tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post3188393835295271281..comments2023-10-12T06:58:26.451-04:00Comments on Mary's View: Following VulturesMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-88463872313902982642008-10-14T21:34:00.000-04:002008-10-14T21:34:00.000-04:00Hi Mary,I was wondering if you could tell me how y...Hi Mary,<BR/><BR/>I was wondering if you could tell me how you make your pictures as large as you do? I've tried pulling on the corners of mine but they just become blurry. Any tips?<BR/><BR/>Thank you!A New England Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04345194920944256200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-1610717846276943272008-10-09T15:12:00.000-04:002008-10-09T15:12:00.000-04:00For some reason I missed the part where you said y...For some reason I missed the part where you said you don't see lots of TVs around here. I fear you just may not be looking closely enough. I'd say 70% of the vultures I see are TVs, with a BV scattered in here and there for good measure. <BR/><BR/>It's hard to tell the difference when they're flying if you're just looking for the red head. It's hard to make out without binoculars. Instead, look at the other end of the bird. Black vultures appear to have almost no tail . . it's very short and angular. TVs, on the other hand, have a longer rounded tail that juts out more proportionally to the rest of their huge body. <BR/><BR/>Also I've noticed that in flight the TVs tend to rock back and forth quite a bit while soaring, while the BVs fly more smoothly. <BR/><BR/>Last interesting fact . . Black Vultures don't have as good a sense of smell as Turkey Vultures, which is why you'll often see them in mixed groupings. The BVs rely on the TVs' sense of smell, following the TVs around until they find something to eat. If you look more closely at soaring groups of vultures, you'll almost certainly find a combination of both. Sorry, didn't mean for this to turn into a primer, it just happened that way!Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12893588042613630401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-18170632915626623022008-10-07T16:17:00.000-04:002008-10-07T16:17:00.000-04:00Mary, I have heard of this book but I don't yet ha...Mary, I have heard of this book but I don't yet have it. Thanks for shwoing it to me. I'm very interested now! Great shots of the vultures by the way! Looks like you and your new camera are becoming fast friends!Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-64110484517397145622008-10-07T14:55:00.000-04:002008-10-07T14:55:00.000-04:00Dear Mary,Your pictures of the Black Vultures woul...Dear Mary,<BR/>Your pictures of the Black Vultures would make great Hallloween cards!!!<BR/>Bee careful... photography and driving are some what mutually exclusive...we need to get you driver....what's Johnson doing?<BR/>Thanks for the Field Guide review. I love field guides.<BR/>SherryQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02473455565144414399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-52089752604624231852008-10-07T12:20:00.000-04:002008-10-07T12:20:00.000-04:00i'm always buying field guides. love the vulturesi'm always buying field guides. <BR/><BR/>love the vulturesThe Quacks of Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05165918541194607143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-91890806164738684442008-10-07T10:48:00.000-04:002008-10-07T10:48:00.000-04:00COOL!!! Lynne's comment is cracking me up.Great pi...COOL!!! Lynne's comment is cracking me up.<BR/><BR/>Great pics! I am fascinated by vultures, but not nearly to the extent that Lynne is.dguzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811101661607351661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-57916615869413003112008-10-07T10:45:00.000-04:002008-10-07T10:45:00.000-04:00WOW...what a series...I like the 3rd one the best....WOW...what a series...I like the 3rd one the best. This is a rare catch...beautifully doneAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17354988177818684597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-16637546091915854902008-10-07T00:49:00.000-04:002008-10-07T00:49:00.000-04:00Mary, I love those close-up photos. I really don'...Mary, I love those close-up photos. I really don't think black vultures look as bad as turkey vultures. And they may not win any beauty contests, but they are fascinating birds to watch, especially when they ride the thermals.Mary Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08077077785157768787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-24861244351791403102008-10-06T20:57:00.000-04:002008-10-06T20:57:00.000-04:00Nice shots, again! We have both black vultures an...Nice shots, again! We have both black vultures and turkey vultures here, but I most often see the turkeys. (I always get a little worried when I see them circling as I am out running - surely I don't look <I>that</I> bad, right?)Dog_geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797650391128520269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-48768604184506207422008-10-06T12:28:00.000-04:002008-10-06T12:28:00.000-04:00Great images interesting info wonderful.. you Rock...Great images interesting info wonderful.. you Rock madame! <BR/>hugs NG xo<BR/>P.S. thank for the tip on a good birding book!Naturegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00177418253271097079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-79996969125591021842008-10-06T12:09:00.000-04:002008-10-06T12:09:00.000-04:00Love the black vulture shots! Up here in Madison, ...Love the black vulture shots! Up here in Madison, NC, we've got massive groups of vultures that kettle over town. Mostly turkey vultures, but for every 10 TVs, there's at least one black vulture.<BR/><BR/>Your vulture in flight looks like a turkey vulture. The "fringe" of silvery feathers along the wing and extended head and wings give it away. BVs' only have silvery wing tips in flight, and sort of hunch their heads into their shoulders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-82732025369690842442008-10-06T10:51:00.000-04:002008-10-06T10:51:00.000-04:00I don't know how you do it. I know your not carry...I don't know how you do it. <BR/><BR/>I know your not carrying around the big bazooka 600mm lens. You have have a magical relationship with birds. What a gift. I got the book for my nephew and then decided to keep it for myself -- all guide books should be that informative!<BR/><BR/>I am finally getting caught up -- so keep you eye out for some mail this week.TR Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00595967532391171082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-8862955755274688392008-10-06T09:36:00.000-04:002008-10-06T09:36:00.000-04:00As always, your photos have that "WOW" factor, too...As always, your photos have that "WOW" factor, too. Your black vultures are quite regal in their judicial robes and ruffs. For good solid ugly, though, nothing quite matches turkey vultures. Neither will win a beauty contest, but they are so elegant as they ride the wind that we really don't care.Peg Sillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11264210610044622009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-36163603414099253402008-10-05T22:05:00.000-04:002008-10-05T22:05:00.000-04:00Great, great photos - especially that close up. I ...Great, great photos - especially that close up. I like vultures of all sorts, ugly or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-62847915502573990632008-10-05T21:43:00.000-04:002008-10-05T21:43:00.000-04:00I laughed at your adventures with the vultures, sh...I laughed at your adventures with the vultures, shoe and construction workers. Sounds like something I'd do. LOL!<BR/><BR/>Those vulture pics are awesome. So clear. They look rather scary.<BR/>Great post.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14788733654505792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-12991821243499255722008-10-05T21:36:00.000-04:002008-10-05T21:36:00.000-04:00Come visit us at the Falls of the Ohio in Louisvil...Come visit us at the Falls of the Ohio in Louisville, KY. We have both kinds that soar right past at eye level, after feasting on the dead fish washed up on the river bank. It's always great to find someone who appreciates vultures! All my friends think I'm crazy!denapplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430678769172400129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-43246419892906270242008-10-05T21:16:00.000-04:002008-10-05T21:16:00.000-04:00Awesome photos, Mary! I never thought I would enj...Awesome photos, Mary! I never thought I would enjoy looking at vultures, but they are fascinating. We had some resting on top of our barn some time ago, and I thought they were turkey vultures, but maybe not since they didn't have red heads. <BR/>Thanks for the tip on a bird book that might be on my level:)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01384059342847120951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-53837439319862731692008-10-05T19:53:00.000-04:002008-10-05T19:53:00.000-04:00Sweet Black Vulture photos! Here in southern Ohio...Sweet Black Vulture photos! Here in southern Ohio, we are on the northern border of their range, and they are (relatively) new to me. The ones I saw in Fla. were much tamer than the Ohio variety, and sat still as I walked up on them. One even flew to me to pose for a close up. See this post: http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/2008/02/lynne-this-birds-for-you.html<BR/><BR/>How come every review or interview I read or hear about "Young Birder's Guide" mentions the vulture puke info? Seems everybody is impressed by this factoid, LOL.<BR/><BR/>~KathiKathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186814675058675885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-20546636617036324062008-10-05T18:13:00.000-04:002008-10-05T18:13:00.000-04:00I just inhaled and went huuuh! My husband (on his...I just inhaled and went huuuh! My husband (on his computer) said what's wrong??? I said Mary took the neatest picture of a vulture. Then I got one of those "are you crazy" stares.Balishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17298193443371503407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-90775622963455606152008-10-05T16:54:00.000-04:002008-10-05T16:54:00.000-04:00Nice book review . . did you get paid for it?Don't...Nice book review . . did you get paid for it?<BR/><BR/>Don't beat yourself up over crummy pics of black birds in flight, that's a tough exposure to get right. I tried to photograph a Great Egret in a tree against a bright blue sky this morning and almost pulled my hair out! Black or white birds, in my experience, are equally as difficult to expose.Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12893588042613630401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-12871728134261980952008-10-05T16:16:00.000-04:002008-10-05T16:16:00.000-04:00Great shots, Mary. We have the turkey vulture up ...Great shots, Mary. We have the turkey vulture up here in NNY. We often see them flying over the open fields. My Brian refers to them as the "medical birds", helping those poor animals off the road after they've been hit by cars. LOLDebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170186776403419013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-41043170179677880842008-10-05T15:46:00.000-04:002008-10-05T15:46:00.000-04:00I love the first picture! But, Mary, these guys gi...I love the first picture! But, Mary, these guys give me major goosebumps!JeanMachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14536421799031706759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-33066209618835523472008-10-05T14:23:00.000-04:002008-10-05T14:23:00.000-04:00Silly me. When I saw the title of this post, I im...Silly me. When I saw the title of this post, I immediately thought you were following the cars stalking the gasoline tankers!<BR/><BR/>Great photos. I agree with Lynn. Turkey vultures are indeed lovely. Glad you got the shots without loss of life or limb. Be careful out there.NCmountainwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615765649828716560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-59250757678148651092008-10-05T12:22:00.000-04:002008-10-05T12:22:00.000-04:00My husband REALLY appreciated the vulture photos, ...My husband REALLY appreciated the vulture photos, Mary! He loves birds of prey.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02225891108012809429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35675426.post-84116193437825675362008-10-05T11:43:00.000-04:002008-10-05T11:43:00.000-04:00Very nice photos, Mary, and that despite the hazar...Very nice photos, Mary, and that despite the hazardous driving conditions! That'll teach people to stay off the sidewalk when a good photo is up for grabs... ;)<BR/><BR/>Black vultures fascinate me because they're far less common than turkey vultures. Thanks for sharing these with us in such beautiful form!jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442776138172728872noreply@blogger.com