stubbyfinger

Join Date 10/2001

+11

The Buzzards are Here

It's a love hate relationship

The invasion of the buzzards in south Florida is in full swing. My girlfriend and I took a drive out to the Everglades today and even amongst all that beauty they somehow they managed to steal the show. They're like some prehistoric undertakers surveying for souls, bringing with them a reminder that the business of death is alive and well. It's odd how such an ugly creature with such macabre intentions can possess such a surreal beauty from afar. They hover in layers like some sleek black op's project with the majority at nose bleed altitudes then a sporadic contingent around 500 feet. A few circle at slingshot distance and I tried not to take them personally although I must admit too taking my pulse once or twice.

We hiked down a trail that ran along an estuary and came upon a section of cypress trees that were so severely deformed from the weight of hundreds of the fowl they looked like weeping willows. Let me tell you scavengers or not if Hitchcock had employed buzzards as the villain that movie it would have been twice as terrifying, we turned back abruptly.

Natures way cycle of life crap aside I would much prefer they never dropped below a thousand feet.

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They use to scare the hell outta me when I would see them low in the sky back in my motorcycling days because if you saw one low in the sky that meant there was another one just up ahead on the ground eating roadkill. And they take off so slow and into the wind that...well...one thing you DON'T want to do is hit one of those big birds on a running cycle!

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They are among the most disgusting creatures on the planet, in the summer when they get overheated, they crap on their own feet and force blood out of their heads to help cool them down.

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I have always been fascinated with raptors but more the hawks, eagles, owls and ospreys. Buzzards and vultures look pretty flying but up close - yuck. Still I guess there will always be a place for scavengers in nature. The circle of life. I would love to explore the everglades some day except the alligators scare me.

That is one scene I always remember from the Snows of Mount Kilmanjaro. (at least I think that's what the movie was - Gregory Peck - I think) The image of the vultures just waiting for you to die is pretty creepy.

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I would love to explore the everglades some day except the alligators scare me.

I want to do this too and I hate those alligators too but that won't stop me!lol!

Still I guess there will always be a place for scavengers in nature. The circle of life.

Yes, to think they do serve a purpose, such ugliness. I don't like seeing them either which I do hear from time to time, but they do a great job of cleaning up!

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And they take off so slow and into the wind that...well...one thing you DON'T want to do is hit one of those big birds on a running cycle!

I have a friend who used to work at Homestead AFB as a structural mechanic and he gave me a few examples of the damage they can do to aircraft. Judging from what they can do to titanium I have no problem believing they could ruin your day even if they just winged you.

They are among the most disgusting creatures on the planet, in the summer when they get overheated, they crap on their own feet and force blood out of their heads to help cool them down

They don't even like themselves.

I would love to explore the everglades some day except the alligators scare me.

I want to do this too and I hate those alligators too but that won't stop me!lol!

As many gator's and people there are out there attacks are extremely rare. You're far more likely to get in a car accident on your way there than be injured by an alligator.

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