Photo Friday: a keen sense of smell?

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In Latin I am called Cathartes aura, and my closest cousins are storks and ibises.  Surprisingly,  while most birds don’t have a sense of smell, I do, and a very keen one at that!  I have no voice box, and yet I can hiss or grunt.  My wingspan is a whopping 6 feet!  Impressive don’t you think?

And for all my wonderful features I am not well liked.  In fact, I am often reviled and feared.  Too bad really, because I am actually shy and non-aggressive.  If you want to know the truth you need me in ways you have probably never even thought about.

Who am I?

I am a Turkey Vulture, and this Friday past when the Lady of the Farmlet spied me atop the neighbors big tree she stopped everything she was doing and took pictures of me.  I am so flattered!  Though I must say she didn’t get my best side, and her photos are all grainy and out of focus to boot!  Well, let’s just imagine it was because she was in awe of my tremendous size and impressive stature.

You imagine I am posing for the camera don’t you?  Well, OK a little, but I really do this to warm up and/or dry off when wet.  Does my size impress you? NO?

Impressed now?  You should be, this tree is about 60 feet tall,  give or take, and I look tremendous in it!

Well, gotta go!  The Lady is getting too close for my comfort now…

So you may not like my looks, but you must admit,  I’m graceful in flight!

Want to find out more about fabulous me?  Then go here to read more.  I really am a fascinating creature you know!

https://wildbirdhabitatstore.com/uncategorized/353-turkey-vulture

PS:  And once and for all can we clear up the matter of my being a buzzard?  I am not a buzzard!   They are a completely different class of  bird.  They are birds of prey and eat their meals alive!  What a revolting habit!  No, I am not a buzzard by any stretch of the imagination.

NOTE:  The link above is not the original source of my information for this post.  The original was closed down (IDKW).  This site is a store, but seems to have much the same information as the previous link.

Camouflage

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People who live in areas with red clay soil,  and own kitties who “knock” at the door,  should NOT have white  doors on their house.

While white doors may look lovely, the fact is evident,  that they are magnets for ugly paw prints.   No matter how often you clean them, well, eventually the grime just stains and won’t come off!

Unpainted back door!  GAAACK!

After three years of battling the never ending grunge I finally decided on a different plan.

Camouflage!

Newly painted front door

I think the color works both aesthetically and functionally.    I will still have to wipe it down, but at least it won’t show the stains anymore!

So, I guess I’ll be painting the back door next!

Feline faux pas

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Yesterday out in the park, as we like to call it, I had the company of my two kitties Claus and Little Bit.  I love kitty watching as much as I do chicken watching!  Here is what I observed…

It is never a good idea to lick a fire ant hill.   (Yes really!)

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Suddenly, for reasons only known to them, Clause ran over to Little Bit and…

Pounce!

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BITE!

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Was she was making fun of him for licking the ants?  Perhaps, but she got her revenge for the attack!

“Hey, She bit back!  Hard!”

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But in no time all is forgiven and they are off exploring together.

“BFF”

All my kitties are from ‘rescued’ situations.  But it is Little Bit whose story I know.  She had literally been thrown into a dumpster as a kitten and my veterinarian’s staff heard her cries when they were at Mac Donalds for lunch.  They didn’t want to give her a name (attachment issues) so they just called her “Dumpster Kitty” on her paperwork.  Her near death and starving conditions as a kitten have given her the ability to eat just about anything. Why she’ll even push aside the chickens for chicken feed and scratch!

She has become the other girl in Bob’s life.

I’m OK with that.  😉