Turkey Vulture

Greetings, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post this photo of a Turkey Vulture in the early morning sun at Triadelphia Reservoir early this morning. Many of you have probably noticed this bird on a light post or sign along the highway perching with the wings spread out and wondered, why? The main reasons are thermoregulation and drying. At night, this bird actually lowers its body temperature. Spreading the wings in the early morning sun can help the bird warm up as well as dry the dew from its feathers. Do you know where any of these birds are nesting? If so, please let me know! This one is a hard one to document in the Breeding Bird Atlas. They nest in rock crevices, tree hollows and stumps, abandoned barns and sheds, etc.

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