In Westerns, they hang over the starving cowboy in the desert. In stories as old as the Bible they gather around battlefields, living off of death. And it is true that they feed almost exclusively on carrion, killing nothing for themselves. I'll bet it's been months. Maybe we have more in common with the vulture than we realize.
Turkey vultures are community birds.
They gather in large flocks every evening in large trees or along rooftops. Even when the chicks are grown they will often roost near their parents, maintaining the family unit. Although turkey vultures are not tied to the flock as wolves are to the pack or lions to the pride, it is probable that many of the birds are related and remain bonded because of family ties. Vultures spend each day soaring in vast circles, constantly watching the ground for a meal. Vultures have very keen eye-sight and also an excellent sense of smell, which is rare in birds.