Personally, I think the Turkey Vulture is a handsome species – although I know others disagree (some strongly). However, they are certainly unique, especially in their superior olfactory capabilities – with far greater smelling ability than Black Vultures, California Condors, or even Andean Condors.

Perhaps you do not think Turkey Vultures are attractive, and perhaps you are not impressed with their ability to detect road kill from miles away – fair enough. Yet no matter how we feel about Turkey Vultures, we owe them (and other scavengers) a huge debt of gratitude for their natural recycling services. By consuming thousands of tons of dead animals every year, and recycling those nutrients, Turkey Vultures provide all of us with a tremendous ecological service.

Photo © Gillian Schultz

Numerous considerations confront birders thinking about purchasing new bird feeders, including the type of design, the size of the feeder, and the type of bird food to provide. For those folks interested in a small hopper-style feeder, the Franciscan Missions Feeder represents a good choice. Hand-made in Waterford, WI from weather-resistant cedar and other durable materials, birders can expect this feeder to provide years of excellent service. Moreover, proceeds from the sale of the Franciscan Missions Feeder support a good cause – the efforts of the Franciscan Order to support the impoverished.

Photo © William C. Webb

Looking for a hummingbird feeder? Lots of exotic designs exist, but sometimes the simple solutions work the best – like the Perky Pet Pinch-waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder. This feeder is a good choice because it is inexpensive, durable, and most importantly – it attracts hummingbirds. Overall, the Perky Pet Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder satisfies hummingbirds and the humans that like to observe them.

Photo © William C. Webb

If you offer a feeder for wild birds, how do you know which types of food to use? Many types of foods attract birds to feeders and feeding stations, including seeds, nuts, fruit, nectar, and suet. Each type of food appeals to different species to varying degrees. Deciding which types of birds you desire to attract helps determine which types of feeder food to stock.