Check out this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) soaring over the suburban streets of Texas! These birds are usually seen in more rural environments, such as farmlands or long stretches of road, but I was pleasantly surprised to have this bird soar close over my head as I walked my dog.
The first chapter of Urban Raptors, Urban Birds of Prey: A lengthy history of Human-Raptor Cohabitation, outlines the history of human-raptor symbiotic relationships. The authors describe multiple observations of Turkey Vultures expanding their range into urban areas (even citing Charles Darwin, whom observed them following humans into Montevideo, Uruguay). In the modern day, these birds have been seen to gather in large numbers around cattle slaughtering facilities and trash dumps.
References
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/overview
Image credits: Gaia Rueda Moreno
Biology (ecology concentration) and Environmental studies Double Major
Wildlife Photographer
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