Opinions needed

[boneaddict]

Yeah, I think lots confuse young balds with Goldens.  A Golden is a big frickin bird.  and OUCH with the talons.  Actually it probably didn't hurt at first as they are so sharp, but then it did later I bet.

[woodywsu]

def. a turkey vulture. They are spread all over eastern washington. There are quite a few in the quilomene now, always see them along the river.

[runamuk]

I have seen allot of turkey vulchers, but I have never seen any this large. This bird was as big or bigger than a golden eagle. That is why I took a picture because from the distance I was away it looked like a golden eagle. After looking online I see there is a large difference from a condor and the bird I have a picture of.

Brandon

I've seen the condors in Idaho out training, think of size more like a mid sized cow, VW bug  seriously there is no comparison between these turkey vultures and a condor.....pretty much freaked me out to see a bird that big just flying round the suburbs of Boise....

[andrew_12gauge]

run ive never even seen any condors around here are they still around do you know? if so what area around boise did you usually see them

[runamuk]

run ive never even seen any condors around here are they still around do you know? if so what area around boise did you usually see them

The birds of prey center in Boise had one out on a training flight it was collared up and flying over Meridian it landed on a hedge we nearly drove off the road.....in fact we were not sure what we had seen then about a mile away we saw a car with all the tracking stuff......after talking to a friend who had them actually fly over her farm in Emmett we figured it out.  It didn't happen often but the bird center did verify thats what we saw when I called them and they said to just leave the birds alone if found ......I think they do very rare flight training probably just before sending them to CA for release is my guess.  They have a breeding program to help with reintroduction.

[andrew_12gauge]

ahh that makes sense ive never been to the birds of prey center maybe i need to go check it out sometime

[runamuk]

ahh that makes sense ive never been to the birds of prey center maybe i need to go check it out sometime

I never made it to the center but my kids did.  I called them a couple of times trying to find help for injured falcons and hawks......I ended up just talking to payette county coroner he was a falconer and had done rehab cool guy.  sorry way off topic..lol

the turkey vultures are in western WA I also had never seen them until I moved to Elma we see them down here all the time, along with other big birds, ravens, osprey, and bald eagles all hang out in my valley its kinda cool actually.

[bear]

I started seeing turkey vultures in whatcom county about 10 years ago or so.  Once I figured out what they were, I've been able to spot them quite regularly.

[JackOfAllTrades]

the turkey vultures are in western WA

I've been seeing them on the wet side for several years now.

-Steve

[Joe_Hunter]

Turkey buzzard

[lokidog]

They are quite common over most of WA.  They are very easy to ID when flying, even at a half mile away.  They always soar with a very pronounced 'V' in their wings.  One reason they can find a dead critter is that they are one of the few birds with a pronounced sense of smell and can detect a dead animal from a long ways away.

[Axle]

Yeah, I think lots confuse young balds with Goldens.  A Golden is a big frickin bird.  and OUCH with the talons.  Actually it probably didn't hurt at first as they are so sharp, but then it did later I bet.

Yep, it was sore a couple days later but my glove was full of blood when it happened. Happened more than once too. They used to get in my trap sets in Oregon, but with offset jaws, their legs were fine. I wasn't always fine though. They can kick ass with those wings! The older ones were calm and polite and I had a great experience with one of them once but the younger ones get a bit excited. I was totally amazed at how big they can get too.

Funny thing, Goldens are so shy that most folks have no idea how many there really are. Balds get all the attention but Goldens are cool eagles.

[lokidog]

Came over a rise in the road in SD and had to slam the brakes so as not to run a Golden E over.  I drove up to 5 feet away and had to finally get out of the truck to chase him off the dead coyote he did not want to share with my grill.  I then threw the yote over the fence for him.  BIG Birds.

[rasbo]

had a golden knock my hat off while calling dogs in SE Idaho,he didn't touch the hat,the wind from him knocked it off.I was pulling sage brush outta my ass for a week,talk about getting puckered up.Those are huge and beautiful birds, Ill bet the wingspan was 6to7 feet..Lotta turkey vultures here

[runamuk]

For those that seem to like the golden eagle and dislike the wolf you might enjoy this video it is actually quite amazing it is wolf hunting with golden eagles in mongolia.....I would absolutely love to go witness this type of falconry in person.....they also hunt deer with golden eagles
its a longish video but worth the watch....