Large committee of vultures in the skies above Fort Collins

[gwmcki...@gmail.com]

Yesterday 4/7/23 while enjoying a beer at Stodgy Brewery, a very large flock of what I think are turkey vultures began to gather in the skies above. As far as I could tell, they were not circling one point, as they typically do above a carcass. Instead, the affair almost seemed to be a social one, perhaps a spring mating ritual? See picture attached, you may need to zoom in to see the birds. After this picture was taken, the flock continued to grow in numbers, perhaps reaching 100 or so. Can anyone elaborate  on this behavior?

Greg

[Tony Kay]

I have observed similar scenes in Costa Rica, part of the fall annual Southern Migration accompanied by large numbers of Swainson Hawks. I would assume this is the spring Northern Migration return of large groups choosing to make the trip together.

Did you observe any Swainson hawks in the group?

Tony Kay

Denver.

[antho...@gmail.com]

I have observed similar scenes in Costa Rica, part of the fall annual Southern Migration accompanied by large numbers of Swainson Hawks. I would assume this is the spring Northern Migration return of large groups choosing to make the trip together.

Did you observe any Swainson hawks in the group?

Tony Kay

Denver.

 

Greg

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/e64bfc5b-97fc-4c97-8f02-e494704106f1n%40googlegroups.com.

[Paula Hansley]

On my way back from Tucson last Wednesday, I saw several Swainson’s Hawks just south of Albuquerque!  Perhaps the strong NW winds that NM had earlier in the week slowed them up. 

Paula Hansley 

Louisville  

--

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8d673b42-854b-41c6-8936-94368749e0afn%40googlegroups.com.

--

Paula Hansley

Petrographic Consultants International, Inc.

Ph:  720-890-2628

[Ajit Antony]

I hadn't heard of a group of vultures called a committee so I looked it up online and found :

"The term or name for a group of vultures varies depending on where they are, although the generic term is a flock. When they are flying in formation, they are referred to as a kettle. When they are resting in a tree or on the ground, vultures are called a committee, and whilst feeding, they are known as a wake."

https://birdfact.com/articles/what-is-a-group-of-vultures-called

Ajit I Antony

Central Park,  CO

On Sat, Apr 8, 2023, 6:19 PM Ajit Antony <aiant...@gmail.com> wrote:

At the Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch yesterday 4/7/23 we counted 50 TV for the day, many in groups of 10 - 15. There could be many TV that bypassed the Hawk Watch site reaching Fort Collins.

Look at the link below. As of today Bocas Ridge in Panama has counted 658,302 TV migrating North!

https://www.hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=920

Ajit Antony

Central Park, CO

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/01c301d96a2c%2461703870%242450a950%24%40gmail.com.

[Ajit Antony]

At the Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch yesterday 4/7/23 we counted 50 TV for the day, many in groups of 10 - 15. There could be many TV that bypassed the Hawk Watch site reaching Fort Collins.

Look at the link below. As of today Bocas Ridge in Panama has counted 658,302 TV migrating North!

https://www.hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=920

Ajit Antony

Central Park, CO

On Sat, Apr 8, 2023, 2:31 PM <antho...@gmail.com> wrote:

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/01c301d96a2c%2461703870%242450a950%24%40gmail.com.