Favoritos de mikaylahouse

When we went in there was 1 young in nest (very agile) and I thought there was another set of wings that were briefly raised. Saw an adult perched on a power pole on dam at 0831. On way back out @ 0907, there was 1 young perched on limb out from nest, another young in nest and an adult was standing in nest. I believe both young have fledged and are being fed by adults at nest.

As I approached for photos (at a distance), a Crested Caracara moved away that had been periodically chasing off the vulture. The vulture was finally able to feed at the cow carcass in relative peace.
A separate observation for the caracara is here.

I have heard stories about these vultures killing baby calves, so when I saw them circling around then landing by this mama cow and her new baby, I was a bit worried. Apparently they were attracted by the afterbirth...I guess cows typically eat that, maybe to avoid attracting predators or maybe for the nutrients in it? (www.reference.com/pets-animals/cows-eat-afterbirth-329b1e...) Anyway, the cow jumped up, the calf jumped up, and as the vultures approached, she started bawling. Almost immediately, this young heifer left the rest of the group and headed toward her. I wonder if she was this cow's calf from last year. The young one tried to chase the vultures away while the mama cow started trying to eat the afterbirth. But the vultures were not going to be chased away that easily....

Soon some more cows arrived to "help" but by then, the vultures had closed in on the cow. She rushed at them, knocking her baby down...it got up and scampered out of the way as she rushed at the vultures again. This time, she slipped or tripped and fell down. After that, she backed away and the vultures ripped the afterbirth apart. Within a couple of minutes it was gone and they left. So did I. I hope they didn't come back to bother the calf.

Conocido en la región como Borrego Berberisco, es una especie exótica africana originaria del Sahara que ha ido invadiendo la región a partir de un rebaño escapado de su confinamiento en el rancho Sierra Morena de Bustamante N. L. hace más de medio siglo.