North Saanich.... Serengeti ?

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Curious creatures these Turkey Vultures!  I found a dozen of them today not far from the Victoria airport in N Saanich  ... No doubt their gathering was on behalf of some less fortunate beast that had perished?  
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) are terrific cleaners of road killed animals and will eat almost anything.  I have watched them in farm fields during farming activities as they follow the hay cutting machinery to grab rodents or birds that get left in the open or injured. 
I thought of Africa  today as 8 of them gathered in a tree very close to me.  It was unusual because these birds are normally wary and difficult to study at a close distance.  
Certainly not everyone's favourite bird, but a wonderful part of the Natural System , and very well suited for carion removal given their naked head, large beak for tearing and cutting and  wide wings to soar above the earth looking for food. 
Interestingly wide spread, these birds range from Southern Canada to the most Southerly points of South America! 
Hope you enjoy todays photos.....  All the best.... TerryV
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