Thanks to the mild winter, black vultures seem to be lingering in Greensboro. In the above photo, taken yesterday, they are seen in a tree in our back yard. Since this was the second day we saw them in our yard, about two dozen in all, we were suspicious that something was luring them to our yard. Sure enough, as we approached, we saw a deer carcass, frozen in the snow. The vultures were devouring the carrion. Of course, we are wondering just what killed the dear, but by the time the snow thaws, there might not be anything left but bones.

For these heavy, stubby-in-appearance vultures, flying seems to be a task. When chasing them off, with great effort, they pull themselves from the branches. Unlike turkey vultures, they tend to stay in groups and attack the carcass together. Be careful, we learned that they may have actually killed some goats in a rural area just south of Greensboro (see, here, but warning: Content graphic). Be careful if you see them in your yard. Keep an eye on your small pets. These vultures don’t seem to care that it is a “snow day.”