  Tigersfan9 Member Username: Tigersfan9 Post Number: 28 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 64.118.151.178 |
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 |
The Detroit Falcons! | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2299 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245 |
(Message edited by rustic on April 06, 2006) | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2300 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245 |
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 |
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 |
Are they flying over the G.M headquarters? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 577 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Rustic...brilliant! | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2304 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245 |
 | ||
Stella343 Member Username: Stella343 Post Number: 2 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 207.75.146.125 |
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 |
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 |
Michigan's new state bird? Turkey Vultures? | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1070 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.101 |
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 |
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 |
Also known as buzzards | ||
Treelock Member Username: Treelock Post Number: 100 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.77.166.98 |
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 |
Mmmmmm, carrion. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 581 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253 |
Carry on. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1068 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
nice birds  WSU | ||
220hendrie1910 Member Username: 220hendrie1910 Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.217.83.157 |
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 |
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. |
