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Life as a young turkey vulture

Two turkey vulture chicks hang out in a deer stand in the Canyon area. They were discovered by a St. Louis County Land Department forestry technician. (Photo by Rob Benson, St. Louis County Land Department)

      Rob Benson, a forestry technician with the St. Louis County Land Department, came upon this turkey vulture nest built in a rather formidable deer stand near Canyon recently. I'm taking his word that they're turkey vulture chicks, but they certainly look as if they could grow up to be turkey vultures. Adult turkey vultures are not the most attractive birds on the planet. They have featherless heads, the better to forge into the carrion they feed upon without getting all mussed up. These chicks are a little homely, too. But like most other native creatures, all have an important role to play in nature.

      The hunter who uses this stand may have a bit of tidying up to do before this fall's season.

Tags: daily updates, outdoors with sam cook, turkey vultures, deer stand, oblog, wildlife, birds, birding