Double your pleasure-two vultures released

Two turkey vultures were released this week only a couple of miles from downtown Miami. Why might you ask do we release them there? Simple, that's where they spend their days in the winter. I regularly watch them go back and forth over the Museum at the beginning and toward the end of the day. From time to time we see them flying really low and you can often see their eyes checking you out as they swoop in low to see if they can figure out why all of those birds are down there.

Turkey vultures migrate in large numbers for the winter and fill our skies until spring. Although seemingly sinister to some, they are shy creatures and do not prey on live animals, but prefer to fulfill the role of nature's garbage men. Some may consider them ugly and unappealing, but to see a vulture in flight is truly a majestic sight for me at least.

These unfortunate two were admitted last week after becoming trapped inside an atrium on the roof of a condominium. Thankfully, they only suffered trauma as a result of their predicament and just needed a few days and a few good meals before they were again ready to soar above the high rise buildings in downtown.

Vultures are extremely tough and resilient creatures, but we must treat them quickly as with any bird that needs help. Bird bones are hollow and heal twice as quickly as mammal bones. Delayed treatment can result in an injury that cannot be fixed. Birds will not remain on the ground as a general rule unless feeding. Please report any bird that has been on the ground for more than a couple of hours to your local wildlife rehabilitator.