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Tim and Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P. 111 ٠
56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ BRAZIL
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: http://www.inafarplace.com
Surface Mail:
Tim and Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P. 111 ٠
56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ BRAZIL
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: http://www.inafarplace.com
| Creature Feature |
| Brazilian Vultures - Eeeeww!!! |
| Tim & Vicki Reiner in a Far Place |
Although not the most beautiful in nature, the Brazilian vulture, known as urubu
(pronounced oo´-duh-boo) in Portuguese, has various characteristics that
distinguish it from all other birds. It can fly for hours rarely batting its wings! It
is a protected species in some countries because it helps regulate the
ecosystem. It can eat rotten, decomposing things and not get sick! And, it is
the symbol for the Brazilian soccer (futebol) team of Rio de Janeiro - Flamengo.
(pronounced oo´-duh-boo) in Portuguese, has various characteristics that
distinguish it from all other birds. It can fly for hours rarely batting its wings! It
is a protected species in some countries because it helps regulate the
ecosystem. It can eat rotten, decomposing things and not get sick! And, it is
the symbol for the Brazilian soccer (futebol) team of Rio de Janeiro - Flamengo.
The urubu, birds in the Falconiformes Order and Carthartidae
family, which include condors, mainly survives on rotting food, or
carrion. It can be found from central North America and most of
South America. Vultures hang out in both urban and rural settings.
family, which include condors, mainly survives on rotting food, or
carrion. It can be found from central North America and most of
South America. Vultures hang out in both urban and rural settings.
Most other birds must flap their wings in order to stay aloft, but the urubu, hitches a ride on thermal air currents up to 9,000 feet
(2,800 meters). Heated by the sun throughout the day, air rises in flowing streams. The vultures know where to find these rising
currents and taking full advantage, lazily observe the landscape only occasionally flapping their wings. As they soar, their beady
eyes are on their skin-headed friends, able to see a small animal on the ground at a distance of up to 9840 feet (3,000 meters)!
Once one of them finds carrion, the crowd follows.
(2,800 meters). Heated by the sun throughout the day, air rises in flowing streams. The vultures know where to find these rising
currents and taking full advantage, lazily observe the landscape only occasionally flapping their wings. As they soar, their beady
eyes are on their skin-headed friends, able to see a small animal on the ground at a distance of up to 9840 feet (3,000 meters)!
Once one of them finds carrion, the crowd follows.
Because of its importance to the ecological system, it is illegal to kill one these ugly creatures.
Eeeeew!!! Imagine getting up close and touching one! Grossness to the extreme! Never use that
hand again kinda feeling! Well, anyway, where was I?! They say that urubus that frequent garbage
dumps have no fear of man and have become a nuisance. Many people believe that if one rests on
your house, someone will soon die, or if you kill one, you will have a series of bad luck. Oh dear, I
am now imagining the next horror movie - The Return of the Vultures! Yikes!!!
Eeeeew!!! Imagine getting up close and touching one! Grossness to the extreme! Never use that
hand again kinda feeling! Well, anyway, where was I?! They say that urubus that frequent garbage
dumps have no fear of man and have become a nuisance. Many people believe that if one rests on
your house, someone will soon die, or if you kill one, you will have a series of bad luck. Oh dear, I
am now imagining the next horror movie - The Return of the Vultures! Yikes!!!
Without claws and hopping around on flat feet, they cannot hunt or chase live animal. Thus,
vultures are scavengers, part of the natural sanitary system of the earth, which means that they
gorge themselves on already dead animals or decomposing carcasses. They are responsible for
disposing of 95% of the carcasses in an ecosystem which are mostly mammals, where disease
could spread.
vultures are scavengers, part of the natural sanitary system of the earth, which means that they
gorge themselves on already dead animals or decomposing carcasses. They are responsible for
disposing of 95% of the carcasses in an ecosystem which are mostly mammals, where disease
could spread.
For more information:
Excellent Photos
http://www.antpitta.com/images/photos/vultures/gallery_vultures.htm
The Internet Bird Collection (IBC) – amazing collection of video clips
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/new-world-vultures-cathartidae
In Portuguese
http://mundoestranho.abril.com.br/mundoanimal/pergunta_292336.shtml
Excellent Photos
http://www.antpitta.com/images/photos/vultures/gallery_vultures.htm
The Internet Bird Collection (IBC) – amazing collection of video clips
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/new-world-vultures-cathartidae
In Portuguese
http://mundoestranho.abril.com.br/mundoanimal/pergunta_292336.shtml
| P.O. Box 308011 Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 USA (440)826-3930 Baptist Mid-Missions of Canada 187 McLaughlin Drive ٠ Moncton, NB ٠ E1A4P4 (506)386-6601 |
When food is scarce, they will eat rotting fruit, palm seeds, and coconuts. Upon finding an unprotected nest, they won´t hesitate to eat the eggs
or even baby birds! Urubus are considered one of the worst threats to recently hatched infant sea turtles on the sandy beaches of the Americas. In
extreme cases (drought, devastation, and overpopulation of vultures), because of their aggressive nature, they have been known to attack and kill
domestic animals. Vultures have even been observed picking ticks off live capybaras! Oh! Just a minute! Having another eeeew! moment here!
or even baby birds! Urubus are considered one of the worst threats to recently hatched infant sea turtles on the sandy beaches of the Americas. In
extreme cases (drought, devastation, and overpopulation of vultures), because of their aggressive nature, they have been known to attack and kill
domestic animals. Vultures have even been observed picking ticks off live capybaras! Oh! Just a minute! Having another eeeew! moment here!
Five vulture species are known in Brazil: the
most common is the Black Vulture, urubu-
preto (Coragyps atratus), distinguished by its
completely black features; the Turkey
Vulture, urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha
(Cathartes aura), with its dark brown to black
features and red head; the large, impressive
King Vulture, urubu-rei (Sarcoramphus papa),
regally carrying its colorful bald head and
“robe” of gray to black; the Greater Yellow-
headed Vulture, urubu-da-mata (Cathartes
melambrotus), rarely found in or close to
urban areas; and the Lesser Yellow-headed
Vulture, urubu-de-cabeça-amarela (Cathartes
burrovianus), which, because of its weak bill,
must depend on the larger vultures to open
the hides of larger carcasses. Except for the
King Vulture, which is threatened by man
with the destruction of its habitat and
capture for illegal sales, vultures have no
natural predators.
most common is the Black Vulture, urubu-
preto (Coragyps atratus), distinguished by its
completely black features; the Turkey
Vulture, urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha
(Cathartes aura), with its dark brown to black
features and red head; the large, impressive
King Vulture, urubu-rei (Sarcoramphus papa),
regally carrying its colorful bald head and
“robe” of gray to black; the Greater Yellow-
headed Vulture, urubu-da-mata (Cathartes
melambrotus), rarely found in or close to
urban areas; and the Lesser Yellow-headed
Vulture, urubu-de-cabeça-amarela (Cathartes
burrovianus), which, because of its weak bill,
must depend on the larger vultures to open
the hides of larger carcasses. Except for the
King Vulture, which is threatened by man
with the destruction of its habitat and
capture for illegal sales, vultures have no
natural predators.
In Brazil, we mostly see the common black
vultures, which are roughly 25 ½ inches (65
cm) long with a wingspan of 5 feet (1 ½
meters), the shortest wingspan of the
vultures, and weighing 4 ½-6 lbs (2-2.75
kilograms). In captivity, urubus have lived 30
years; the oldest wild banded bird was 16
years old. They have no song voice but only
make hissing, grunting, or croaking sounds.
vultures, which are roughly 25 ½ inches (65
cm) long with a wingspan of 5 feet (1 ½
meters), the shortest wingspan of the
vultures, and weighing 4 ½-6 lbs (2-2.75
kilograms). In captivity, urubus have lived 30
years; the oldest wild banded bird was 16
years old. They have no song voice but only
make hissing, grunting, or croaking sounds.
I have often wondered if vultures grow in trees here because we often see trees full of them. Perhaps they are roosting for the night. More likely, this
is near their hollow tree chosen as their community nesting tree. Once a year, vultures lay one to three eggs in the cavities of trees or deposit them
in holes in grass-covered ground or rocks. Both parents feed the young until they are capable of feeding themselves and flying at 10 to 12 weeks old.
is near their hollow tree chosen as their community nesting tree. Once a year, vultures lay one to three eggs in the cavities of trees or deposit them
in holes in grass-covered ground or rocks. Both parents feed the young until they are capable of feeding themselves and flying at 10 to 12 weeks old.
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
King Vulture
Lesser Yellow Vulture
Greater Yellow Vulture
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