* Septuplets *
Uploaded: October 18, 2009
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
This was taken mid-morning as the first sunrays are penetrating dense fog. The adjacent cell tower had 46 vultures on it and these seven (two hidden in lower mid frame) in the trees. Those vultures were opening their wings to the sun, as they do every morning, to allow the ultraviolet rays to kill any bacteria they might have picked up on their feathers while feeding on dead animals.
Round Mountain, Texas
Pop: 111
16 October 2009
Exif: F Number: 16, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 10/10000 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 150.00 mm, Model: NIKON D200
Tammy M. Anderson October 18, 2009
HI Jim, Fantastic capture here and very interesting info. I did not know this was what they were doing. #1193698Michelle Alton October 19, 2009
Certainly one of the most intriguing (if not THE MOST intriguing) vulture shots I've seen. And from "Ma Kettle," that is saying a lot!A thrilling image, Jim! #8049140
Val Feldman October 19, 2009
You know, there's something right "purty" about turkey vultures being backlit by the morning sun and only you could pull that off so magnificently, Jim! A great find - and I didn't know, either, what that wingspread was all about...good info! #8049797Amy M. Wilson October 20, 2009
Fantastic capture and again, very interesting info, I didn't know they did that, Jim! #8052951Bonnie C. Lackey October 20, 2009
Exquisite timing, Jim. And another good reason to avoid gnawing on road kill... #8052981Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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