Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 10

CREATURE FEATURE
Roost
I
Coming
Home to
There's a reason-or two-vultures like
hanging out near your home.
By NANCY HENDERSON
'In another study,
we found about half of
the vultures had some
kind of plastic or trash
in their diet.'
10 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
t's no secret that humans often create problems for
wildlife with their relentless clearing, building and
other forms of " progress. " Not so for at least one
species, which has been increasing in numbers in
the Blue Ridge region and elsewhere since the late
1960s.
Researchers, of course, wanted to know why.
A study begun about 20 years ago was actually funded
by an unlikely source: the U.S. Air Force.
" Vultures are a problem for aircraft collisions because
they're a large, soaring bird, " says Jacob Hill, a postdoctoral
research associate at the University of Georgia's Savannah
River Ecology Lab and lead author of the report.
" So the Air Force was interested in the factors that contribute
to high vulture densities in places where people
live, in the context of understanding them to prevent
future collisions. "
In an effort to find out where vultures roost after
dark, Hill and his research team analyzed detailed data
gathered from 18 turkey and black vultures for nearly
8,000 nights on a military base in Beaufort, South Carolina.
The birds were outfitted with transmitters
that tracked their movements.
The decision to compare the two
types of vultures was anything but
random. Despite their scavenging
similarities, turkey vultures can
locate carcasses by smell, while
their black-headed cousins
can't. To compensate, black
vultures fly higher, following
their rivals, kicking
them off a carcass and
consuming it.
Ultimately, the UGA
researchers surmised
that although vul

http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 83
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 84
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 85
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 86
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 87
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 88
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 89
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 90
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 91
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 92
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 93
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 94
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 95
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 96
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 97
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 98
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/brc-jf-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com