Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!know!samsung!munnari.oz.au!metro!cluster!andrewt
From: andrewt@cs.su.oz (Andrew Taylor)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: The buzzards of Hinkley
Message-ID: <1596@cluster.cs.su.oz.au>
Date: 11 Dec 90 00:36:47 GMT
References: <532@research.cc.flinders.oz> <1990Dec6.130950@Unify.com> <1990Dec7.150814.12291@granite.cr.bull.com> <1990Dec9.010930.15344@redpoll.neoucom.edu> <2510@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
Sender: news@cluster.cs.su.oz.au
Reply-To: andrewt@cluster.cs.su.oz (Andrew Taylor)
Distribution: rec.birds,usa
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia
Lines: 15

In article <2510@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> mad@descartes.math.purdue.edu
(Michael A. Dritschel) writes:
> Unfortunately I do not remember the source for this, but someone has
> studied what cues turkey vultures use in locating their next meal.  A
> ripe dear carcass was placed under a tarp so that it could be smelled
> but not seen, and even though turkey vultures were common in the area,
> they did not respond to this.  However, as soon as the carcass was
> uncovered, it was immediately found by the vultures.  So I doubt the
> turkey vultures were responding to the remains of a buried deer.

No unlike most (all?) other vultures and condors turkey vultures 
are capable of locating carrion entirely by smell. So it is quite possible
they were attracted by the buried deer.

Stager K. E. 1967 Avian Olefaction, American Zoologist 7:415-419