This is the last day of winter so the March reports are probably true spring migrants. I am always happy to see them and sorry there weren’t more sightings during the colder parts of winter. I know some turkey vultures overwinter but I haven’t seen them myself. Following are reports from November of 2022 through March of 2023.
NOVEMBER
03 -- Eight turkey vultures circling a silt pile where the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers merge.
13 -- Two at Puget Island, Wahkiakum County, where they have been the past two winters.
27 -- One gliding over Lake Stevens near Hwy. 9 and Soper Hill Rd, at 15:15. The observer was putting up Christmas lights!
DECEMBER
12 -- A probable turkey vulture (a dark bird larger than a buteo with wings in a dihedral) gliding over the Castle Rock area.
MARCH
07 – One perched in a tree next to I-5 sunning itself, at 0900, mile 32 north out of Portland.
16 – A turkey vulture wobbled over a yard in Belfair slowly wafting its way north.
18 – One in the morning near English Camp on San Juan Island.
19 – Two turkey vultures gliding overhead at Poppoff on the Yakima Greenway Path.
Thanks for the reports; always good to know turkey vultures are still in the air, although maybe not in January and February. Hopefully, there should be a lot more showing up soon. Thanks again.
Cheers, Diann
Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
Bothell, WA 98021
tvulture at gmx.com