Turkey vulture sightings are on the rise in Saskatchewan, an area where they were virtually unseen just four years ago.
“We are thrilled to death by this,” said Stuart Houston, who with other naturalists has been tagging the birds and tracking their flight paths from Saskatchewan to Venezuela.
They have tagged a total of 87 birds, outfitting three with transmitters worth $5,000 apiece last year. They hope to attach them to two more birds in 2006 when they begin tagging in August.
Houston cautions farmers to not disturb the birds before July 1 because they might desert the nests. Turkey vultures usually return in April and begin nesting in early May.
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He said adult sightings near nests are rare because they only return once a day to feed the young, but the smell of spoiled meat and the scolding whir tone of the young will be noticed.
The adults have six-foot wingspans and typically nest in dark places like caves, but are becoming increasingly fond of the floors in dark, windowless closets of abandoned farmhouses.
Houston said they perform an important scavenging function in the natural world as a “garburetor mopper-upper.
“Putting food in a vulture is like putting it in an incinerator,” he said, citing their ability to handle bacteria and fungi.
The vultures fly slowly, rarely travelling faster than 40 km-h, and migrate only on good weather days during daylight hours.
Houston is seeking help from farmers in locating the young birds for tagging. Those spotting turkey vulture nest sites can contact Houston in Saskatoon at 306-244-0742.
