Well, actually, it IS a bird... a turkey vulture chick to be exact. On a trip out to the Center for the Birds of Prey in Awendaw, SC this past Saturday, I found out that September is Vulture Awareness Month, and these intriguing avians are being spotlighted for their unique contributions to our world. For example, did you know that a vulture’s digestive system is so acidic it can digest and kill bacteria as dangerous as anthrax? Vultures may seem like dirty, creepy birds, but they actually keep the environment much healthier by cleaning up rotting road-side fare that might otherwise spread disease, and, let’s be honest, put a damper on nature’s aesthetics. Another fun fact: vultures nest on the ground. So if you happen to find one of the adorable fuzz-balls pictured above, please leave it where you found it—it hasn’t fallen out of a tree! Many a baby vulture has been brought to the Center because a well-intentioned person stole it right out of its own bed.
