VULNERABLE VULTURE: This fledgling turkey vulture was found lying in a ditch and being hammered by two ravens.
The ravens had landed on its back, breaking both its legs. Once back at Powell River Orphaned Wildlife Society (PROWLS), it was put on pain medication, confined to prevent movement and given a bowl of meat.
With two broken legs it was sent onto Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) in Delta, the raptor specialists.
Turkey vultures are relatively small-bodied birds (same size as a raven) with a wing span comparable to eagles.
They can seemingly hover forever, tipping and tilting as they soar high in wide circles, searching for carrion. With dainty, non-calloused feet, it has a beauty and elegance all its own.
A consummate scavenger, turkey vultures clean up the countryside bit by bit and never muss a feather on their bald heads. Riding the thermals in the sky they use their keen sense of smell to find fresh carcasses.
Their stomaches are extremely acidic, allowing them to digest just about anything, such as carcasses tainted with anthrax, tuberculosis and rabies, without getting sick.
By doing so, vultures provide an essential service for the health of our ecosystems. Without them, carcasses would accumulate and diseases would spread from rotting flesh.
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