Roosting Turkey Vultures

Deanne Fortnam, Nashua  gave me permission to post his photo of 25 Turkey Vultures that were roosting in 2 trees, a dead pine tree as well as an oak tree on his property.. 

Turkey Vultures soaring near the Elmstreet bridge and Lake Opeche

Are they here yet?

2 days ago I saw 2 turkey vultures circling, floating, gliding near the Elmstreet Bridge in Lakeport.  As the weather warms up, if it will, I hope to see more turkey vultures.  Apparently the dam at the bridge attracts the turkey vultures because at one area where the water is filtered, eels, get stuck there I am told.  I have not seen one.  I have also been told that people are working on trying to fix that.. so that eels are not getting stuck in that filter.  Will the Turkey Vultures move somewhere else? I also havce seenTurkey Vultures circling, soaring, seeming floating around other areas in Lakeport so perhaps there are other food sources although I don't know what.   Once they arrive, I do see them on arouind the O's Restaurant and on the flat roof of what I think is their conference center.   If you scroll down through my pictures of the Spa, you will see the TV's standing in various groups on the ground near the signs.  Although I only saw them on the ground like that, one day.

Well Happy Easter everyone.. hopefully warm weather will be arriving soon.

Where are the Turkey Vultures?

Although I have now seen around 40 TV's flying by.. I have yet to see one circling in the Lakes Region.. that is staying here.  I think the ones I saw must have been heading towards another area.

Do Turkey Vultures migrate from NH

A member from Nottinham,nh on nh bird server wrote :  

"I see post regularly about FOY Turkey Vultures. Over the course of the year I see them very regularly, including all winter, even January and Feb I get shots of them on deer carcasses. Are they truly a still considered migratory species? "

In the Lakes Region, I have not seen any Turkey Vultures over the winter months  until just recently.
As previously posted, other members of nh bird have seen TV's around in the Exeter, NH area all yesr.  If you go to the sight below, you will see other information on TV,s as well as a migratory map.

  Cornell Labs: Turkey Vultures

Returning Turkey Vultures Spring 2014

On March 21st a friend pointed out some Turkey vultures flying over the Elmstreet Bridge end of Paugus Bay.  9 vultures were counted.  Today, I counted 30 flying over in just about the same place.  They were flying/gliding in a fairly straight line.

When will they return?

Here it is March 16th.  Everytime I hear or read that one of the members of the nh bird group has seen a turkey vulture, I look around at the sky near where I live.. one member wrote that she saw 2 Turkey Vultures in Hooksett and 3 today on Concord/Bow line along the Merrimack.  Still no turkey vultures in the Lakes Region that I have heard about or noticed.  Maybe this week.... if it warms up... :)

Turkey Vultures in the Winter in NH?

I belong to the nhbirds.googlegroups.com and receive emails about various birds all year long.  Some emails come with links for pictures of birds.  Recently I have received a couple of emails about Turkey Vulture sightings in NH this winter.. How could that be?  I thought they all flew south for the winter.

Was I surprised when I read that a nhbirds member had mentioned seeing a turkey vulture... I emailed back and asked about it.. below is the reply.  No pictures at this time.

The Exeter Vulture’s have been here all winter.  I have seen as many as 4 at one time others have reported up to 7.  They have been observed many times using the tall Lincoln St School chimney for warmth.   I have also found them on a few of the older Exeter houses also sitting on top of their chimney’s.  Interesting behavior to survive the cold.  Other birds will also do this to ward off the chill of winter. On sunny days the vultures are sometimes visible soaring over town. About 10 years ago up to 12 Turkey Vultures over wintered in Newmarket NH and the last few years we have had overwintering vulture’s in Exeter.