Vultures: The Finishing Touch on the African Veld

by Carol Polich Bozeman, Montana

.c:. .2 "For some five minutes we over the African veld waiting for (5 Q.. watched the cheetah enjoying the death to occur. With keen eyesight, (5 ro fresh, hot meat, before leaving the they can find the best, or worst, of o >­ kill. Ten minutes later it was back dead carcasses. The carrion, which to .D (/) with two other cheetahs. The three us might be the most sickening of !2 o .c:. of them had a hearty meal. By this smells and most vulgar of sights, may Q.. time, the vultures were circling the cause a vulture to drool and froth at scene, waiting their turn and we the beak. Yes, their job may be the left." (Custos, Nov. 1991; vol. 20,8; pits. They have the ghastly task of pg.8) cleaning up the South African veld. Vultures ... YUK! This seems to be But, as in the human world, the Afri­ the usual statement attached to these can wildlife ecosystem also needs its ugly, feathered scavengers. People local garbage disposal, the vulture. continue on with their game viewing 1be rest of this natural phenomenon when they see these raptors (birds of is unraveled in the next scene of this prey) sit hunched in lifeless trees cycle .... with necks drooped between their I had been to Kruger Park in South rounded' 'shoulders:' Against the sil­ Africa several times but during this houetted sky, they seem to hover most recent adventure into the Afri-

White-headed Vulture, theprettiestin color­ ing; hasfeathers on its neck so generally does notpeck within the carrion.

White-backed Vulture;featherless neck enables ittopeck inside the carrion.

36 August / September 1992 can veld, I decided to add to my of African birds which included de­ experiences and study something tailed information on vultures. I was that might be of less interest to the amazed at how many species were to average person ... vultures. Before be found in South Africa and what leaving my comfortable environment role each of these species played in of Bozeman, Montana (USA), where the consumption of a carcass. After no vultures soar, I began to study and looking at photos and trying to read about them. I quickly found remember each description, I there was not much information decided the only way I was to learn about this raptor in our cold, moun­ ,'who was who" was to trek off to tainous community. Fortunately, a the dark continent. Hopefully, I friend who had been to South Africa would find a carcass where these had accumulated quite a large library birds might be feasting!

Lappetface Vulture, the largest ofthese raptors with a wingspan ofninefeet, has a huge, thick beakfortea1ing.

.r::. .~ "0 Q.e ~ U >. The Hooded Vulture, the smallestand ..0 o(/) shyest ofthisgroup ofraptors, has a small (5 .c. beakforpicking up sC1·aps anda neckfull a.. offeathers, therefore, does notget inside a White-headed with two White-backed Vultures who a1·e bloodstainedfrompecking carcass. within the carrion; the two are shown together, note the differences.

afa WATCHllIRD 37 Finding a lone cheetah eating upon impala lay intact. arrogant manner and cloaked appear­ his impala kill was an exciting event Next in line to enter this scene was ance made him look as though he in itself but the scene that followed, the formidable Lappetfaced Vulture were Count Dracula from a scene in stirred an excitement I hadn't yet felt. who has a wing span of over nine "Return of the Vampires"! White, After the cheetah departed, a soli­ feet. Now here is a bird with whom downy soft feathers covered his legs, tary, rather timid bird flew to the you wouldn't want to have any close again, giving him a fuller look. Oppo­ sandy, sparsely grassed veld near encounters nor would he ever catch site his white head and white frontal where the dead animal lay. With his the eye of a beautiful and graceful side of his neck, his white tail large, dark eyes, he looked warily in pink flamingo! Not only were his feathers contrasted sharply against my direction, only fifteen meters wings and body twice the size of the his black wing feathers which were away, and daintily stepped towards normally large Whitebacked Vulture, white underneath. This beautifully the kill. Again, he turned to face me but his beak was of considerable colored bird would better attract the as though to question my presence. I length and thickness: just what they graceful flamingo who might be look­ noticed his pale face was lightly col­ needed for tearing open their dead ing for a date! In his haughty manner, ored, which gave the appearance of a specimen. To my surprise, this vul­ he looked about for scraps of meat mime. His very long, slender beak ture's wings were even more impres­ that began to lay hither-thither from looked like it was made for pecking sive in scale than the Whitebacked the mass of vultures who were now and picking up scraps, even though it Vulture wings. With massive black all relishing morsels of bloody flesh. was slightly curved at the end. The wings held outwardly and a floppy, With this aloof behavior, he would brown hood that covered his head prune-wrinkled, red skinned neck, quickly snatch a tidbit with his gave the image of a character from arched forward, this foreboding look­ brightly colored, curved beak. He the Batman comic strip. The breeze ing creature took bold steps towards was undeterred by the numerous gently tousled his deep brown the kill. Immediately, the now thirty Whitebacks who hissed at him as he feathers, lifting the short feathers at plus Whitebacks scattered in all went about looking for scraps. the base of his neck. He cast a shy directions not liking but displaying a Nearly an hour passed with over glance towards me showing his timid fearful respect for this menacing sixty vultures and four species of mannerisms about approaching the bird. His look was ominous. Like a these raptors making an appearance dead impala. Why wasn't he about to Zulu warrior he stood tall and in a social pecking order. Once the eat? The material I had read to pre­ straight in his proud manner. His Lappetfaced Vulture removed him­ pare myself for this incident qUickly white, downy soft leg feathers made self, the mass quantity ofWhitebacks came back to me ... slender beak, him look fuller than he actually was. continued to demolish the carcass. smaller in stature, waiting for scraps. When he strutted, everyone was in The bodies were tightly packed and This was the Hooded Vulture, one awe. Up he hopped onto the body of sqUirmed savagely for a chance at the designed to clean up the leftovers. the antelope and began to rip at the pieces of raw meat. At this point, the Where were those bigger beaked skin. You could almost hear the carcass was engulfed in a blanket of specimens? Lo and behold, the sky Whitebacks cheer and applaud for wings. Once satisfied, each vulture was suddenly engulfed with the pop­ they now had another ready-made removed himself to the "runway" ulous Whitebacked Vultures. Their banquet. His wings spread outwardly not far from this commotion. It was legs dropped like landing gears from almost completely covering the like an international airport. Each a 747. One after another they landed impala as the vulture once again bird needed take offspace to get into and with a springy gait, they reached pulled and tore at the skin. Still, the flight. One step, two hops, a third the carcass. Fifteen and then twenty Whitebacks held their ground, step, up and away they flew, soaring swarmed the limp body. Their wider feathers quivering in excitement. for a possible sighting of another and stronger beaks tore at the hind Sixty-plus had now gathered for mid­ meal. end of the impala which had been morning "tea." This enormous The African ecosystem was nearly eaten by the cheetah. The vultures Lappetfaced raptor was definitely the complete. The other" garbage col­ gorged and impelled themselves king in this scenario. lectors" so necessary in this cycle further into the remains of the hind Being captivated in this mass of were yet to approach - the jackals quarters. As they emerged, their feathers, beaks, and hissing, I nearly and hyenas. These animals would featherless necks were bloodstained forgot to scan the outskirts of this then rip the rest ofthe scraps ofmeat from devouring the meaty flesh. chaos. In so doing, I spied this con­ from the bones as well as clean up They squawked and hissed, each try­ spicuous character standing by the the bones themselves. ing to be in control. They challenged few Whiteback onlookers and the Seeing the big cats at work is truly each other by spreading their enor­ shy Hooded Vulture. Which vulture exciting and is really an added feature mous, gray-white Wings and arching species was this? His white head when driving in the bush. Watching their long, snake-like necks with wasn't rounded like the other birds the scavengers and then haVing a hooked beaks wide open. These vul­ but was more flat topped like the chance to see the social order dis­ tures seemed to constantly have a style of Bart Simpson. This species played among the various species is qUiZZical frown with deeply fur­ that eluded me is known as the still a plus in the magnificent African rowed eyebrows making them look White-headed Vulture. He had a red wildlife viewing. So, the next time as though they were qUite unap­ face which led to a rainbow colored, the cat leaves the scene, don't leave. proachable. Certainly, they were the thickly, hooked beak. He looked as Another picture will unfold before bolder ofthe present two species. though he wore a high collared cloak your eyes teaching us humans how At this point, there was still an for his short, black neck feathers complex this ecosystem is and how enonnous amount of meat to be con­ reached high up his neck barely everyone within it has a role in sur­ sumed since the front quarters of the stopping at the back of his head. His vival.. 38 August / September 1992