One of my enduring memories of Cuba is of the power of the vultures. I'd heard of vultures before, of course, but I'd never seen them in action. The idea turned my stomach at first, but in the end they won me over with their efficiency: they could clear a corpse in minutes. There's no time for anything to putrefy in the heat, because the vultures simply don't leave a single morsel lying around. Very impressive creatures... but I wouldn't like to faint (or sleep) with them circling overhead!
14 comments:
In The Gambia they leave the skins of skinned animals (flesh side up) pegged out on the ground because the vultures will clear the flesh off - and thus prepare the hide for tanning - far more efficiently than humans can.
Also in The Gambia I came across my own "Wow, they really are stereotyped for a reason" animal - the hyena. *shudder*
I think they're just one of those creatures where their reputation precedes them. They're just the garbage collection of wildlife haha.
I saw some up close and personal in the Singapore Night Safari and their eyes followed us. I have to agree with the Red-haired Hiker though...I also so some hyenas and they just creeped us out. My friend and I couldn't even look at them. Their arched spines, the dead eyes and the scavenger look gave us shivers!
I might see some for real soon enough though ;)
They fill an evolutionary niche very neatly, but I fear I admire them rather than liking them!
So pragmatic friend. So very pragmatic! As for me? Not so much! Eeek! would by my ever-mature response! :)
Vultures have always freaked me out too. But you're right: they are incredibly efficient animals!
we don't have vultures here but you see crows and other birds on the highway doing the same thing. Gross, but nature being efficient, as you say!
Thanks for this info, I did not know the vultures could be that fast. I do watch them circle above our house some days???
kim
Well, I guess everything has it's place and purpose in the universe!! We have them around here, but I've never been able to get a clear shot, this one is quite good!
Now I have to go look for the difference between vultures and buzzards??? Hmmm I caught one on camera two years ago, a buzzard I presume, eating a dead cat in the road...seemed only natural and I watched it in my side mirror...that way I felt less likely to faint from the grossness of it all...don't blame you about the fainting or sleeping...lots of scenes like that in old westerns growing up in Texas :)
You feeling better? I hope so...
Well, looked it up! Apparently they are the same, but you do not refer to some species of Bird of Prey as a buzzard, mainly chickenhawks and such, but they are pretty much the same vultures and buzzards...interesting!
So glad you keep my brain in gear!
Isn't it funny that I assumed your post title was going to be metaphorical? I'm so over-metaphorized.
We have many vultures here in the U.S.because we have so much road kill from our highways. They are efficient in the clean-up.
They scare me silly! How brave of you to get close enough to take a photo.
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