Black Vultures - Windham, 3/22

[Doug Hitchcox]

Two Black Vultures just joined the Turkey Vulture roost on the Cumberland County Communications towers along High Street in Windham. As I’m typing this, most of the TUVUs are moving over to roost in the pines just north of the towers, but the BLVUs are still on the towers as of 6:19PM. Likely to roost on these towers or locally, so maybe worth trying in the morning. If twitching, please beware that the Maine Correctional Center is nearby and they’re sometimes sensitive to people with binoculars/camera and especially trespassing.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox

Sent from my iPhone

[Doug Hitchcox]

Sorry for the late update, but the Black Vultures did eventually move to join the Turkey Vultures in the white pines further up High Street.

For anyone interested in trying for these birds in the morning, please be aware that this is not the best place to look for birds. This is a fairly narrow road (because people park on the street) and cars were traveling too fast down it this evening, despite kids being on the road edge with us. You’re also in suburbia, and using binoculars around houses early in the morning is a pretty quick way to freak people out. I talked to a couple of the folks living nearby this evening and most found it interesting but those were just a couple of the dozens living on this stretch of road.

That said, my advice would be for people to park near the now vacant Windham Real School (55 High Street) and watch the pines just south of Holly Lane as the birds leave the roost. I’m pretty sure the school property is posted for no trespassing, so don’t break the law, but if not, that may be the best place to look from (without being creepy). I’ll try to get up early to help orient folks, but please try not to upset my neighbors.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox
Maine Bird Atlas - Outreach Coordinator
Maine Audubon - Staff Naturalist
207-781-2330 x237
dhit...@maineaudubon.org

> --
> Maine birds mailing list
> maine...@googlegroups.com
> http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
> https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maine birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to maine-birds...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/5DB8C16D-74F6-4C68-85A4-93CA902CA184%40mac.com.

[Doug Hitchcox]

At 7:29AM the vultures moved from the roost to the communications tower. Only one of the Black Vultures here now (7:40AM).

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 22, 2021, at 9:56 PM, Doug Hitchcox <dhit...@mac.com> wrote:
>
> Sorry for the late update, but the Black Vultures did eventually move to join the Turkey Vultures in the white pines further up High Street.

[Doug Hitchcox]

I’ve been keeping an eye on the vulture from my dining room all morning, and just a few minute ago (~11:45AM) was the first time I’ve NOT seen them on the tower. Just wanted to get that negative report out there if anyone was debating making the drive. I’ll check the vultures as they come in this evening and post if any BLVUs are mixed in.

Good birding,

Doug Hitchcox
Maine Bird Atlas - Outreach Coordinator
Maine Audubon - Staff Naturalist
207-781-2330 x237
dhit...@maineaudubon.org

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/maine-birds/81A9779F-2436-4FB1-B283-631D82254DE9%40mac.com.