of prey active during daylight. It soars, seldom flapping wings, searching by smell carcasses, upon which it feeds. Seen at the beginning of each South Florida winter, this was one of about a dozen Turkey Vultures that showed up to dry out their wings by resting on the dead and dying branches of a great pine tree. You can normally see one or a flock soaring high with numerous others, circling while riding currents of air.

Cattle Egret

EGRET BY ROADSIDE, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

EGRET SHOPPING, photograph by Nancy Hopkins, South Florida photographer

Cattle Egret: One of the heron family, the Cattle Egret can be seen by the side of the road or in the local shopping mall, looking for large insects and frogs to eat. They are often found in groups or as a single, but at night the roost in very large colonies. They grow to 20 inches in height and are all white, except during courtship when brownish plumes erupt over the back, chest, and crown. The bill and feet are yellow and the voice is a hoarse croaking sound.

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