Evening star., 1948-12-20
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TracepeH

What is the most characteristic action OF
birds?
Flying, of course
If that is so, then the turkey vulture COM
monty called buzZard, is one of the most
| marvellous birds, since he Is one Of the best
flyers.
He may be observed any afternoon over Rock
Creek just north Of the Calvert Street Bridge,
and often coming across Connecticut avenue
at the Klingle Valley.
He can fly in straight line without moving
his wings.
At least he does not seem to move them, to
the eye of an observer below.
y
Many persons who stand on the Calvert
Bridge ana watch the buzzards glide, taking
advantage of air currents, do not know that
they can actually fly in the same way.
Often they fly across Connecticut avenue
not much higher than a bus top, and then
it can be seen that they are making straight
away fight without apparent wing movement.
The long rectangular wings give them a
slightly hawklike appearance.
There can be no doubt that the big fellows
are often mistaken for hawks in the suburban
areas.
Local buzzards have the Zoo spotted.
They discovered long ago that meat bones
from the big cat cages, discarded but still with
shreds of nutriment on them, are often to be
found below.
Such bones are supposed to be buried, of
course, but as is often the case in busy house.
holds, do not get put away on the instant.
Capable creatures, these fine flying, ugly
buzzards.
Perched on favorite tower just off Con-
necticut avenue, they keep watch on the bone
piles And because the people taking care of
the Zoo animals have an admiration for the
buzzards, too, the latter have discovered that
the keepers leave the bones out for them. Any
way it works out that way. The bones are
there, and the big, ugly birds fly down to the
feast.
In nature, buzzards are useful. They clean
up decaying meat. Their inner mechanisms
pour out particularly potent digestive juice
which has the power to disnfect the most
poisonous materials. This material is decaying
protein, and the results are some of the worst
poisons in the world. Old Man Buzzard, how
ever, laughs at them. He is able to handle
them with ease.
Another first" of this ugly creature is eye
sight.
There are probably few living things with
better eyes.
These marvellous orbs can see mouse at 2
miles distance.
Think of what that means. Not only is the
mouse small only few inches, but he is COL
ored to blend with earth, sticks and stones
He also blends in with such things by reason
of his long tail
Yet the buzzard is able to spot him, and
fly down in time to seize him before he can
creep away.
Let it be made plain that 1t is not the sense
of smell which enables these birds to find
decaying food.
1t is eyesight alone that does it.
An odd habit of buzzards is that Of feeding
their young by regurgitation upon occasion,
somewhat as the pigeons do.
Another habit is that of vomiting offensive
matter when frightened. We can recall being
warned about this habit, as a child. We recall
trying for several minutes to INDUCE buzZard
perched on telephone pole, to do this, but
failed. We believe that it Is not done very
often.
Our turkey buzzard, sometimes called carrion
crow, is 21a feet long, with wing spread of
feet. The head plus neck, of purple and red
mixed, is uncommonly ugly. Local birds 60 to
Great Falls for nesting, but return to their city
habitat in the fall.
If one buzzard discovers food others fly IN
from all directions although none of them was
in sight moment before. Each one OF them
knows that the downward fight means but one
thing.
If captured buzzard will sometimes play
:. dead"