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From: tirone@acsu.buffalo.edu (stephen t tirone)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: The buzzards of Hinkley
Message-ID: <50230@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 10 Dec 90 15:55:35 GMT
References: <1990Dec7.150814.12291@granite.cr.bull.com> <1990Dec9.010930.15344@redpoll.neoucom.edu> <2510@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
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>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

	John James Audubon was the 'someone', as I understand.  He
also painted a deer carcass on a tarp (no carcass underneath) and
attracted vultures.  I too am foggy on my source (some bibliographic 
writeup), but I am pretty sure in any case that it has been determined
that vultures find their food by sight.

Steve Tirone
tirone@acsu.buffalo.edu