JUST WHAT ARE THOSE BIG, BLACK BIRDS...

Welcome to EverythingCroton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

A reader complains: So what exactly are those big black birds we see all over the area and occasionally warming themselves at house chimneys? Can't the village do anything about these? They scare children and some adults too.

Your editor's response:  We don't know exactly what the reader is advocating but...Those "big black birds" are Turkey Vultures...(or in some cases, Black Vultures like this one, click on the photo above)--the ultimate in Nature's road kill recyclers...not so pretty on the ground...beautiful in flight...characterized by silver/grey markings on their wing's undercarriage.  

In fact that grey/silver patterning is one of primary ways--in the air at least--to tell the difference between a Turkey Vulture and a Black Vulture. (Thanks Hawk Mountain for the links.)

Click on the photo to the right for a close-up of a Turkey Vulture.
 
And yes, It's true....They may not be as majestic as an eagle but they are something to see riding the Hudson Valley thermal currents in the morning and at dusk. 

Just as an aside:  your editor and the neighbors were particularly appreciative when a flock recently removed an unfortunate bit of skunk roadkill on Grand Street quicker than we could call the DPW!

Here are some additional links you may have an interest in: 

--The Cornell lab of Ornithology has some recordings online of Turkey Vulture sounds and Black Vulture calls too. 
--More on the range of the American Black Vulture here.

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