Turkey vultures


Turkey Vultures are fascinating birds! Larger than any raptor other than eagles and ospreys (wingspan up to 6 feet), they are fascinating to watch soaring in the air currents. But somehow they don't inspire the same awe and wonder for most of us. Sure, they are mostly scavengers - surviving not from their amazing hunting skills but from their keen sense of smell that helps them find detect the odor of decaying carcasses killed by other animals. Sure, most of us find their appearance (that craggy red turkey-like head) somewhat unattractive. And sure, even the name "turkey vulture" doesn't inspire the soul like "bald eagle" for most of us. (They are also known as "turkey buzzard" but that name isn't any better.)
It's interesting to think about the things that inspire us or the things that repulse us, and whether we consider appearance majestic or unpleasant. Sometimes it's a fine line between the two! Even though the habits and mannerisms of the turkey vulture leave some things to be desired, they are still very impressive animals, and there is much that can be admired in them. It was incredible to see a pair of them fairly close up this evening on a hike. Every animal in nature inspires me with its unique beauty and characteristics. I #GiveThanks for the richness and variety of God's amazing creations!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Persistence

Image
  There's a principle of persistence that applies to climbing mountains, but also to many other aspects of life. We all get tired, we "run out of gas," we get frustrated with delays, we despair of reaching our goal, we think the job will never end, we keep waiting for the weather to improve, we become frustrated with "enduring." We give up, and we probably never know if we stopped just short of the point of significant achievement. The most growth often comes at, and after, that point of fatigue. I really appreciate the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was a favorite of Heber J. Grant and is often attributed to him, but he was quoting Emerson when he spoke it. It makes sense that we get more comfortable and competent at anything we persist in doing. Hard things become easier as we become practiced and proficient. On the other hand, there is sometimes wisdom in not "running faster than we are able." Or running longer than we are able! There comes a po...
Read more

"Sing, Choirs of Angels!"

Image
  "Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!" "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:13-14) The accounts of the birth of Jesus don't actually say that heavenly choirs of angels were singing when they appeared to the shepherds in the fields. It says "saying," not "singing." But most of us can't read the words they shared without hearing in our minds Handel's arrangement from Messiah. And we often associate singing with the most joyful expression of emotion. That is certainly felt at Christmastime. I love Christmas music and look forward to enjoying it each year during the weeks leading to Christmas. Many of our most favorite carols and hymns are so familiar, but yet so powerful. Through the years I've found several lesser-known Christmas songs that ...
Read more

Sensory memories: juicy pear jelly bellies

Image
  My mother was a fascinating woman, with a broad exposure to the world resulting from extensive and frequent travel. She knew all about various cultures, cuisines, and delicacies. In her later years, she had a series of strokes that made it difficult to remember and communicate. Her world shrank dramatically. I don't recall when she developed a liking for "jelly bellies" - those small, flavorful jelly beans. At some point, I started bringing them to her regularly, usually in the bag of multi-flavor assortments. If her supply ran low, she would remind me, "I need more of those - what are they? - bellies." That was all she remembered. So I would bring her more. She quickly developed a favorite, though. She was always delighted to come across the light green ones with dark green spots among the assortment. I had already developed a preference for the "juicy pear" variety myself, so it was interesting that both of us discovered that liking separately! I ...
Read more