Vultures get a bad rap! People often associate them with death and disease and view them as dirty and ugly. However, vultures are incredible and essential birds who perform vital services in the natural world. That’s why we need to be a voice for vultures and counter their undeserved negative reputation.
Although their job as nature’s expert janitorial staff seems gross, they are quite clean due to specialized adaptations, like their featherless heads, which helps prevent meat from sticking to their feathers as they go about their clean-up duties.
Their stomach acid is so effective that it is capable of neutralizing diseases like rabies, botulism, anthrax, and many more that might prove fatal to humans.
It is safe to say if vultures were not here, things would get really messy really fast!
Unfortunately, of the 23 species of vulture found worldwide, 16 are threatened, endangered, or close to extinction.
The American Eagle Foundation lists these things YOU can do to help vultures:
- Educate yourself about vultures! Learn to identify native species in your area and how they help support your local ecosystem.
- When safe, move roadkill off the side of the road. Keep a small roadkill kit (gloves, collapsible shovel, etc.) in your car.
- Report any wildlife electrocutions on power lines to your local authorities. Up to 14 million birds are electrocuted each year!
- Support the preservation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which provides native vultures with legal protection from persecution. Of course, those fearful of vultures may not realize that harming them is illegal by federal law, so…
- Advocate for Vultures! Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about vulture’s virtues. Ensure that people around you know that they pose no threat to children or pets, and they don’t spread disease!
Source for this article: https://www.eagles.org/vulture-awareness-day/
Attend International Vulture Awareness Day at the
Blackland Prairie Raptor Center on Saturday, September 4
This Saturday, September 4th, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center will have an International Vulture Awareness Day (9 am – 12 pm). There will be 4 stations with fun activities for all ages with a focus on vultures and a few other raptors. Come learn about the beautiful gift that Vultures are to our environment. There will be live raptor ambassadors out from 10am to 11am to learn about their unique adaptations and importance in our environment. No pre-registration necessary. Just show up! Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, 1625 Brockdale Park Road, Lucas, TX 75002 Driving Directions
You can also learn more about vultures from these organizations:
International Vulture Awareness Day
Vulture Conservation Foundation
American Eagle Foundation