Tehachapi News
Have you seen a wing-tagged turkey vulture?
Have you seen a wing-tagged turkey vulture?
By: Clarke and Jean Moore
Description: If so, the Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club wants to talk to you
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Posted by editor Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 1219 times
0 responses 0 comments For decades Tehachapi residents have witnessed the passing of tens of thousands of turkey vultures migrating through the valley in the fall. Each year the most often asked question has been, “Where do they go in the winter?” Very little research has been done with turkey vultures in general, let alone where their specific winter ranges are.
It is known that hundreds of thousands of these birds funnel through Vera Cruz, Mexico and that some then do spend time in Venezuela before returning. Researchers have reversed the question, asking instead, “Where did they come from?” Recently 100 turkey vultures over-wintering in Northwestern Venezuela were marked with color wing tags.
All tagged birds are members of the meridionalis the western North American subspecies of species Cathartes aura. They are expected to begin migrating to their breeding areas in February. Their movements should take them through Central America, Mexico, Western United States and Canada. This means, very likely, some may pass over Tehachapi.
During the years in which the Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club surveyed the vulture fall migration it was documented that birds come through in large kettles, as many as 5,000 on any given day, and were in a hurry. In contrast, when returning in the spring, they will be in much smaller groups and seem to be just wandering through.
Please Report
Sightings will help determine the timing, geography of the vulture migration, as well as their nesting grounds. Please report the following: Date and location, tag color (blue or red) and number on the tag, the wing (right or left) to which the tag is attached, circumstances, that is, was the bird alone or in a group, flying or perched, feeding or roosting. Also report tagged dead vultures.
When one or more of the tagged vultures is sighted, email bvsbird@sbcglobal.net or call 821-5303. These reports will be forwarded to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary researchers in Orwigsburg, Pa. When completed, results of the study will be sent to those who reported. Thanks to all in advance, and good birding.
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