Something different from the dark side of the Everglades

Dixie

I found this Black Vultue and about 30 of his mates almost two weeks ago feeding on what appeared to be a dead Florida Panther (no, I didn't take pics of it - messy). I had never looked at a Black Vulture this close before, but found some beauty despite the vulture's reputation as a scavenger.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Click the image for EXIF data.

Harryb

I like it Dixie. Vultures are very difficult subjects to make interesting and you pulled it off. Real shame about the panther though.

Dick on Aruba

Well they have to eat somehow.

It's a great capture of a great bird.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Ric Grupe

It's difficult to make a black colored bird look good.....but you did it.

Here's a gray one I shot at the zoo 2 months ago.

Awais Yaqub

Great capture !

SteveF

Hello,

I like the head detail here. Exposure is right on and a perch that works well drawing attention away from the background. Really nice.

Dixie

Harryb wrote:

I like it Dixie. Vultures are very difficult subjects to make interesting and you pulled it off. Real shame about the panther though.

Thanks, Harry. I didn't know it at the time, but I should have reported the panther to the park rangers. They have been tracking "road-kill" deaths since 1972. According to their records there have been 44 killed since '72. I didn't realize that until last night when I was doing some research on the Florida Panther.

Dixie

Dick on Aruba wrote:

Well they have to eat somehow.

It's a great capture of a great bird.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Thanks, Dick. Your comments are appreciated.

Dixie

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Great capture !

Thank you, Awais.

Dixie

SteveF wrote:

Hello,

I like the head detail here. Exposure is right on and a perch that works well drawing attention away from the background. Really nice.

Thank you, Steve. Yes, that background was pretty bleak. ...but the setting was superb for the subject.

Dixie

Ric Grupe wrote:

It's difficult to make a black colored bird look good.....but you did it.

Here's a gray one I shot at the zoo 2 months ago.

Thanks, Ric. I love that feather detail in yours.

Dixie

Black Vulture - Traditional Pose
Here is the same Black Vulture in a more traditional pose for a vulture.