Here in Kim Country I often see turkey vultures, especially when I go hiking in the hills. On warm days they soar on the thermal updrafts and glide for hours in long lazy circles, sometimes going so high that they become tiny specks or vanish altogether. Other times, they have come frighteningly close... one time I was hiking along a trail that is very near to the edge of a cliff, and a turkey vulture whooshed up from below and soared just a few meters above my head!
Turkey vulture makes them sound pretty lame, but they are actually beautiful creatures. Some in this area call them "thunderbirds", after the Native American mythological creature. I have no idea if "thunderbird" is a widely accepted name for the turkey vulture, or if it's just a handful of local kooks who use it. Nevertheless, these large and graceful birds are easily recognizable by their size, their broad and wide wings, and the distinctive pattern on the wings: black leading edge and wide white trailing edge.
...majestic!
Let's talk about vultures! What is your favorite kind of vulture?
-k