The MAG: Science North talks turkey – Science in the North

It may be Thanksgiving, but let me assure you this column has nothing to do with the holiday. Actually, the science facts contained in this write-up could possibly make some people a little queasy (especially if shared around the supper table).

This article is all about the Turkey vulture, a fascinating bird which scavenges for food and has developed some interesting tactics for defending itself and keeping its body cool.

The Turkey vulture, which can be seen up-close this weekend at Science North as part of the Animals of the Great Lakes presentation in the Inco Cavern,

is a resident of Ontario. It has dark brown to black plumage, a featherless, purplish- red head and neck and a short, hooked, ivorycoloured beak.

It’s a big bird, too, weighing up to about two kilograms and has a wingspan that stretches between 173 to 183 centimetres.

The Turkey vulture’s body build makes it clumsy and awkward on the ground. Its walk is more of a hop, and taking flight requires a lot more hopping and plenty of wing flapping. However, once in the air, the Turkey vulture is extremely graceful and uses little effort. Tipping from side to side while in flight, the Turkey vulture barely flaps its wings and takes advantage of rising thermal columns (rising air) to soar.

Unlike most of its avian counterparts, the Turkey vulture has a keen sense of smell and can detect the scent of a rotting carcass from kilometres away. While this may sound disgusting to us, to a Turkey vulture, this is as inviting as any home-cooked holiday meal can be.

Turkey vultures are scavengers and rely almost entirely on carrion (dead animal carcasses) as a food source.

When it comes to defending themselves, or a carcass they’ve just found, Turkey vultures have adapted a unique way of warding off challengers. Since they do not have a syrinx (the vocal organ of bird) they can only hiss and produce low grunts. Not too scary, right? However come too close and you might be regurgitated upon. A Turkey vulture’s primary form of defense is to regurgitate semi-digested meat. If the foul smell isn’t enough to turn challengers away, the vomit can also sting the eyes.

Finally, there’s the way this bird cools itself down when the heat is on. A Turkey vulture excretes on its own legs, and uses the evaporation of the water in the mutes (feces and/or urine) to cool itself. The process is known as urohydrosis. Vultures, condors and storks all use this form of natural “air conditioning.”

Today and Sunday, the Turkey vulture, along with a caribou, a Golden Eagle and a skunk, will be at Science North. These animals will be presented during the hands-on and interactive sessions that will be held in the Inco Cavern. The animal presentations are free for Science North members and included with Science Centre admission. For a schedule, visit sciencenorth.ca/animals.