Скачать или смотреть American Black Vulture, Bird of the Week

One last #SpookySeason post before Halloween fades in the rearview. 👋👻

While their plague-doctor aesthetic and preference for ready-to-eat ☠️ meals might make them seem standoffish, our Bird of the Week is surprisingly wholesome! This bird knows the importance of family. 🥰

Not only do American Black Vultures mate for life, but they also form family groups of both close and extended relatives that remain stable long-term and keep in close contact throughout the year. 💞 That level of cooperation gives individuals a competitive edge at crowded roosts and around carcasses, where the species is known for feistily fending off larger scavenging species pursuing the same meal. 👊

Moreover, this Bird of the Week is essential to Earth’s multi-species family. 🌎 Black Vultures and other avian scavengers provide valuable natural cleaning services – making them a valuable part of any ecosystem. ♻️ Their snacking preferences also prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and diseases (which is more than might be said for a plague doctor)! 🐦‍⬛

For all they do for us, join American Bird Conservancy in saying “thank you” to our Black Vulture kin. Visit https://abcbirds.org/bird/black-vulture/ to find out how.