Earth in the Balance

[Jogeephus]

With an increase in deer population seems we are also having an increase in the buzzard population. Buzzards, I assume, have no natural predators and their population seems to go unchecked. Seems a problem has arisen lately with our calving season coming in at the end of deer season. Apparantly with the lack of unfound deer kills to feed on the buzzards have found that young calves are easy meals or at least worth trying for. Though our brangus guard cows keep most predators at bay they could possibly fall short on the job - not yet but possibly. Hence comes my dilema. My neighbor has more docile animals and is lacking any brimmer influence. He recently had a calf have its eyes pecked out by those winged black devils and this draws my concern. To be fair and to keep a balance of justice on earth I was wondering if seven buzzards for each eye sounded fair to you. Does to me. :nod: Theoretically speaking of course.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Them eye pecking calve eating things an't buzzards, they are vultures according to Arkansas Game and Fish. Here in Arkansas the wildlife officer said killem all.

 

[skyline]

I had about 20 of the ugly suckers down around a fresh calf and momma the other day. Momma was trying to clean up the placenta as fast as she could and the buzzards were taking it away from her. Glad I was home that day. I supposed it could have been bad news, if not.

Someone told me this week that buzzards are migratory and that there are more of them here at certain times of the year. Is this true? I don't claim to be a buzzard expert, but I had never heard that.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

According to AGF. a buzzard only eats dead and decomposing critters Vultures like fresh meat. i an't no expert wildlife officer said killem thats what i do. The eye pecking calve eating ones will have feathered heads the buzzards around here don't got feathers on their head. The calve eaters are black the buzzards are brown. They maybe one and the same i don't about that but they look diffrent to me. The black one are on the shoot to kill list around here.

 

[dun]

We're fortunate that all we have around here are Turkey Buzzards. Sprin must be close at hand though since a half dozen of them migrated through yesterday.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Dun Maybe you saw on the news last year vultures were nesting in Eureake Springs. City was trying to run them off the do gooders wouldn't let them. Those were the Mexican Vultures the eye peckers if you begin to see the black ones in Mo. shoot the darn things the turkey buzzards won't bother the calves. We never had any trouble down here until the black ones showed up.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Build a buzzard Trap and get your world back in balance. Then practice the Vegas theme as someone posted earlier. These are the worst predators I have ever fought, I don't know how they communicate but they are good at it. One mexican Vulture show up with in a few minutes the ground will be covered with them.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Here in Texas the turkey buzzards have red heads. The Mexican buzzards have heads more like a crow. They are the bad ones. They do seem to migrate in.

 

[dun]

Dun Maybe you saw on the news last year vultures were nesting in Eureake Springs. City was trying to run them off the do gooders wouldn't let them. Those were the Mexican Vultures the eye peckers if you begin to see the black ones in Mo. shoot the darn things the turkey buzzards won't bother the calves. We never had any trouble down here until the black ones showed up.

THanks for the headsup.

 

[mnmtranching]

I think it would be cool if, ummmm something would prevent the vultures from getting this far North.

 

[john250]

If a cattleman was busted for shooting vultures, he should demand a jury of peers. If there was even one cowperson out of 12, there'd be no conviction.

 

[J. T.]

We have both Turkey and Black vultures here year round. Both species will eat on the same carcass. I've never encountered any problems with them, but my folks have had calves attacked and even a cow was attacked as she was calving.

 

[ga. prime]

Here are my observations: Turkey Vultures(commonly called Buzzards) have a red featherless head and feed only on dead stuff. Black Vultures(aka Mexican Buzzards) have a black featherless head and have white patches near the wing tips. They are swifter and somewhat smaller then the Turkey Vulture. The Black Vulture will feed on a live immobile animal, such as a just born calf. I had them eat the rear end off a 3 week old calf last year that couldn't stand on his back legs due to a nerve or neurological problem. I've had no other problems with them and see them only occasionally. When I do see them, they won't sit still long enough to shoot. I have a .17HMR on the back seat (for the black heads, not the red heads) at the ready when one sits too long.

 

[Parkerson Cattle Co.]

The Mexican buzzard you speak of, is a migratory bird, its not on the endangered species list. However it is protected by the migratory bird act ......

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

It is not protected around here. Unless they are wearing kevlar.

 

[KenB]

The Mexican buzzard you speak of, is a migratory bird, its not on the endangered species list. However it is protected by the migratory bird act ......

Another unwanted immigrant.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Parkerson sorry to tell you thisbut, the black vulture is not migratory. The turkey vulture is migratory. Checked both of my bird books. Nothing mentioned in either book about them endangered.

 

[Jogeephus]

Found about 40 in one pasture this morning. They were harassing the calves. Seems I have the Mexican buzzard and boy do they stink. Yes, they do seem to be able to communicate with one another. All but one flew out of the field when I got in range. In the name of science, I'm going to do some research as to what exactly eats a dead buzzard. Seems other buzzards won't but fireants will. Of course more samples will need to be made before I can give a definitive answer to this question.

 

[CUZ]

. . . In the name of science, I'm going to do some research . . .

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

If you're willing to go through the pain and suffering of filling out what I'm guessing is a mountain of paperwork, you can probably get a government grant to fund your research.

Oh, and 7 to 1 sounds a little low to me.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Think you might want to read this! Sorry for pasting a long article pasted the link and then people made statments contrary to the article hope this helps.

That was a long read indeed. But everything in there seems to be on the money. I had no idea the bad ones lived for 25 years.

SSS