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Friday, Apr. 25, 2025

2:24pm EDT

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Carrion Luggage

by Robert Waltz

Rated: 18+ · Book · Opinion · #2336646

Items to fit into your overhead compartment

Carrion Luggage

Native to the Americas, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) travels widely in search of sustenance. While usually foraging alone, it relies on other individuals of its species for companionship and mutual protection. Sometimes misunderstood, sometimes feared, sometimes shunned, it nevertheless performs an important role in the ecosystem.

This scavenger bird is a marvel of efficiency. Rather than expend energy flapping its wings, it instead locates uplifting columns of air, and spirals within them in order to glide to greater heights. This behavior has been mistaken for opportunism, interpreted as if it is circling doomed terrestrial animals destined to be its next meal. In truth, the vulture takes advantage of these thermals to gain the altitude needed glide longer distances, flying not out of necessity, but for the joy of it.

It also avoids the exertion necessary to capture live prey, preferring instead to feast upon that which is already dead. In this behavior, it resembles many humans.

It is not what most of us would consider to be a pretty bird. While its habits are often off-putting, or even disgusting, to members of more fastidious species, the turkey vulture helps to keep the environment from being clogged with detritus. Hence its Latin binomial, which translates to English as "golden purifier."

I rarely know where the winds will take me next, or what I might find there. The journey is the destination.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Wordsmitty ✍️

about 3 hours ago
In response to "Mark Your Calendar"

Gobekli Tepe is a pretty interesting site and find, especially since it was purposely buried. Maybe they didn't like the calendar?

1 Like

Cubby

about 4 hours ago
In response to "Mark Your Calendar"

I love reading about this sort of thing. I find it fascinating! Thanks for sharing, Walt.

1 Like

Amethyst Angel 💐

about 5 hours ago
In response to "Mark Your Calendar"

For that matter, how do scientists determine ancient languages? Just stopping by for the MB... Thanks for sharing!

1 Like

Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008

about 5 hours ago
In response to "Mark Your Calendar"

I always wonder how scientists determine what things mean from thousands of years ago..when there's no one living to tell them. I know they have tests they do..but how do you know there right?

Good article I found it interesting.

1 Like

Sum1

about 17 hours ago
In response to "Color My World"

I've felt the same way about colors for a long, long time, I too have wondered if the color I see (maybe Orange?) is the same as the one you see. I know colors are verious wavelengths, but still. You'd think we'd all see the same color, but maybe not. How about something else though? You show me a cube and say it's a cube. I know it's a cube because I've been taught that a cube looks like that. But, is the thing I call a cube the same thing you see? Maybe you see what I'd call a globe, but you've been taught that it is a cube. You know what I mean. Do we all see the same shape.... I'm guessing we do, as well as see the same colors, but it's still an interesting thought.

1 Like

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

about 20 hours ago
In response to "Color My World"

There are many aspects of perceiving color; it's not just black and white.

1 Like

BIG BAD WOLF is Merry

a day ago
In response to "Color My World"

I was listening to a sci-fi story on youtube the other day, where a a fox-like alien soldier had to, all but, follow their human ally counterpart as they chased down an enemy, because the human noticed a suspicious red-colored smoke that the fox couldn't see too clearly.

2 Like

JACE

a day ago
In response to "Color My World"

Interesting that my first thought as I read your title had nothing to do with actual colors. As one who laments the passing of the 70's and one of my favorite bands, Chicago, your title and their song released in 1971 became one. By the way, the Chicago I saw in 2023, was NOT the same group I saw in 1973 and 1975. And I don't mean just personnel changes.

But, since we're on this subject that my eyesight is considered terrible. Have been wearing glasses since I was three. My prescription is not one Lenscrafters can do in an hour.

However, I seem to be able to discern various shades of the same color easily. Because of this when asked my advice by my wife for an opinion of a color to paint a room, I acquiesce only under duress. I figure she'll get the color she wants anyway.

2 Like

Cubby

a day ago
In response to "Color My World"

I've been curious about colors for quite some time. I took a hue test a few years back and received 100%, My hubby can look at a navy-blue item and swear it is black. Same with blues and greens, we each see them differently.

A few years ago, there was something on FB which was interesting. My daughter and I could both look at the same thing at the same time and see two different colors. That amazed me, though I still wonder if it was a trick.

2 Like

Sum1

a day ago
In response to "Science Eggsperiment"

During my life, I've eaten far more than my share of eggs. BUT, only if powdered eggs count.... If so, yep, I've eaten my share. If not, I may be on the low side. Here's why? On a Submarine, fresh food doesn't last long, maybee 2 weeks, So we would go 6-7 weeks without fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, etc. When we finally surfaced after our deployment, that first breakfast (and lunch/dinner) was something else!

1 Like

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