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BV friend or foe?

8 years ago

I have a spring house which I don't use anymore. Black Vultures have laid eggs in it. Should I let them alone or throw the eggs out? If they rear young in my spring house will it stink it up? I have many acrea of prime wildlife habitat with many song birds. Will these BVs prey on the eggs and young of the song birds?

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sam_md
Original Author

8 years ago

Frosty morning pic of the two juvenile BVs sunning themselves. The one on the left is a couple of weeks older than the other. They can both fly but clumsily. I feel like I should name them.

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Comments (9)

sparky_10
8 years ago
I don't think BV "prey" on anything. If I'm wrong there, someone please correct me. If it were me, I'd love having a BV nest to add to my wildlife habitat!
dees_1
8 years ago
Vultures are not predatory birds but scavengers. You don't have to worry about song birds, their eggs or their young.

Before you do anything to the nest, I suggest you research wildlife management in your area to determine if you can do anything to the nest. Many birds are protected by federal law. Contact a wildlife professional for more assistance.
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sam_md
Original Author
8 years ago

Cornell Lab

says Sometimes Black Vultures wade into shallow water to feed on floating carrion, or catch small fish. They occasionally kill skunks, opossums, night-herons,leatherback turtle hatchlings, and livestock including young pigs, lambs, and calves.

If that's good enough for the lab at Cornell, it's good enough for me.
I took this pic this morning of the 4 month old BVs. Sorry for the poor quality. They are still covered with fluff but can fly short distances. Interesting that they don't have a voice box but they can still hiss and sort of bark.
catherinet
8 years ago
That's a really good pic of them.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years ago
Very personable looking birds! I can easily see getting attached to them.

Claire
lindac92
8 years ago
What fun!...Ugly little buggers aren't they? Will they spend the winter with you or fly south like turkey vultures?
Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
8 years ago
Nice birds...not ugly when you look @ them long enough!
catherinet
8 years ago
We have turkey vultures here and I think they're beautiful!

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