Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: ellen schwartzel on May 24, 2007, 10:54:40 AM

Title: vulture nesting at Bloor and Sherbourne
Post by: ellen schwartzel on May 24, 2007, 10:54:40 AM

How common is it for turkey vultures to nest on top of office buildings?

How successful are they when they do try this?

  There is a pair that our family has seen three mornings now on a mirrored office block at the SE corner of Bloor and Sherbourne; above the Timothy's Coffee Shop.  This is a multi-level building, and they are at one of the intermediate levels.  They walk along the edge and peer down at traffic.  We saw them today, May 24. and several times prior as well.

In early May, a number of turkey vultures circled around this part of town in the morning time, especially around the Rogers Office building.

Title: TV
Post by: JTF on May 24, 2007, 03:02:43 PM

The turkey vulture nests on the ground and in caves.  It does not construct a traditional "nest," but rather scratches out an indentation in the soil.  Vulture nests are often found in abandoned barns and sheds, which provide safe hiding places similar to a cave of hollowed log. So the site you have found is not that uncommon.

Title: Turkey Vulture
Post by: Boosie on May 28, 2007, 05:01:09 PM

I saw one of them today (May 28) as I was walking to work late this morning.  It flew over Bloor Street and landed on the building ledge at the SE Corner of Bloor & Sherbourne in Toronto.  Then it just stood there with its wings fully open swaying slowly side to side while the busy morning traffic rushed by below.  Very majestic!  At first, I thought it was an eagle and then realized that it couldn't be because it was a lot larger.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted its bright red wrinkly head and white beak!!  I never expected to see one of these things in the city.  What do they eat?

Someone should set up a camera so that we can all watch the chicks hatch.   That would be cool!!

Title: TV
Post by: JTF on May 28, 2007, 07:38:55 PM

TV's are are scavengers, eating nearly any carrion they find. They prefer fresh carrion.

Title: TV Nest
Post by: BIGFRANK on May 30, 2007, 03:41:19 AM

This nest at Bloor and Sherbourne is/was known of in recent past years...the offices close to the nest are occupied by a lawyers firm,so they didnt want to publicize this....depending on your view of lawyers somewhat fitting  :wink:

Title:
Post by: David Shilman on May 30, 2007, 09:00:35 PM

Checking the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas web site, nesting in the city of Toronto is still pretty rare for TVs, as recently as 2001-2005.  A few probable nestings, a few possible and fewer confirmed.

David

Title:
Post by: Axeman on October 06, 2007, 03:15:32 PM

Living out in Grey - Bruce, I see a lot of TV's...soaring....but I never seem to see them feasting on the smorgasboard of roadside carnage...what gives? I always wonder about how much these large birds eat.

Now a real treat is a TV perched on a dead tree sunning its wings.