They were a noisy bunch, too. If your curiosity extends to morbid bird noises, you can click this link, then scroll down the page and click the play arrow on the "preflight call and wing noise" bar to listen to a sample of the ruckus they were raising.
As I watched them, the vultures began settling in the treetops two doors north of my house. These birds are big!
I thought they were gone when I left the house a while later, but I was wrong. I came home to find this one:
This creature was standing beside my neighbor's driveway, which is separated from mine by a narrow patch of grass on the south side of my house. I felt surrounded. This bold bird looked for all the world like it was directing traffic: "This way, guys . . . slow and easy . . . keep it moving . . . plenty of room for everybody."
I took that last photo from the car window when I stopped near the end of the driveway to collect the mail. The bird held its wings in that outspread position until I stepped out of the car, keeping my steps lively and all my limbs in motion to make it obvious that I was alive. The vulture kept its eyes on me while I walked the short distance to the mailbox, and I watched it just as intently.
When I turned around and headed back toward the car, I got the distinct impression that the vulture viewed my presence as nothing more than an annoyance. It watched me from its driveway spot for another couple of seconds, then leisurely flew a few feet across the street into the low branches of a tree, where it continued to keep me under surveillance.
Today they're back again. I saw them earlier when I left to go buy groceries, and I can hear them out there now. One landed briefly on the roof a little while ago. They're beginning to creep me out. I wish they'd hurry up and strip whatever carcass is keeping them here, then move along.
omg, that's scary. I don't blame you one bit for being creeped out. And what's worse is that.....we can do nothing about it. Can't really call the police and tell them you think there's a body someplace because of it.....(but I think there must be)...because they would surely label you "odd". If you ever find out the reason, I hope you'll post an update! I was awakened one summer morning by a large murder of crows fighting over roadkill and that creeped me out, so I do know how you feel.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound and look creepy but the one with the spread wings was probably just trying to dry out his feathers in the sunshine. We see so many vultures here that we call them the Official Bird of the City of Wimberley.
ReplyDeleteThat is creepy, no doubt. I must admit though, the part about you driving out to your mailbox to retrieve your mail, I giggled. About two weeks ago, we had a swarm of birds (thousands I swear)on our property, I would NOT go out there. Alfred Hitchcock was an awesome writer, but I think 'the birds' will never leave my psyche.
ReplyDeletesandy
When I'm hiking on a hot, dry day and feeling like I can't make it back to the car, I often wonder if the vultures are circling ME! Just in case...
ReplyDeleteVal, in the absence of roadkill, I wonder if the vultures are seeking out "hors d'oeuvres" -- little bits of frogs and field mice -- served up by the recent upsurge of lawn mowing.
ReplyDeleteAnnette (WMN), it did occur to me that it was sunning itself. In fact, I thought it was a sign of evolved intelligence that it was standing next to a driveway, taking advantage of the heat radiating from that flat concrete surface.
Sandy, lol, that is a funny thought, but I didn't drive out to the mailbox. I just stopped there as I was returning from the grocery store. I agree with you that Alfred Hitchcock's movie planted a seed of avian distrust that's hard to shake off sometimes.
Holly, I'd wonder the same thing under those circumstances, wonder if they're circling you, watching you, placing malevolent little side bets on if or when or where you'll fall . . . Eeeek!
Hey, do y'all remember
this Far Side cartoon? Hahahahaha!