Just heard a snippet on the radio up here in Mi. about these vultures with 5ft. wing spans circling a town in PA. They also said there was a huge fine if you kill one. Whats going on down there?

Be interesting to know what they are circling around.

We have so many vultures in Florida if you see a group of them just don't sit still too long. Ha!Ha!

Yes you can't harm them here either, we call them the Florida sanitation department.

They are a migratory bird . I remember where I grew up there was one tree in particular that they always returned to. they did create a lot of poop and ruckus under that tree but, it was not in anyone's way. I cant imagine any body wanting to shoot one unless it was a real nuisance I guess. They help keep the earth cleaned up of its dead, and sometimes help a hunter find that deer they shot the night before but could not locate.

They are very valuable actually since they clean up those dead things that can invite nasty microorganisms that can cause issues. Anyway, a little research will show those vultures/buzzards are migratory, and when they begin to mass, so to speak, that is usually indicative of a fall/spring movement. We will get them coming through quite often as they scavenge their way....on their way to their selected locations. They are federally protected, however farmers that get livestock depredation, due to mostly the Black Vulture, can get permits to kill them if they're sure they are the problem.

They are gathering up to migrate and they spend lots of time just soaring. They aren't always circling something dead.

They are federally protected just like eagles, hawks, and owls so don't shoot one unless you are wanting a visit from a warden.

I live in Hershey, where people are having a “problem” with them. They have completely taken over our zoo and are even harassing apex predators like the bears and wolves. Those who live near the zoo have also had issues with the birds destroying their roofs and trees. Although it is kind of neat to watch them, we won’t be sad to see them leave.

Yep we get that here in Texas from time to time.

On their way to Jamaica for the winter ;-)

I've been around the nesting areas of black and turkey vultures a few times, in old, abandoned barns and large, dead trees. They will return to the same spots for multiple years. It's quite a mess, and stinks horribly. I understand why folks don't want them near dwellings, or towns, in large numbers.

They are mostly migratory and gather in a few stategic locations at the northern end of thier migratory route and will follow the thermals south throughout October and into November. Their roosts are stinky, for sure.

There's a bunch around here. I can watch them every day during the summer here at work. In the mornings they land on some big substation towers across the road, sometimes so many that there's no more room for them and they fly in and knock each other off so they have somewhere to stand.

When the sun comes out they will stand there with their wings spread wide soaking up the sun's warmth. I've seen them do this also on hilltop fence posts on the neighbors farm. One 'spread eagle' vulture skylined on each post down the length of the field catchin some rays. Kinda freaky-goulish lookin.

A popular place for them to winter is Panama. Watching hundreds of them spiraling up the thermals to begin the northern migration while transiting the canal is truly a spectacular sight.

You’re talking about black vultures. Nasty critters. They have some predatory tendencies and will go after newborn and sick calves, pecking their eyes out. More aggressive than the turkey vultures who are getting snuffed out by them. Farmers can get permits to kill 2 or 5 a year from the government if they become a nuisance to livestock.

Yeah, don't shoot vultures - they provide a vital role in our ecosystem, and they can actually be really old...

"Vultures circling in PA" immediately triggered a "where's George" alarming thought. But he posted, so all is well in PA. Just one old phart's concern for another. ;)

It appears the the main problem is they are over protected.

Birds are smart usually. Chances are if if you occasionally shoot a one or 2 where the others could they would largely disperse.

I have Redtails where I live. 200 yards away if you even point a gun towards one - it leaves instantly. But you can carry a gun around shooting groundhogs or targets and they just watch.

Im not suggesting anyone break the law. But they probably need rule change where a state employed hunter kills a few occasionally.

Animals that have absolutely no fear of man tend to become problem populations.

As a kid back in the 50's I tried to shoot at least one of everything. I shot a turkey vulture and went to pick it up to take home to show my brother. I dropped it quick as it was literally crawling with lice. Seemed pretty disgusting at the time. Now I just enjoy watching them.

Alternatively you could probably create some sort of program where someone flying a drone bothers problem birds to push them out of populated areas.

They do have a rather successful method of deterrent should they become threatened… They vomit on the harassing individual. Nice.

They have bald heads so the nasty doesn't stick ,they pee on their feet to rinse them off.

Tinecounter,

Priceless!

They help keep earth clean of its dead. I know where to send them.lol

In a land far, far away. I remember laying in the bed of a pickup truck trying to shoot a circling buzzard. Never touched a feather but that .270 sure does kick when you are shooting up . Nothing to soak up recoil. Arrowchucker

We have an old, fallen in crib where we hunt. After it opened up, we've had several years of successful turkey vulture nesting inside it. I remember my Grandmother telling me about someone she knew had trapped one, and it vomitted all over them when they tried to handle it.

Murray

They're not all bad. They can lead an attentive hunter to a downed deer if he's having trouble finding it. Crows and ravens too. I've seen them gather around dead animals just minutes after they were shot.

My archery hunting buddy in junior high and high school raised a couple of turkey vultures. The vomiting part is true. They will upchuck all over you if you get too close. Lice were horrible. He released them successfully in the wild.

Good eating if you know how to fix em

Are they still in PA or did they move along?

They are still there - this is a long term problem

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