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Ecological niches have been distributed in advance in the natural community and the vulture is not to blame for the fact that he has got such an unsightly role. The bird keeps many secrets hidden from the eyes of ornithologists. The black vulture settles in remote areas and does not tolerate close proximity with people. But the unsightly appearance does not prevent them from being wonderful parents, they gently care for the chicks and their chosen one.
The face is terrible, kind inside
One of the largest birds in the country does not shine with beauty and prefers to settle far away from people. The appearance of the neck carries the imprint of his lifestyle and way of eating. It belongs to scavengers. In nature, everything is rational, so the bird has a small head and a strong pointed beak, which allows you to tear the carcass of an animal in a few minutes. The neck is almost featherless and covered with stiff thick skin. Nature provided for everything, because the feather cover is difficult to keep clean with a similar lifestyle. Powerful muscles of the neck, wide wingspan and sharp vision help in obtaining food.
The bird weighs “only” 7-12 kg, it takes a lot of food to maintain life. The vulture has to move 300-400 km from the nest. in search of food. Legs and claws on them are deprived of power, their strength is enough to keep food in the process of eating. The plumage in adults is black or brown. In hovering at high altitude, they are beautiful in their own way, gracefully catching the ascending currents of warm air.
People scavengers do not like, but in vain. It is they who maintain cleanliness on their territory, destroying dead animals and birds in time.
Habits and habits
The diet consists of carrion. Birds with the same passion eat a hare and an elephant. They act quickly. In an hour, 10 individuals completely destroy the carcass of an antelope or a cow. Not only meat is used, but also the skin, tendons and bones. The bird’s temper is violent. Usually, several vultures fly over one carcass and you can’t get lunch without a fight. In the excitement of scuffle, birds eat so much that for some time they can’t get up in the air and sit basking in the sun and assimilating food. They lead a day lifestyle, settling for the night in a nest.
Young individuals mature slowly, and only at 5 - 6 years of age create a couple. It is hard to believe, but they are very loyal to the partner and do not change him for the rest of his life. In the construction of the nest, the vultures are not small, creating a fundamental structure of more than 2 meters in diameter and about a meter in height. It is convenient for parents incubating 1 - 2 eggs and hatched chicks, they are completely helpless the first 3 - 4 months of life. Like every good owner, a pair of vultures must have one or more spare nests. They are also maintained in fair condition.
Birds lead a sedentary lifestyle, forcing them to change their place can only be a complete lack of food within reach.
Tales and stories
The peculiar appearance of the birds did not leave man indifferent. In fairy tales and legends mythical creatures with the features of the neck gradually appeared. They became the prototype of the griffin in the legends of Ancient Greece, some elements can be seen in the guarpe and oriental garuda.In Slavic mythology, he also left a noticeable mark, hitting the imperial flag of Tatarstan.
According to legend, griffins and similar creatures live indefinitely, taking the life energy of their victims. In fact, vultures do not pose a threat to living organisms. And their life expectancy is completely fabulous, within 38 - 39 years. Some centenarians celebrate a half-century anniversary.
In ancient Egypt and Babylon, deities endowed the head of the neck, the inhabitants of India and Tibet considered the bird a guide to the world of the dead.
Interesting Facts
Birds are secretive and observation carries a certain degree of risk, but now the details of their life are known.
- The black vulture has almost no enemies, but if they are insolent, they get hit by the upper part of the wing, raised vertically. As a rule, this clarifies the relationship.
- The vultures hold a record of conquering a height of 11 km. and flight range. There were cases when the bird's nest was in Tanzania, and for lunch she flew to Kenya.
- Visual acuity allows you to notice a fallen animal from a height of 3 km.
- The neck has a very strong stomach. It digests not only bones and hair, but even the causative agents of cholera and anthrax.
Vulture populations are declining. In the first year of life, 20% of chicks die, only half survive to adulthood. Contributes to the reduction of habitable habitats. According to immutable laws, some species gradually die out, giving way to others under the sun. These birds are very few and nature will become much poorer without them.
Video: Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
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