TURKEY VULTURE 17 



Dr. Pearson (1919) says: "From eight to ten weeks are passed in 

 and about the nest before the young are able to fly." Jackson (1903) 

 continues : 



Young Turkey Vultures at a very early age display more intelligence than 

 the young of any other raptores with which I am familiar. Their eyes are 

 open from the first, and in less than a week they move about in their home, 

 hiss vigorously, and show considerable alertness, but do not seem to have any 

 fear at that age. At two weeks they show a great increase in size and weight, 

 but othei*wise have changed but little in appearance. They now resent be-ing 

 disturbed and snap at the intruder, and as they get older become quite pug- 

 nacious, rushing at one with extended wings, uttering continually their loud 

 hissing sound, which comes the nearest to any vocal performance I have ever 

 heard from these birds. Their beaks are quite sharp and capable of injuring 

 an unprotected hand. 



On being approached they retire to the farthest corner of their den and 

 there disgorge the contents of the stomach or crop. 



H. Justin Koddy (1888), speaking of the nestlings as pets, says: 



The young birds kept in captivity drank water freely from any vessel as a 

 fowl drinks, but were fonder of drinking from some vessel, as a bottle, with 

 a narrow opening partially inverted, that the liquid might flow out. This must 

 be because it is similar to the opened bill of the parents. 



They are very fond of thrusting the bill into the opening formed by the par- 

 tially closed hand. I inferred from this fact the manner of feeding before I 

 had an opportunity of observing it. 



They are very fond of being caressed, or at least handled, especially so 

 while feeding. In a few days after being placed in captivity they become 

 fond of being handled, and soon follow persons about like dogs. They express 

 pleasure by a low hiss ; displeasure by a more forcible hiss. 



Leon L, Gardner (1930), in a study of the body temperature of 

 nestlings, states that "A young Turkey Buzzard early in its develop- 

 ment attained the temperature normal to the species * * *, At 

 one week of age it was 102.5 and at two weeks of age it had risen 

 to and above the normal for the species. Thereafter there was a 

 remarkable constancy of temperature at about 103.6 except when 

 influenced by other factors [struggling]. The Buzzard therefore 

 apparently stabilizes its temperature long before the appearance of 

 feathers and while the general development of the body is still 

 immature." 



Plumages. — [Author's note: The young vulture is clad in a coat 

 of long, cottony, white down, covering the whole body; a thinner 

 coat of shorter white down extends onto the crown. 



W. Bryant Tyrrell has sent us some elaborate notes based on his 

 studies of a brood of young turkey vultures, from soon after hatch- 

 ing up to the flight time, and has contributed an interesting series 

 of photographs illustrating the development of the juvenal plumage 

 (pis. 8 and 9). 



