The Turkey Vulture Society is a non-profit scientific corporation. Its purpose is to promote scientific studies of the life habits and needs of the Turkey Vulture, to protect the vulture and its habitat, and to inform the public of the valuable and essential services this bird provides to mankind and to the environment.
REPORTING UNUSUAL
VULTURE SIGHTINGS
WHAT SHOULD I REPORT?
ONLY report the following:
* Tagged Vultures (vultures wing tags or other scientific markings, both dead and alive) * Abnormalities (vultures with unusual color patterns or other abnormalities)
* Unseasonal Sightings (vultures seen outside their usual seasonal range)
* Vulture Roosts and Nests
* First vulture sighting of the year (during spring migration season only)
* Vultures spotted in Washington State
UNSEASONAL SIGHTINGS:
Range of the Turkey Vulture
MARKED VULTURES:
Any time you observe a vulture with a wing tag or other scientific marking, you should contact the USFWS Bird Banding Lab in Maryland. Always include the date and location of the sighting, tag number, species, and any other pertinent information in your report.
The USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center is conducting research evaluating the movements of YELLOW or WHITE wing-tagged vultures. Each tagged bird has a cattle ear tag in its RIGHT wing and each tag has a letter and number (ie. F47 or C20) or a series of 3 letters (ie. AMJ) that may also be visible from below while the birds soar. The yellow tagged birds were marked and released in North Florida and the white tagged birds were marked and released in Virginia and Florida.
To report a sighting:
* Send the location of the sighting, tag number, species, and any pertinent behavioral or other information to:
Green herculite patagial tags were applied to the right wing of fourteen nestling Turkey Vultures in central Saskatchewan. White numbers are readily visible with binoculars.
Sightings of tag numbers can be reported to the banding office, or straight to the researchers themselves. Please report the date, exact location, and number of the tag to: STUART OR MARY HOUSTON
A ROOST is a location where vultures gather together in the evening to sleep. It is usually a tree or stand of trees, or a structure such as a barn or cell tower. Vultures disperse from the roost during the day to search for food.
A NEST is a solitary location where vultures lay their eggs and raise their young. Turkey Vultures nest on the ground and in caves. They do not construct a traditional "nest," but lay their eggs on bare ground. Vulture nests are often found in abandoned barns and sheds, which provide safe hiding places similar to a cave of hollowed log. Vulture chicks are covered in white (turkey vulture) or beige (black vulture) down.
ROOST reports should include the species of vulture present at the roost, and an approximate count of each species present. With your report, please mention an address or a cross-street by which we can map the roost. If you do not have this information, please give a basic location description, accompanied by the state, town, and zip code, if known. Please also indicate whether this roost is a seasonal or year-round roost.
NEST reports should include the species of vulture nesting, and a description of the location. With your report, please mention an address or a cross-street by which we can map the nest. If you do not have this information, please give a basic location description, accompanied by the state, town, and zip code, if known.
Follow-up reports are always appreciated, to inform us of the following information:
How many eggs were laid, and the accompanying dates
How many chicks hatched successfully, and the accompanying dates
How many chicks fledged (successfully flew away), and the accompanying dates
The Turkey Vulture Society is always interested in accounts of vultures with abnormalities.
***PLEASE familiarize yourself with the turkey vulture's physical characteristics BEFORE reporting an unusual sighting.***
Reports should include a description of your sighting, as well as a location, date, and approximate time. If you send an accompanying photo, we will be happy to include it in an upcoming newsletter.
The Turkey Vulture Society keeps a central record of all American vulture roosts and nests reported by the public. Scientists, researchers, and other individuals can request this information from the society.
We do not publish this database publicly, as such a resource could easily facilitate the persecution of vultures if it fell into the hands of an ill-intentioned human.
