Ancient birds, vultures are on few people's favorite bird lists. No one hangs out rotting meat on their bird feeders to attract them. Vultures eat mainly dead or dying animals. They have bald heads so they can reach into carcasses without soiling their plumage. They often regurgitate partially digested food and have special digestive processes that enable them to eat decomposed food.
Turkey vultures locate carrion by smell, the smaller black vultures by sight.
Both vultures are regulars in southeastern Pennsylvania, but numbers swell with winter migrants. No one is sure why the vultures have settled in Mount Gretna, although it apparently isn't for the arts. They tend to favor the large white pine trees scattered throughout the community. Sometimes, during storms, they descend to ground level. I've seen them sitting on porches already.