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BV friend or foe?

11 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

10 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
11 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
11 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
10 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
10 years ago
That's a really good pic of them.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
10 years ago
Very personable looking birds! I can easily see getting attached to them.

Claire
lindac92
10 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
10 years ago
Nice birds...not ugly when you look @ them long enough!
catherinet
10 years ago
We have turkey vultures here and I think they're beautiful!

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