Two black vultures were found drunk after dumpster diving in Connecticut. The birds were given breakfast and fluids before being released.
It's not exactly a compliment to be called a vulture.
They circle overhead when disaster or death are imminent. They scavenge and scrounge, feeding on things killed by nature or man, feasting on the leftovers of other animals.
With their long necks and sparse feathering on their heads, vultures can be downright scary-looking, lacking the majesty of the bald eagle, the sleek style of ravens, the beauty of hawks.
Vultures are a Halloween and horror movie staple, symbolizing death and decay. Even when they're portrayed sympathetically - like the Liverpool-accented foursome Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy and Dizzy in Disney's "The Jungle Book" - they're bumbling, unloved, hapless creatures.
When they gather as a committee when resting, a kettle when flying or, somewhat disturbingly, a wake when feeding on a carcass, vultures can be a bit unnerving.
Just ask residents in one small Northeast Pennsylvania town. Denise Ackerman told the Honesdale town council at a recent meeting: "These vultures are turning our sweet little town into a horror movie!"
Ackerman said she wasn't anti-vulture; she understands that, living in a rural area, they're basically her neighbors along with other wildlife. But "when I wake up in the morning there are 20-30 vultures in a tree... or descended into the grass," Ackerman said, according to the Tri-County Independent.
Honesdale's mayor, Derek Williams, acknowledged that vultures are a protected species and suggested vulture effigies to scare the real ones off. He even compared black vultures to humans, saying he learned they are "very social, mate for life, and hold strong family bonds.
"My guess is they want a similar quality of life as we do and that we could all figure something out," Williams said.
So why should we be glad when vultures do show up on our rooftops and lightpoles? Lots of reasons, according to wildlife experts.
Like a Kardashian with wings: 'Nature's influencers'
Vultures are "nature's influencers, curating cleaner ecosystems, building their networks and teaching us how to improve conservation practices," according to an October 2024 story on the World Wildlife Fund website.
The conservation nonprofit calls vultures "nature's dedicated waste management specialists." The world's 23 vulture species, including turkey vultures, black vultures and California condors (which are endangered) here in the U.S., have sharp vision to help them spot carrion from high above.
Vultures not only consume dead animals that might otherwise remain out in the elements to decompose, according to the Wildlife Center of Virginia. They also help stop the spread of disease by consuming the bacteria and other germs the carcass might give off. Vultures' stomachs have enzymes in them to kill off toxins and microorganisms they ingest when they feed on carrion.
Unlike raptors such as eagles and hawks, vultures don't have the kind of strong talons needed for hunting. Instead, their long toes and blunt talons are better suited for walking or standing while they feed.
Long, hooked bills help vultures tear at muscle and other tissue; the lack of feathers on their heads helps them stay clean as they eat somewhat, uh, messy meals.
America's vultures, and some good news about condors
In the U.S., there are three species of vulture: turkey vultures, black vultures and California condors. According to Audubon.org, turkey vultures are the most common, found throughout the continental U.S., while black vultures are found mostly in the nation's Southeast regions.
Black vultures, as their name indicates, have black coloring on their heads, while turkey vultures' heads are bright red (like wild turkeys). Their wings differ as well, with turkey vultures' longer, narrower wings black and gray and black vultures having black wings with silver tips. Wingtips, if you will, for added style.
The California condor, like the sprawling state it's named for, is huuuuuge, weighing as much as 25 pounds and with 10-foot wingspans.
Though endangered, they are now found in parts of California, Utah, Arizona and Mexico. The California Condor Recovery Program, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and working with zoos, the National Park Service, state and tribal governments, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies, has helped bring condor populations back from the brink of extinction, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Williams, the Honesdale, Pennsylvania, mayor, offered another idea for coexistence: "Maybe someday a bunch of us can all get together for an outdoor movie night to watch 'The Birds,'" he said, referring to the classic 1963 Hitchcock thriller about birds taking over a village, "and afterward take a walk over to a committee of vultures to say thanks for not attacking us and for being good neighbors."
There's nothing scary about that.