Native to the Americas, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) travels widely in search of sustenance. While usually foraging alone, it relies on other individuals of its species for companionship and mutual protection. Sometimes misunderstood, sometimes feared, sometimes shunned, it nevertheless performs an important role in the ecosystem.
This scavenger bird is a marvel of efficiency. Rather than expend energy flapping its wings, it instead locates uplifting columns of air, and spirals within them in order to glide to greater heights. This behavior has been mistaken for opportunism, interpreted as if it is circling doomed terrestrial animals destined to be its next meal. In truth, the vulture takes advantage of these thermals to gain the altitude needed glide longer distances, flying not out of necessity, but for the joy of it.
It also avoids the exertion necessary to capture live prey, preferring instead to feast upon that which is already dead. In this behavior, it resembles many humans.
It is not what most of us would consider to be a pretty bird. While its habits are often off-putting, or even disgusting, to members of more fastidious species, the turkey vulture helps to keep the environment from being clogged with detritus. Hence its Latin binomial, which translates to English as "golden purifier."
I rarely know where the winds will take me next, or what I might find there. The journey is the destination.
There's a TV show called "Kill Your Lawn" that goes around converting peoples "yards" to more actual environment for the area. I couldn't find a link to it except on IMDB, if you're interested.
Just moved into a condo (with HOA) and I'll say I'm impressed. There's a real diversity of plants and grasses tucked into and around all the concrete. There's no shortage of birds and bugs. . Different country, different attitude I guess.
Stik to My Own Beat yes, condo associations can be different. Given the ownership structure, you pretty much need one there, if only to handle building maintenance. I was specifically referring to suburban neighborhood HOAs, because the suburbs are where they have the lawn fetish.
Living in a condo means I have to deal with an HOA. That said, the HOA is the one that decided to plant pollinators in the courtyard. I guess urban HOAs can be more chill than their suburban counterparts.
Your point (journalistic intention) eludes me today. Rococo is an ornate and theatrical style of art and architecture. It's French. You discuss Italian food and mid-Virginia architecture.
My wife became pregnant 2 weeks before I left for Vietnam... and 2 weeks after I returned. I took matters into my own hands (no, that's not a deliberate pun ) and solved 2 problems. She wouldn't get pregnant again and I'd know if she was unfaithful.
I'm with JACE. Keep your nose (again, no deliberate pun) out of my business.
Interestingly, before my wife and I decided to start our family, we had the discussion about how many children we wanted--I wanted two, she (coming from a large family) wanted six. We wound up with four.
My point is that both of us were raised Catholic and I was 'dressed down' by our priest for wanting to purposely limit our family size. Approaching the birth of our fourth, however, my wife decided this was enough. She (we) had a devil of a time getting our priest to 'sign off' on birth control. So, she took care of that issue while still in the hospital after giving birth.
We were a bit disillusioned with the Catholic church's views about family by that time.
Keep your nose out of our business so long as we hurt noBODY or society in general.
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