Turkey day

No, not the thanksgiving kind of turkey, but one we see a lot around here, the Tukey Vulture. Some people think they are ugly, but they have their own type of beauty. With a red head standing out against their black body and wings, they certainly are distinctive.




Besides their unique appearance, they also serve a useful purpose (part of what makes some people dislike them). By cleaning up after creatures that have ended their lives, they are an important part of the circle of life.

I spotted this one on the side of the road. He was starting to work on a rabbit that had tried unsuccessfully to cross the road. He kept an eye on me, but he let me get pretty close before he took off. I liked the way I caught his wings as he took off.




Click either picture for a larger version or head over to my gallery of animal pictures or any of the other galleries and let me know what you think.

So in which category do you fall? Ugly and disgusting creatures or unique and useful parts of the ecosystem? Leave me a comment here or drop me a note on Twitter and tell everyone else there about it.